I have suggested using the tilde ( ~ ) for this punctuation mark. It is used to denote sarcasm. When used in this way, it is called 'The Garrett' or 'Garrett mark'. Why 'Garrett mark'? the answer is simple and obvious: "Big G's Punctuation to fame." is too wordy.
How many time have you gotten angry, or confused by a typed post because it's was being sarcastic? How many flame wars could have been ended sooner?
You would use it like so:
"My, what great weather we are having~"
I selected the tilde as a representative of the 'Garrett Mark" for a few reasons:
- It's not used for much of anything else.
- Won't be used to often, so it's placement on the keyboard is good.
- The back tick is too small.
- Easy to recognize.
- Can't write sarcastic language.
The great thing will be, grammar Nazis will have something else to complain about~
UPDATE:
I think it should be changed to snarky comment, not just sarcasm.
11 comments:
I give it thumbs up.
Grammar for the win~
At least you took time to post~
So, show me where people have been using a tilde to denote sarcasm for years?
Huh, my first hater. What a pleasure~
There is no punctuation marks for sarcasm.
There is a lot of confusion caused by sarcastic intended remarks.
Finally, I suggest you read up here:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sarcasm
Then you can explain to me why the remark about grammar Nazis isn't sarcasm.
I looked up "sarcasm", then cross-referenced "irony", where I found this definition:
"the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning".
You said "The great thing will be, grammar Nazis will have something else to complain about~".
Your re-definition of the tilde to denote sarcasm suggests that you mean the opposite to this, i.e. "The sad thing is, the grammar Nazis will have nothing to complain about it.", which I am guessing was NOT your intended meaning.
You don't need a new punctutation mark, you need to learn to convey your meaning better with words. Knowing how to spell would probably help you too.
So you looked around until you found a specific definition and then used that. Cherry pick much?
sar⋅casm
/ˈsɑrkæzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [sahr-kaz-uhm] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. harsh or bitter derision or irony.
2. a sharply ironical taunt; sneering or cutting remark:
One of the best features of sarcasm is misunderstanding. If there is no potential to be misunderstood, then it is not really sarcasm. It is sort of like a mini IQ test.
There is not any tone to text so people can completely miss what's going on. Isn't that pretty much what punctuation is? a way to convey a tone of a conversation.
"You're a winner." said sarcastically is obvious, written it is not. Unless you write "You're a winner~"
Seems like a bad idea -- as somebody pointed out, half the point of snarkiness is lost if you explicitly mark it.
[Ok, maybe terminal aspberger's cases need explicit markers for everything, but they're a very special case, and we shouldn't be changing the language to cater to them.]
I also know people using "~" to mean other things for which it seems better fitted, usually just to indicate kind of a light giggle .. hard to explain, but it really fits in context, because that's kinda how it looks; "~" doesn't look snarky...
Anyway, thumbs down. Just not a great idea...
Maybe 'Bemusement' would be better the sarcasm?
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