I am on a few psychological forums where these little symbols are available and they do help with what can look like a very dry answer when it is meant to be funny etc
I am on a few psychological forums where these little symbols are available and they do help with what can look like a very dry answer when it is meant to be funny etc
I don't know whether Martin Luther King's speeches included instruction on the emphasis or whether it was his instinct as a natural orator - either way I'm not sure it matters a great deal to this discussion.
For all the capital letters that have been used in the points below, I don't think I would actually read a different meaning into the sentences. E.g. He KNEW that he was a dead man walking, I read exactly the same as He knew he was...
I agree there are the exceptions where a the meaning of a sentence would be completely different without an emphasis - but in general Q&A topics I don't think I've seen any that would fall into that category.
I would liken it to exclamation marks and adverbs - they have their place but the fewer the better.
Anyway - only my opinion.
@ Victoria: How do you do the winky frown?
;( ?
One-eyed frog (that's me):
°(
Another example of that is 'I never said she stole my money'. Seven words, seven entirely different meanings depending on stress.
My favourite emoticon - the winky frown.