[bksvol-discuss] Re: long dashes.
- From: "Estelnalissi" <airadil@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 19:19:32 -0500
Dear Jamie, Sue and Booksharian Friends,
Jamie, keeping what Sue says about braille m dashes in mind, I agree with you.
I think whether there are spaces before and after m dashes is a publisher's
choice like the font and margins they choose. Eliminating those spaces doesn't
change the function of the m dash and corresponds better with the braille code.
I add m dash without spaces to my projects, but don't mind when volunteers use
double dashes which apparently mean the same. .
I'd say everyone who has weighed in on this topic are more conscientious than
the average volunteer, caring so much to do write by this punctuation mark. So,
double dash or m dash, I'd bet this group turns out some great books.
We know your new job, or is it jobs, keep you busier than ever. It's always
good to see you when you have time to contribute your thoughts to the lists.
Hoping to see you Saturday after next for fun and games.
Always with love,
Lissi
Always with love,
Lissi
----- Original Message -----
From: Jamie Yates, CPhT
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 6:09 PM
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: long dashes.
My local newspaper, The Morning Sun, uses a double dash instead of an em dash
in their print version of the paper. It's true that a double hyphen is what an
em dash always was before we had computers and printers.
Word automatically converts a double dash to an em dash unless you tell it
not to do so.
With a very old typewriter you could easily tell it was a double dash but
with good print quality, I don't think you can easily tell if you're looking at
a double dash or an em dash unless you look very closely.
I think if you're going to use the argument that you have to keep it as it is
in print then you have to keep everything that is in the print version
including where a line ends on the page, headers, footers, where the page
number is located (even if it's in the margin in the middle of the page), etc.
At some point you have to say what is a workable book and what is not? If an
em dash is not workable in braille, just like smart quotes are not workable in
braille, then you have to take that into consideration.
Jamie in Michigan
Currently Reading - Imitation in Death by J. D. Robb
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