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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 06:08 AM
  #1  
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Paragraphs - Please

When writing a trip report, complaint, suggestions, whatever .. please break your post into paragraphs. I just gave up reading a post about a B&B in Ireland because it just ran on and on.

I know this subject has been covered before, but for new posters maybe it is worth mentioning again.

Thanks!!
Lori is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 06:23 AM
  #2  
20 Anniversary
 
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because it proved
to be popular
in previous threads,
maybe we should
construct every post
in groups of
three words each.

Then again, I
think Lori may
just have a
point about paragraphs.
willit is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 07:22 AM
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Totally agree Lori. There's dozens of posts that I don't bother reading because I just can't follow along without by eyes crossing.

Thanks for speaking up.
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 01:08 PM
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thank you
suze is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 02:12 PM
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Right-on Lori,

Testify sistah!
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 02:22 PM
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Right on. Lori!

I give up on most of the "unparagraphed" messages...even some from regular posters who really should know better!
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 02:24 PM
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Bravo ! Please, if you want it to be read.
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 02:52 PM
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The lack of paragraphing is not the problem: It is a symptom.

The disease: unorganized thoughts and
inability to distinguish "need to know" from "wanna tell ya"

If you take the time to delve into the lengthy unparagraphed blog-like posts you find:

"My flight was on time/ late/ fully booked/ half empty" (What does that tell me about a flight I might take?)

"We sampled a delicious local wine whose name I no longer recall"

"There was a very rude woman seated opposite us who really ruined our evening"

etc, etc, etc.

Traveler, tarry not here.
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 04:45 PM
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Tedgale,
Well put!
Thanks,
P
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 04:53 PM
  #10  
rex
 
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Objection: goes to state of mind...

Best wishes, your honor...

Rex

(watching too much Law and Order)


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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 05:20 PM
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I agree 100% about the frustrations of trying to read posts that aren't divided logically into manageable bits. In fact, I frequently copy and paste that type of report into Word, where I break it up into paragraphs and punctuate appropriately before attempting to read for content.
Mary_Fran is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 05:31 PM
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another editor comes out of the closet!

I've done that, plus, I've edited emails sent to me with trip reports that I wanted to forward others so they would be easier to read! (And made obvious grammatical corrections, too.)
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Old Aug 17th, 2005 | 05:45 PM
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I'm in favor of trip reports written entirely in haiku. Of course, that may be better for trip reports on the Asia board.

Anyone looking for just the facts should never, ever read anything I've ever written. Ever. But I do break for paragraphs.

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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 12:37 AM
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ttt
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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 02:05 AM
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I thought this thread gives a good layout for a trip report - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...abag&fid=2

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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 02:07 AM
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Oops, tee hee, I mean item 1 of this one - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...cke1&fid=2
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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 02:51 AM
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I'm all for paragraphing to make things easy to read.

Suggestions like this are helpful.

It's the "regulations" promulgated by people who seem to believe they "own" some part of this site that are the most interesting as are the many ways people continue to totally ignore them, thank God.
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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 04:50 AM
  #18  
rex
 
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Note to worldinabag... it might be "nmber 1" on the hlocke list right now, but it won;t remain that way (unless hlocke never posts again, and then, maybe not even the, if others post to threads on that same list).

The URL is http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34649542

... and that never changes.

But, it is an excellent find, and others should do even half as good in making a trip report readable. I had never looked at it.

Thanks.
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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 05:02 AM
  #19  
rex
 
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Wow. I've just spent the past 15 minutes further skiming the hlocke1 trip rport. Phenomenal. If you have never seen it, you really should!

Thank you again, worldinabag!

And thank you hlocke1 for setting the bar at a new standard!
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Old Aug 18th, 2005 | 05:32 AM
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I like Clifton's idea of haiku.

Though I might go for a sonnet for a long trip.
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