How To Post Forum Messages Like A Pro!

[timbre4]

The most valuable posts on the shop mgmt forum are those that clearly convey a question or comment. Here's a brief list of suggestions to make your post the best it can be:

TIPS: Subject Line
DO: Use it to spell out briefly what the issue is specifically about
DON'T: Make users guess with "Need Help" "Why?" or "Question"

TIPS: Your Message
DO: Use standard punctuation for text to be more easily read; use periods and commas to separate ideas
DON'T: Type all CAPS or all lower case as that makes it difficult to read

DO: Create paragraphs for each thought; there's plenty of room to use
DONT: Run all the sentences together; that's always harder to read

Spelling tools
1. Paste text in the window here and it gets spellchecked http://ispell.com/ then paste it back into the forum post
2. Go here and install a Spell check for your Internet Explorer under Tools menu: http://www.iespell.com/

Our goal is to keep the forum looking sharp with Subject lines that let user's know if threads (conversations) relate to their questions.

With your help, we'll require less maintenance round here! Thanks

[timbre4]

Postings always look more professional when the grammar is correct.

Here are a few common errors people make in usage, along with definitions to help users know where to best use them:

there - as opposed to here
they're - contraction of They are
their - belonging to them

to - go to the store
too - also
two - more than one

As I come across them, I'll be adding to this list...

[timbre4]

Another popular entry

Lose = You've got nothing to lose

Loose = This customer has a screw loose

[timbre4]

Web definitions:

A retail item advertised at an invitingly low price in order to attract customers for the purchase of other, more profitable merchandise.

Loss not Lost!

[timbre4]

Please PREVIEW your posts to ensure they are correct.

Please take a moment to look at your post before clicking SUBMIT or by clicking on PREVIEW to ensure that spelling is good and no words are missing. If you notice an error after posting it, click the Edit tool and fix it.

TIP #1: If your post contains three ideas, present them as three separate paragraphs. Simple rule; new idea? new paragraph. We have the space! It's far more difficult to read posts where everything runs together.

TIP #2: When completing a sentence with a period, the next sentence starts after a SINGLE space. No spaces makes it harder to read and TWO spaces (or more) is not necessary. Same rule applies for use of commas as well. Study text in a newspaper or magazine; this is our goal.

The value of posts continues long after today when care is taken to be sure each is the best it can be. Members look more professional in the process and the Search tools stand a far better chance of locating the post in the future.

It is of more value to the forum when we're creating new content rather than cleaning up what the members should take care of themselves. Thanks in advance.

[timbre4]

Bart Simpson had to type this on the blackboard today:

I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit
I WILL review my message for spelling and transposed letters and correct them *before* I click on Submit

This was assigned because Bart clearly was not being careful about what he was typing for the world to read.

Now he gets the message....

[timbre4]

When referring to a software product, PLEASE include the actual product name so that we may all assist you better.

Mitchell, Mitchell1, Snap-on, ShopKey are all BRAND names and can suggest many different software programs. Product names include:

Manager, Manager Plus, Service Writer, ShopKey Management
OnDemand, OnDemand5, ondemand5.com, ShopKey Repair, ShopKey5, shopkey5.com

Thanks in advance

[timbre4]

Another popular spelling example

your = belongs to you

you're = short for 'you are'

yore = as in 'days of yore' (history or legend)

Search provides better results when the spelling is correct.

[timbre4]

Regarding posts to WRENCH:

NEW MEMBERS - Please note that when you post your first repair question in WRENCH, be prepared for responses within minutes. Make sure that you can receive forum email; by this we mean consider any spam filters or other tools where you might need to make an exception to let forum mail get through. There are some good folks here eager to help!

REMINDER: Include Year-Make-Model and something about the problem (code, symptom, etc) in the subject line that lets other members zero in on your issue and come back to it later with much less effort to find it.

[timbre4]

Effective immediately: To improve readability, lengthy posts must use PARAGRAPHS.

Paragraph - one of several distinct subdivisions of a text intended to separate ideas; the beginning is usually marked by a new indented line

Each paragraph begins a new idea or aspect of the conversation. Please don't make readers squint at a headswim of lower case text; it doesn't take much effort to make a more readable post.

Here is a sample post format for paragraphs:

1. I've got a 2004 blankety blank with a blank motor and this is what it is doing.

2. These are all of the things I have tested or replaced to correct the blank.

3. Has anybody seen this blank happen before? Any input is appreciated.

Thanks, Wally

NOTE: If you are unsure how or where to break your text, 6-8 lines is a good maximum! Thank you

[timbre4]

Q: How many spaces should there be after a sentence period, before the next sentence begins?
A: I'm glad you asked. Old school typing class taught 2 spaces due to typewriter fonts charactor spacing; the 21st century is ONE space.

Reference: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/sp ... tence.aspx