PSA: To everyone who is #NewHere, and those who are not.
When you use hashtags it can help those using a #ScreenReader to use #CamelCase. Screen-readers can then find and pronounce the constituent words, rather than trying to pronounce the whole thing.
It's not essential, but it's one way we can make the Fediverse more welcoming.
@ColinTheMathmo In this same vein, using special characters or quotes for /emphasis/ is better than all CAPS. Many screen-readers will read caps as acronyms, so instead of the word “caps” it will read “C.A.P.S” which can be mentally exhausting for screenreader users if the word is long and especially for multiple words smashed together.
@Nyx
Previously I *did* used asterisks for that, is that not the common character and I should switch to "/" ? @ColinTheMathmo
@blueplanetslittlehelper When using #MarkDown the asterisks are the standard method to create italics and emphasis. But for humans reading it I've always favoured the obliques on each side, because it creates the visual impression.
@ColinTheMathmo
🙏
Does a #ScreenReader interpret the obliques like that, too? @Nyx
@blueplanetslittlehelper I don't know, but it would be interesting/useful to find out.
If anyone reading this uses a screen-reader, please let us know the best option for emphasis:
Surround a word with /Obliques/
or
Surround a word with *Asterisks*
Please boost for reach!
@ColinTheMathmo They're equally valid. "star" and "slash" are exactly the same length. I've seen asterisks used more often, with _this_ being the second common option, but /this/ is also OK.
@blueplanetslittlehelper @Nyx
But in the end it's always preferable to use words for emphasis over inline formatting. Far more universal.
Compare:
- It was *so big*
- it was shockingly big
Both convey the same meaning but the latter does it more effectively and without inline formatting.
@Seirdy I hear what you say, but when I want to capture emphasis as I would have it in speech, the former better captures *how* I'm trying to express things. I find it *much* easier to communicate stress and emphasis by marking the words, rather than trying to use other, or extra, words.
It's hard ... language is weird.
@ColinTheMathmo @Seirdy @Mayana @Nyx
I don't think that language is weird per se, but since communication comprises much more than the words we choose to say (and even they could have a different meaning, f.i. inside jokes), written conversation has to use crutches to make up for this (and the character limit here on my instance and my different native tongue don't help either).
