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    Invelos Forums->DVD Profiler: Contribution Discussion Page: 1 2 3 ...12  Previous   Next
Em-dash heads-up (Causing erroneous contributions)
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMikaLove
Knowledge is Power
Registered: May 2, 2009
Reputation: High Rating
Posts: 490
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I just want to give you all a heads-up warning that many of you replace en-dashes (–) for em-dashes (—) in e.g. overviews.
I notice the buttons are switched around in DVD Profiler.
En-dashes are to be separated from regular hyphens; "-".
Em-dashes are almost never used anywhere.

Side notes:
On your keyboard, you can make an en-dash like this: alt+0150.
Em-dashes are made by inputting alt+0151.
In a program like MS Word you normally make an en-dash by pressing Ctrl and the minus sign on the numeric keyboard.
 Last edited: by MikaLove
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAlien Redrum
Proudly blocked by liars.
Registered: August 23, 2008
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 1,656
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
Em-dashes are almost never used anywhere.


Em-dashes are still used widely in the US.

That said, though, it's good to double check, as I've seen hyphens, em-dashes and en-dashes on various descriptions. It depends more on the editor than the correct usage. 
Reviewer, HorrorTalk.com

"I also refuse to document CLT results and I pay my bills to avoid going to court." - Sam, keeping it real, yo.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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I see EM-dashes used all the time on the DVD releases I have... much more in fact then EN-dashes. It is something I have always double-checked to be sure I get the right one since it isn't always easy to determine which to use.

As Alien said... correct usage really has nothing to do with it. No different then spelling/grammer mistakes are to be used in overviews if they are that way on the case.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKatatonia
Retired Profiler
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Alien Redrum:
Quote:
Em-dashes are still used widely in the US.


Yup, I see Em-dashes utilized all the time on releases here. Certain DVD studios use them more than others...
Corey
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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United States Posts: 17,334
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It seems my contribution to some Smallville child profiles is what caused this thread... I triple checked the source material (the booklet)... and everyone of them were EM-dashes in the booklet.

My contributions match what is used. I fixed the spelling errors... kept the EM-dashes as are to match the source per Rules.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
I just want to give you all a heads-up warning that many of you replace en-dashes (–) for em-dashes (—) in e.g. overviews.
I notice the buttons are switched around in DVD Profiler.
En-dashes are to be separated from regular hyphens; "-".
Em-dashes are almost never used anywhere.

Side notes:
On your keyboard, you can make an en-dash like this: alt+0150.
Em-dashes are made by inputting alt+0151.
In a program like MS Word you normally make an en-dash by pressing Ctrl and the minus sign on the numeric keyboard.


See what I put in bold....

I just double checked the buttons in the program... they work correctly.
Pete
 Last edited: by Addicted2DVD
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
Reputation: Highest Rating
United States Posts: 13,202
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I can also confirm that I see them, em-dashes, all the time and that the buttons in my version of Profiler give the proper result.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorMikaLove
Knowledge is Power
Registered: May 2, 2009
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Posts: 490
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About the buttons I didn't mean they give the wrong output...
Just that it looks to me like they switched places in an update or something.

Regardless of which, I live in a country where grammar matters.
Hyphens and en-/em-dashes are distinguished so to me it looks really bad with em-dashes. It looks "alien".

Why not use the common sense and compare the length of the hyphens in the text to be copied and in the program?
-/–/—

There is an obvious difference between the short hyphen and the almost grotesque em-dash.
It's to me as easy as that.
I mean, we don't all live in the U.S. now do we?
(Fortunately.)

And if this is a local matter, the program should translate em-dashes to en-dashes. I don't want an em-dash in my database if that's not what I see on the covers.
Or we could as well use —— whenever we see a hyphen.

And for the record, I haven't seen this many em-dashes being contributed since I first started using this program. Also, at first there was no other option other than a regular hyphen.
I think you should stick to some international standard or keep it local.

But again, I think it's easy to distinguish between the lengths of the hyphens just by looking at them.

Oh well. I predict this debate will lead nowhere, as usual.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorAddicted2DVD
Registered: March 13, 2007
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3 things come to mind when I read your reply...

1. As I noted the EM-dashes I used do match the source (the booklet the overviews are coming from).
2. The rules state to match the source whether it is right or wrong (typos and such on cover means typos and such in profiler)
3. You say "I mean, we don't all live in the U.S. now do we?"... but yet they are US Region 1 profiles you voted no on. I don't think you should be surprised US releases follow US standards.

you said...

Quote:
Why not use the common sense and compare the length of the hyphens in the text to be copied and in the program?

I did do this... they are EM-dashes in the booklet.

I would say if you don't want to see EM-dashes (or EN-dashes for that matter) in the overview... to do as the rules state...

Quote:
If you wish to save different information in your local profiles, you are free to do so in your local database, but do not contribute your information. The main database is standardized so that all profiles follow these rules. DVD Profiler allows you to lock your data so that it is not overwritten by updates from the main database.


But I do thank you for pointing out any and all typos I did copying the overviews. That is much appreciated.
Pete
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributortweeter
I aim to misbehave
Registered: June 12, 2007
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
I think it's easy to distinguish between the lengths of the hyphens just by looking at them.

Generally it is easy.  If i see an em-dash that's what i submit.  If it is an en-dash i submit that.  Easy!
Bad movie?  You're soaking in it!
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
I mean, we don't all live in the U.S. now do we?
(Fortunately.)[

Why must all your posts be insulting?  Was that last portion really needed? 

As to the rest, Pete said it all.
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAlien Redrum
Proudly blocked by liars.
Registered: August 23, 2008
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Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
I think you should stick to some international standard or keep it local.


There is not an international standard when it comes to dashes. Obviously.
Reviewer, HorrorTalk.com

"I also refuse to document CLT results and I pay my bills to avoid going to court." - Sam, keeping it real, yo.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorKathy
Registered: May 29, 2007
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Dashes, en dashes and em dashes are usually quite easy to tell apart.

They are to be submitted as written irregardless to how we might feel about how they look. If an em dash is on the cover then that is how it must be contributed.

Some people don't care for the look of dividers either but they are allowed per the rules.

Dashes submitted as written are not erroneous but correct contributions.
 Last edited: by Kathy
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLewis_Prothero
Strength Through Unity
Registered: May 19, 2007
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Maybe I'm too dumb to see it.

But where is the difference between a hyphen, an em-dash and an en-dash (except for the key-combinations) and how do I verify which to use if only one of them is present?   
It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?


Registrant since 05/22/2003
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorLewis_Prothero
Strength Through Unity
Registered: May 19, 2007
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Quoting TheMadMartian:
Quote:
Quoting MikaLove:
Quote:
I mean, we don't all live in the U.S. now do we?
(Fortunately.)

Why must all your posts be insulting?  Was that last portion really needed? 


Don't take it too serious.

Probably it's only a "Fortunately" because 7 Billion people in the USA would really fill up the place, wouldn't they? 
It all seems so stupid, it makes me want to give up!
But why should I give up, when it all seems so stupid?


Registrant since 05/22/2003
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTheMadMartian
Alien with an attitude
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Silence_of_Lambs:
Quote:
Don't take it too serious.

The entire tone of the post seemed a bit condescending so I may have read more into it than I should have.
Quote:
Probably it's only a "Fortunately" because 7 Billion people in the USA would really fill up the place, wouldn't they? 

True enough...we do have a lot of empty space, right in the middle, but I don't think it would fit everybody...though it would do away with the need for region free players. 
No dictator, no invader can hold an imprisoned population by force of arms forever.
There is no greater power in the universe than the need for freedom.
Against this power, governments and tyrants and armies cannot stand.
The Centauri learned this lesson once.
We will teach it to them again.
Though it take a thousand years, we will be free.
- Citizen G'Kar
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