Battle Zone Guidelines: Fine Tuning

An Encounter!

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Here on the Battle Zone, the participants do not expect perfection in the posts on the guestbook.  Spelling errors, typographical mistakes, and messy grammar are all found frequently.  HTML is sloppy at times, and sentences don't always make the most sense (ie; "so i you do not mide i.").  This section is about fine tuning your posts before you post them.  This isn't grammar school, however, so don't worry about losing points for mistakes.

A Few Common Mistakes

There are several things that just about everyone does at some point and time.  Thankfully, we all do it so it is relatively forgivable.

The Trouble With "it's" and "its!"

A very common mistake here.  I have a special way of remembering which one is which though.  Here's my secret "it's/its" formula: 

When "it" is possessive, the correct spelling is "its" with no apostrophe.  Just remember that "it's" means "it is" and is the only "it with an s" that gets an apostrophe.  

So lets say that you see "it's" in a sentence.  Does the sentence still make sense when you substitute "it is" for the contraction ("it's).  If it doesn't make sense, then it should have been "its."  If you remember this, you'll go far.  Why, just look at me; I left my job at McDonald's behind years ago and I haven't looked back once.

They're Having Problems with Their Pronouns Over There

This is a simple and common error as well, but there are a few easy ways to make sure to use the right spelling.

Forced Excellence

The Force is created by all living things.  It flows around us and through us, binding us together.  

It should also ALWAYS be capitalized.  I cannot force you to use an upper case "f" when you type "Force," but I will encourage you to do so.  The Force is both revered and reviled in the Star Wars galaxy, and should be recognized when we read about it.  It is also a proper noun and should be treated as such.

Just Call Me a Nitpicking Cuss

Speaking of proper nouns, the Force has several different disciplines which are all proper nouns.  This includes the Light Side and Dark Side.  They should always be capitalized.

HTML Nightmares!

I hope I didn't scare you with that heading.   HTML is easy, anyone can master the basics of it in only a few hours.  HTML is useful on the BZ guestbook, for when you post you can determine how your post looks.  Here are a few helpful pointers for making your posts look nice:

Paragraphs and Line Breaks

You can start a new line by adding a Line Break by typing <BR>.  This can be upper case or lower case.
You can start a new paragraph by typing <P>.  Again, this may be upper or lower case.

Horizon Lines:  The <HR> Tag

I'd prefer this not be used.  When it is used it looks like this:


Use of the Horizon Line is not a horrid offense, I am just not fond of it.  If your post needs something to break up the continuity, I prefer to see five number symbols in the center of the page, like this:

#####

This is achieved by typing something like <p><center>#####</center><p>.  I think it looks better than the Horizon Line.

Onward To Uniformity

This is a matter of preferential nitpicking on my part, but there is a method to my madness.  Certain things just look better when they are done the same way by everyone.

If this all seems like a bit of trouble, then download my handy dandy HTML script for the BZ!  Copy the text to a notepad file and save it on your C:\ drive.

*Translated from the language of the people who cry about missing cheese.

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