Lately, in e-mail and chat I am seeing a confusing pattern of writing. Folks are putting their questions in the form of a statement, with a question mark at the end. This habit makes our meaning unclear and puts a burden on the receiving party to decipher the message. Here is a perfect example:

I’m sure he knows this is urgent since you and Buddy already connected?

– Anonymous

Is this a question or a statement? Is the writer asking for a response? It’s difficult to say. Do your readers a favor and communicate clearly. Use a period or an exclamation point when you are making a statement, and put your questions in the form of a question.

Here’s one of those ironies of technology that makes you stop and think, “Why am I just accepting what Apple delivers?” When you set up your do not disturb mode on iPhone, it now disturbs you every time it activates or deactivates. So, rather than having a small chance of being disturbed by a text or notification, I have a 100% chance of being disturbed by “Do not disturb” mode.

Why carry a handkerchief? Reason No. 32: Sometimes you drop something, like your laptops power supply cable, into your cup of joe.

Why carry a handkerchief? Reason No. 33: If you need to extract your arrow tip from the wall, you can use your hanky to protect the threads.

Why carry a hanky? Reason No. 34: Public speakers often sweat under the lights, and a handkerchief is a classy way to deal with sweat.

Why carry a pocketknife? Reason No. 8: The fastest way to access a fresh batch of cheese curds involves a pocketknife.

Why carry a pocketknife? Reason No. 9: Stickers on the bottom of your shoe are not awesome, but removing them with a knife is.

Why carry a pocketknife?  Reason no. 10: Do you have some balloons tied to a chair but you need them untied?  You need a knife.

Why carry a pocketknife? Reason No. 11: Chestnuts, roasted on an open fire, are better when opened with a pocketknife.

Why carry a pocketknife? Reason No. 12: Sometimes a bottle of glue gets stopped up and you need a tool to remove the dried glue on the tip.