Using quotation marks as a replacment for bold / fat type when not available will never be not funny to me.
“Award winning”
(In this case it’s like “We’re not writing ‘Do not eat’ here that’s just a quote from someone saying that”)
“Thank god, the US becoming fascist was all a simulation!”
“No, that happened. Everything in the real world is the same except that silica gel is safe to eat here.”
Seriously, though: Why is “Do not eat” already in quotes on the packaging?
There’s a long history of people misunderstanding the purpose of quotation marks and using them for emphasis. It’s not quite to the point where the misunderstanding has taken over, and at this point it is unlikely given the fact that asterisks seem to have overtaken that role, but I remember memes about this from twenty years ago or so.
It’s even more pronounced in countries where English is not a primary language, which is likely where most silica gel packets are packed.
It’s an appeal to authority. When it’s in quotes, you realize it’s not the package itself speaking but someone else and since literally everyone has more authority than a package made of plastic, you now realize that this is important and valid
Fun fact, those things aren’t dangerous to eat because they are toxic (usually, unless they’re coated with something else).
They’re dangerous to eat because they are choking hazards, or may cause an intestinal blockage. More likely in children but not impossible in adults.
Don’t they get bigger once inside us? (Pause)
Your next Halloween candy purchase:
Why is it labeled “Fate”? Is one of those a real one??? 💀
The irony of having a family pack xD
Punctuation is important
Have you even seen Reddit or Lemmy? Hell, look at a news site: they barely know to put a space between words. What are we hoping about commas, hyphens, or - god forbid - semi-colons?
Not to dogpile on you (I am a fellow grammar-enjoyer), but on either side of “god forbid” you used hyphens—with spaces—in the place of em dashes 🙂
I wish more people were as passionate about language as you seem to be.
Punctuation is important
Are those 2 space I see between “words.” and “What”? :OOO
Punctuation is important? (maybe)
Punctuation is. Important! (certainly)
Punctuation: is important. (note to self)
Punctuation is “import ant” (what?)Punctuation is “import ant” (what?)
Great now! I’m in jail!
