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Dunno if this a seperated by common punctuation thing, but to me, a Brit, I dont even know the term "scare quotes". To me, its just emphasis.
by alan_cx 13y ago
Dunno if this a seperated by common punctuation thing, but to me, a Brit, I dont even know the term "scare quotes". To me, its just emphasis.
- raldi 13y agoHere are some examples of how they're used: McDonald's is the only "restaurant" in town that's open today. My four-year-old is "helping" me build a table. Please escort this "gentleman" to the exit door.
- gojomo 13y agoBut sometimes, it's just meant as emphasis of the word, together with a nod to the fact that the specific word may have been consciously chosen by others, and you're reusing their label without fully endorsing it. For example: I don't want the kinds of results Google calls "personalized". Using the quotes elsewhere alludes to that same sort of sentiment – referring to something that others do literally call "personalized" – but in not so many words. There may also be a slight implication of a "scare" second-level of meaning – maybe when Google claims the results are "personalized", that's really just cover for "revenue-optimized despite what's best for me". But that sinister reading isn't required by the quotes, just vaguely hinted.
- alan_cx 13y agoThey read like just sarcasm to me.
- aestra 13y agohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scare_quotes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scare_quotes