Tweet
I get it's use in Social Media apps like Twitter and Facebook. But what's the purpose in a simple online article? Is the writer just trying to look cool/hip/with-the-times? "@ Tough day" ?
I've always thought of the "@" symbol as directing something to someone - like AT them. So, @Troy Polamalu would mean you are directing something specifically to Troy in a thread that may have multiple people in it. I see it used in Facebook this way often. But in Twitter, the @username actually directs what you type to their username if it exists.
But typing the following in an article seems to make no sense to me, "@ Bell also got some work with the first team in the final team portion of practice, splitting time with Isaac Redman."
Here, nothing is directed to Bell. It's about what Bell did. It's more of an "RE: Bell" than an "@ Bell". And the writer doesn't even use it consistently. For example, McFadden is referenced at the top without an "@".
I've always thought of the "@" symbol as directing something to someone - like AT them. So, @Troy Polamalu would mean you are directing something specifically to Troy in a thread that may have multiple people in it. I see it used in Facebook this way often. But in Twitter, the @username actually directs what you type to their username if it exists.
But typing the following in an article seems to make no sense to me, "@ Bell also got some work with the first team in the final team portion of practice, splitting time with Isaac Redman."
Here, nothing is directed to Bell. It's about what Bell did. It's more of an "RE: Bell" than an "@ Bell". And the writer doesn't even use it consistently. For example, McFadden is referenced at the top without an "@".
Comment