h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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http://www.h2g2.com/forumframe.cgi?forum=11830&thread=14038

Thought it might be nice if you had some info on the origins of the @ symbol. I could supply any myself of course, you have to do all the hard stuff yourself.

More reference to use of @ in addresses maybe and a touch more humour. What is the link at the end all about?

I'm actually not reading the others, so this may have been said, but it could use more information about the @ symbol itself, it's uses, history, etc. Either that, or change the title to something less general, like "Naming the @ symbol". I've heard it called the "at symbol", which really isn't a name and certainly not an exciting one, but hey.
Maybe this part should be in the review? Oh well-
I think it would be very interesting if you had a forum for what people could call it; as a way to make it a bit more interactive. Just a thought.

I am a dutchman, and as said in the article we call it apestaartje. I have heard an explanation for the abbreveation A.T. as meaning Ape's Tail.

I like it.

I think the quasi-official name -is- "the at symbol" ... rather boring, like "the plus sign" ... Although I like your explanation better, I was always told it comes from:

4 @ $5.00 being read as "four 'at' five dollars"

IRCers, on the other hand, generally go with the Swedish version. Most of us call our little op signs "Cinnamon Buns".

Thanks for the comments everyone. Appreciated.

I have rearranged, rewritten and used paragraphs.

Jon Odd I have incorporated your Apes Tail reference.Naturally I never gave you a credit. I'm like that

When I was at school 30 years ago, our typing teacher called it 'ambersand'

paul the brake the ampersand looks like this &, or side on like this &, from behind like this &.

We are trying to invent a new word fot this @ nasty critter.

Ampersand, an interesting word, just the type of thing we need for @.

The ampersand sits smugly with an interesting name on keyboards world wide. In the middle of the keyboard, right at the top, the swine.

My hero the @ symbol is way out in left field. But, apart from the $ sign, is the most used symbol in the English stuttering world.

Please help this interesting symbol be known by a classier name than AT.

The word ant is more interesting than at.

I have, on occasion, heard it referred to as "the whirlygig" if that helps.

OK LT, I'll put on my typographical ^ here. I have taken a gander @ your article & my thoughts - As it has stimulated such response I would think this is the ideal topic 2 B rejected, rather than topics that may cause a blocked " :".

Once you pick a name it usually sticks (project code names become product names, nicknames 4 coinage..) - so "at" is probably here to stay. Like ampersand is the "and" sign - What about "addressor". Sounds sort of official & latinate, and nobody will ever use it in common speech.

You learn something new every day, sorry about my mistake. No wonder I never passed my typing exams. Perhaps it could be called 'ambitus' then, definition in my dictionary, a going round

Yes, perhaps, maybe

I was thinking maybe it could share a name with number 2. A number it shares it's spot on keyboards with?

on the UK keyboard it is 2 keys to the left of the return key, on the right of the semi colon/colon key. shift No.2 is " in the UK

Amazing. I always thought qwerty keyboards were the same all over the English speaking world. Obviously not.

Well there you go, I said you learn something new everyday

Would you like to invest in my baldness cure money making scheme?

I would have but this money making scheem of yours has one tiny flore, Being bald is all the rage at the momment, now if it was a 'Get bald quick' scheem count me in.

Is the funrun done or has this turned into a "For Bald Men Only" forum?