Wouldn't it be nice?

Of course you can use them here on the boards, but I guess you're referring to quizzes!
Actually, some people have in the past used bold and italics in quizzes, and I've seen a couple that use color. However, they are rare, and I'm not sure if it's because it's not allowed now, or whatever. In any case it would only work in HTML (and frequently doesn't). It would be nice, but I can't think of an instance where you couldn't easily get around using italics.

Richard

Quizzes with italics and bold and color are very old, and that is not allowed anymore. Instead of using italics for a title, you could try using "" for a "title".

The quizzes with anything besides regular type would probably be rejected by editors if they would be submitted today.

Thanks for the confirmation, Salami. I assumed they weren't allowed any more, but didn't want to state that as a fact!

FT Quizzes do not allow HTML code of any kind. This code uses tags enclosed in brackets such as < > and the minute those appear, the questions retain an error message that won't let them be submitted to the queue (or will take them offline if adjusted).

Terry set up the system to prevent HTML because it could allow players to insert some potentially bad stuff. Because of this we place titles in quotation marks (which is, technically, acceptable as per citation rules in a number of styles).

Thanks for that even further and better explanation, Kyle.

If I've got this straight, then the reasons are:

1 We can't use italics because italic text requires HTML code and
2 we can't allow HTML code because it could lead to BAD THINGS.
(Besides italics, bold, colours, underlining, strikeout and variable text sizes would be under the same restrictions).

The options we can use are:
'Title' or "Another Title" or "Quotation";
*emphasis* and HEAVY EMPHASIS (rather loud, but there it is).

Is there anything I've missed, or is that it?

No, that sounds about right to me.

You haven't missed a beat. You know how to get around not using italics, so that's all you really need to know.

Just to clarify for anyone reading this thread, don't just 'try' using quotes for a "title", do use quotes for a "title". It's required in every quiz category when the title does not stand alone (i.e. if it has any other text around it).


As for the *emphasis*/EMPHASIS thing - some editors have certain styles they prefer, e.g. if you submit questions that read "Which of these do *not* have...", the editor who deals with your quiz may prefer that the questions instead say "Which of these do NOT have.." or vice versa.

And some might prefer not using either way, correct, GG? Some might just like it to say "Which of these do not have..."

And thanks for clarifying, GG. Yes, don't just try, actually DO. lol.

There are even some players who don't like the *not* questions at all. Use this sort of questions sparsely or you'll be flooded by notes from some of my team members.

Which kind of notes? The kind that offer constructive criticism or the kind that go directly in the garbage?

By the way, I think you've ended my writer's block. Thanks for the inspiration.

"Not" questions are pretty much the same as other questions. There is still one correct answer out of those listed (unlike "All of these" or "None of these" questions). I personally don't have a problem with them at all. They just sometimes require that extra step of thinking.

I don't mind "not" questions a bit...as reeshy said, they aren't really different from other questions--you just have to reverse your thinking.

.. and actally read the question properly.

I get caught up on those all the time from not properly reading the question and answer options. Not that I mind too much, it's a slap on the head and a reminder to take my time and READ what I am doing.

And don't fire off a correction note until you have checked again! One of the risks of the *not* question is the number of players who will send a correction insisting that they did pick a correct answer, overlooking the *not*. They can be tedious to deal with, so it's wise to use this type of question sparingly to reduce the number of red flags you see!

The possibility of misunderstandings is why I usually ask that the "NOT" be in caps or otherwise emphasized. Just makes life easier.

Hmmm, I always thought editors preferred to NOT have them in caps. I'll have to keep that in mind from now on.

I don't think that I ask what's NOT very often, but when I do, I'll remember to put it in all caps to stand out easier.

Maybe not all editors, but I've found it makes life easier for everyone.

If it's a big deal, I'm sure the editor will change it themselves without hassle and if it's a major problem it'll be hashed out.

I prefer to use NOT, but have had it changed to *not* by other editors. As long as the critical word is indicated somehow, players are alerted to take care in answering the question. I always feel that just slipping the not into the question unobtrusively feels a bit like trying to trick the players, which is never my aim in writing quizzes.

One would just send me back the quiz, but the others would change it.

I did like being able to format and edit text when we had proper blogs, and I sometimes used blue in lists, and red or bold to head an update, but I don't miss posts made in 72-point red on a pink background, or 12-point light green on dark green.

I've never liked "not" and "never" questions.

One reason is that I find it very easy to miss the "not" in timed quizzes. I spot an answer that looks right, click it, pleased because I spotted it so quickly, and run headlong into the next question.

The other reason is that things change. Example:
"Which actor has never played this character?"
That may have been OK in 2000, when the quiz was written, because only one of them hadn't played Mme Bovary or Wackford Squeers. Ten years later, they all had. (I've seen a few like this, but I made these two up.)

That's the trade-off in the timed games. You can sacrifice the time points and read the whole question, or you can skim the question and risk missing a crucial piece of information.



We don't allow questions like this, for the exact reason that you've pointed out. However, they were allowed in the past so some of the older quizzes may contain questions that are now out-of-date. If you see any like this, please let us know so we can make sure that they are fixed.

The only way I'll allow a "who never played" question in Movies is if the actor is deceased and the opportunity to play the part will therefore not arise. I'm not a big fan of not/never questions myself as a player though.

Spanishliz (Movies Editor)