EZ-Magnetic Chuck Key Holder

[Frank S]

Back in the 70s if you had a pocket protector, black frame glasses taped with white surgical tape and a white shirt that advertised everything you'd eaten for the last four days you could repel girls from distances as great as 150 yards.

Didn't work for me that was how I wound up with my first wife sans the Poindexter glasses, or maybe it was my white lab coat turtleneck sweaters and loud bell bottom trousers phase I went through before reverting back to cowboy boots, hat & jeans

[tonyfoale]

Type "pocket protector" into Google images and you'll get plenty of pictures of the device itself and genuine nerds modeling them.

Thanks. I must say that I had not seen those previously. However, although I have never owned one I am familiar with a device for holding one or two pens in a pocket. The device clips in place like a pen clip and holds one or two spring things into which you place pens or pencils. I don't know the proper name of it though.

I did have a pocket sized slide rule with a leather case which I always had in a shirt or jacket pocket. I never went anywhere without it.

PS. Mr. Google found this on eBay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/1-X-Double-...d=162737079877

[Paul Alciatore]

For best usage, commas can sometimes be inserted to make the intent clear.

Purple, people eater = a purple thing that eats people. This is clear with the comma

Purple people eater = a thing that eats purple people. But this is confusing.

and

Magnetic, chuck key holder = a magnetic device that holds chuck keys.

Magnetic chuck key holder = a device that holds chuck keys that are magnetic. Again, this can be confusing.

But most people will interpret the ones without commas properly. I suspect Tony simply read the title quickly. We all do that some of the time.

English is a funny language, particular when it comes to the use of multiple adjectives.
When I saw your heading I misinterpreted it as "Magnetic Chuck" Key Holder instead of Magnetic "Chuck Key" Holder. That wouldn't happen in some languages.

My favourite example comes from Sheb Woolly's classic song "The purple people eater". Is he someone who eats purple people, or is he purple and eats people. That is my favourite all time song, they don't write them like that anymore.

[mklotz]

For best usage, commas can sometimes be inserted to make the intent clear.

Purple, people eater = a purple thing that eats people. This is clear with the comma

Purple people eater = a thing that eats purple people. But this is confusing.

and

Magnetic, chuck key holder = a magnetic device that holds chuck keys.

Magnetic chuck key holder = a device that holds chuck keys that are magnetic. Again, this can be confusing.

But most people will interpret the ones without commas properly. I suspect Tony simply read the title quickly. We all do that some of the time.

For folks unfamiliar with the Byzantine complications of English, a few more words can make things unmistakably clear.

A purple eater of people

A magnetic holder for the chuck key

are difficult to confuse in almost any Western language.

Romance languages tend to use descriptive phrases rather than the single adjectives of English. It's more verbose but less subject to confusion.

German welds the adjectives to the noun to create super-words, descriptive but a pronunciation nightmare for those poor souls unfortunate enough to not be born German.

[thehomeengineer]

Lost me. Commas are wasted on me, I am dyslexic lol
No, I really am dyslexic so I make it up as I go most of the time. It just takes me six to seven times to read something to understand it. Would struggle without computer. They really are a great help and allows me to post with a lot more confidence. So, if you ever read one of my posts and it really doesn’t make sense let me know lol.
The Home Engineer

[tonyfoale]

For best usage, commas can sometimes be inserted to make the intent clear.

Purple, people eater = a purple thing that eats people. This is clear with the comma

Purple people eater = a thing that eats purple people.

Sheb Wooley sang without the commas being obvious, but true afficionados know well that the purple people eater considered that eating purple people sure was fine.

[Jon]

Relevant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eats,_Shoots_%26_Leaves

[mklotz]

OK, if you want to practice your punctuation, here are two sentences. Your challenge is to punctuate them so they make sense.

James while John had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher

That that is is that that is not is not is that it it is

[thehomeengineer]

Took about 2 seconds to fit. After doing this project I was shattered.
Thanks for sharing but please come up with some easier fixes next time lol

[Paul Jones]

Marv and The Home Engineer,

I enjoy the art of punctuation for the English language. Punctuation clarifies the exact meaning to the subject and something I was taught in the 50's and 60's. You may see my HMT editing date stamps on several of my postings and replies whereby I have edited my previous written text. I think my writing skills have deteriorated over time when quickly replying during work using email, IM and the Internet. I especially dislike my mistakes in the use of prepositions. I have forgotten many of my old grammar rules originating from Latin translations and historically have made their way into the English language and are now considered obsolete.


Regards,

Paul Jones