Comments on: “Right?” – The New Semi-Colon

By: Matt Epp

Matt Epp — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:41:59 +0000

I don’t know… I’ve been noticing this for a few years now. Perhaps it’s becoming more widespread, though. My theory is it’s a weird USAmerican adaptation of the British phrase.

In any case, what I find more bizarre is communicating agreement by saying “I know, right?” This doesn’t bug me, though — I find it weirdly cool.

By: Russell Heimlich

Russell Heimlich — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:46 +0000

I have the same phenomenon with the word “like”. I hate hearing the word like between thoughts. Example: “and I was like ‘weird’?!?! Like how did it know that?” Right?

By: Trozdol

Trozdol — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:31:15 +0000

I think it’s fine. It’s what keeps you from sounding very stiff in your screencasts. It gives your voice a personality or “DNA.”

By: Elliot

Elliot — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:11:02 +0000

I have definitely noticed this myself, my grandfather called me on it, but it is by no means new. Perhaps where you live it’s new, but in Canada it’s been around for a few years now. No, we don’t say eh.

By: Bogdan Pop

Bogdan Pop — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:09:14 +0000

Change the right to a mmmm …

By: Shay

Shay — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:19:41 +0000

It’s not that noticeable at all in your screencasts. Certainly not as irritating as some English/Irish types saying “yeah?” where you say “right”. Makes people sound like sales reps trying to convince you that what they are saying is absolutely correct, yeah? :)

By: Posts about CSS as of October 13, 2009 | Definition Of Art LLC

Posts about CSS as of October 13, 2009 | Definition Of Art LLC — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:29:15 +0000

[...] website… (Budget: $30-250, Jobs: CSS, Dreamweaver, Logo Design, Photoshop, Website Design) “Right?” – The New Semi-Colon – chriscoyier.net 10/14/2009 I do screencasts over on CSS-Tricks. About 40-60 minutes a pop [...]

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:25:54 +0000

I hope you dont stop with the rights Chris. I personally really enjoy the way you speak in your screencasts and I even enjoy the rights. It breaks things up and in my head I answer you with my own right.

I have also seen people write that you are very soothing to listen to and this I have to agree with. Keep up your great work.

By: Frank Stallone

Frank Stallone — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:30:24 +0000

It is funny because when I think of someone saying “Right” it is Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) talking Fawlty Towers episodes. The difference is they are using it at the beginning of sentences not at the end.

Basil Fawlty: Right, well I’ll go and have a lie down then. No I won’t; I’ll go and hit some guests.

What is ironic about that is you mentioned that Andy Clarke and Simon Willison were the only two you noticed who had not used ‘right’ and I know Andy is from Europe I believe but I am not sure about Simon.

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. =)

By: Joseph Lamoree

Joseph Lamoree — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:22:30 +0000

The “right” speech quirk isn’t half as annoying to me as when people start every response with “so.” It’s especially common among technology pundits, personalities, and whatnot. Drives me crazy.