How do you signify actions online?

[Skylar1]

Over the years I've noticed that there is more than one way to display a verb or other action that distinguishes it from the rest of the dialogue.

What's your preferred version?

[under the rain]

Dashes usually. For sarcasm I use /sarcasm.

[Twelfth]

I use brackets.

[animeyay]

I tend to use CAPS for everything. =)
occasionally * I suppose...

[Izuna-chan]

I use the asterisks (is that what their called..?) to signify actions. I only use dashes and other stuff on, for example, MSN. Since I really don't have the option to italicize one word alone.

[smile1010]

*burps* I always just did it like that. I've seen some wierd ways of doing it though. I mean I don't judge because I'm not the type to do so. But they're some creative ways of signifying actions that make me *LAUGH*

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

*posts in thread*

[CapnJack]

I got use to the asterisks when watching others as I got into chatting with people. So you know, "Monkey see, monkey do."

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

I got use to the asterisks when watching others as I got into chatting with people. So you know, "Monkey see, monkey do."

Those are called quotation marks.

EDIT: Misread your post.

[Aku no Hikari]

Asterisks for actions. *pulls the trigger*

The slash is not used to mark the end of something at all, so using it elsewhere is never misusing it. /sarcasm

<obvious:captainObvious xmlns:obvious="http://www.w3.org/captainobviousns">XML tags in this case are a cheesy hyperbole used to signify something ad ridiculum.</obvious:captainObvious>

[CapnJack]

Those are called quotation marks. I know. I was quoting a popular quote. Though me putting it in asterisks would have been unique.

[smile1010]

I know. I was quoting a popular quote. Though me putting it in asterisks would have been unique.

Dude you pwn.

[Eris]

*action*. I recognize ::action::, but do not actively use it.

As a programmer, //action is a comment to me, or OOC-chat in RP

[Ranshiin]

-simple person uses simple action marks.-

dashes are easier for me to type than asterisks. I used to use those -_-'

I do also use the /sarcasm and <whatever> tags in certain scenarios.

I suppose everyone is relieved to hear that. /sarcasm

[Meenah]

+types out how she does her actions+

Why do I do that? I'm real cool like that./different
See what I just did there? kekeke~

[Archaic Devices]

If I'm on the forums I'll use -verb- but if I'm in chat I'll just put :verb

[Fuu Kasumi]

I uses to use * *, but I've switched over to brackets because it's less work.

[Aku no Hikari]

As a programmer, //action is a comment to me, or OOC-chat in RP

As a programmer... what?

[miniPhil]

I used to use the asterisk all the time. I haven't used any kind of 'action' for some time though.

[AzureDark]

I use *this* or /this, though looks like the latter is getting more frequent these days.

[Stripes]

I use the capslock and dashes and brackets and asterisks of course.

[Hanamaru Kunikida]

I also use images.

http://www.reoiv.com/images/random/jizzed_in_my_pants.gif

[Ramona Flowers]

I mix it up. Depends on how lazy I'm feeling and my mood. Images are always fun

[TheyCallMeFei]

I also use images.

http://www.reoiv.com/images/random/jizzed_in_my_pants.gif

That is SO how I feel right now.

[Elphaba]

I kinda do all of the above. It really depends how badly I want to get my point across. :]

[GameGeeks]

I use *, it's the first way I saw it done back when I starting roleplaying in Neverwinter Nights.

[Lily Rock]

*writing his speech* Oh Hai! *giving the finger to the crowd*
I've also used "explodes" sometime I think.

[~*Red*~]

I use * most of the time, since that's what was used on my old role-playing forum :)

[Armageddon]

Depends, whom I am doing the action to or with.

I usually use " :: "

But when I am too lazy I use " * " or " / "

But the " :: " had come from RP'n I suppose...

[Yuuchun]

I think it really depends on what type of community your with and what your doing. The asterisks I usually use/see it in RPG or anime communities...sometimes I see on LJ communities but most of the time they tend to use the forward slash mark and then insert their whatever intended action. So I use it according to what the people around me are using...but most of the time I use the hyphen to signify actions in a conversation...specially on MSN or forums.

[Lei Long]

I'm a star guy *

[MirrorToTheMoon]

I usually use asterisks at the beginning and end of an action, but when I'm not bothered, I use single forward slashes.

[SigmaSD]

*scratches head* Well it depends... most of the time I place my actions within these: *points to the asterisk* but other times I use emoticons do depict what I want to depict. =3

Or I tend to do the same thing the other person is doing if I'm RPing and or chatting with someone. *nod nod*