It is always interesting how discussion topics take on a life of their own.

This topic started as a simple request for additional "white space" (limited punctuation and some carriage returns) to improve the organization and readability of some posts. It has since wandered through auto formatting techniques, css rules, browser capabilities, the importance of overall grammar and english as a second language.

Sticking with the original request - there are literally hundreds of studies of language readability (any language - even "programming languages"). The general conclusion of the ones I have seen is that using white space (lateral and vertical) and other cues (capital letters, simple punctuation) to organize what you are trying to communicate is critical in helping the reader get the point(s) your are trying to make. Interesting thing to note is this seems to be due to human physiology and it appears to be consistent across all forms of written communication (even music and math) as well as being independent of first or second languages.

With the above in mind, if you are making the effort to post something it is because you have something to say. Why not say it in a way that is more accessible to others? That isn't saying you need to be grammatically perfect (no one is).

Interesting (if wide ranging) discussion,

- Eric