If you’re on Windows, just press:
Windows + ; (semicolon)
It pops up this little menu where you can pick all kinds of emoticons and stuff. Super handy if you’re lazy like me and don’t want to Google them every time 😂.
Quick heads-up though: the selection is kinda limited compared to what you get on your phone or online, but it’s still pretty cool. If you’re into more options, check out “Emoticon Hub” or hit up GitHub’s massive emoji list.
Also… I have no clue what the shortcut is on Mac (if there even is one). Any Mac users here? Drop a comment and help a clueless user out!
That’s more a British style I think. I’ve definitely noticed a shift in software strings. If I had to guess, I’d say that the increase in software developers from India and other South Asian countries means more of that style being inherited.
Possibly, on both counts. I know the Guardian and BBC News style guides use that convention.
Yet there’s this regarding the AP Style Guide:
https://grammarmill.com/ap-style-rule-for-acronyms/
It mentions odd rules like “if an acronym is longer than 5 characters” and such.
Either way, my money’s on an internal style guide that Microsoft (in OP’s example) requires its staff to use.