Can I ask silly questions?

[hopefulfaith]

I'm reading a lot of vegetarian/vegan blogs and websites lately, and I'm wondering about the shorthand.

When people say "veg", it means vegetarian, right?

And why do you sometimes spell 'vegan' with an asterisk? ("veg*n")


Thank you!

[nicky85]

Hhhmmm... That is a really good question. I want to say I've seen it both ways, but I've never really thought about it.

[Adaline'sMama]

I always assumed that veg*n meant vegetarian. Like people were substituting the * for etaria (of vegetarian. I am always confused as to weather veg is vegetarian or vegan.

[Artichokie]

I use the asterisk to be inclusive of all non-meat eating groups. Veg*n means (to me) that it applies not just to non-meat-eating vegetarians, but to vegans and all who consider them selves under the vegan/vegetarian umbrella. In general (again, imo), vegetarians don't eat meat but might eat animal related products (like honey), where as vegans do not use/eat/exploit ANY animal related good. So by typing veg*n, all groups are included.

[germin8]

I agree w/ Artichokie. To me, veg*n meant both vegetarian and vegan. When I write "veg", I am referring to both.

And, to add to the mix... (although I haven't seen this here), I consider myself veganarian. Vegan who sometimes eats vegetarian, but vegan is preferred. For example, we are vegan at home and when we eat out. But, when we are with friends/family or church potlucks, I don't give my hosts a hard time by 'making' them prepare a vegan dish that may not taste good. But, they do know we are veg. We still select the vegan-looking dishes... but we don't know if real butter was used or not... or if there are ingredients w/ dairy, etc.

[*LoveBugMama*]

I also use veg*n for both vegetarian and vegan, and that is also how it`s used on a few other boards I frequent sometimes. (Veggieboards and the vegan forum.)

When people write veg, I usually think they are vegetarian. But I don`t know WHY I do that...

[hopefulfaith]

Oh, okay! I've got it. I totally had the asterisk thing wrong.
This will make it easier for me to decipher stuff.

Thanks!

[marsupial-mom]

Veg and veg*n are inclusive. They mean "vegan and vegetarian".

You got it