Horizontal beams

I’m sure you’re right about the convention. I did mean the post as a bit of a tease, though echoing the sentiment of your second paragraph. I do sing a lot of contemporary music, in which there are frequent rehearsal discussions about the notational choices!

I got it twofold. I got the humor and I feel the pain firsthand as I ride into battle against the composers themselves when I’m wearing my engraver hat. I said I’m happy that Dorico guides your hand, but, since I have yet to receive Dorico files from someone else to clean up yet, I guess I haven’t seen any of the creative ways those guys can make everything go haywire by misusing the software or ignoring convention. Either way, believe me: I’m often on your side. But this isn’t really one of those cases.

Just discovered, that my request is already possible: select a single note and beam it (to itself). Great!