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Luv 2 Txt MAG
You need to send a quick text to your mom to tell her soccer practice is canceled. In an effort not to get caught, you reach ever so slowly, skillfully, and one-handedly into your backpack. Drawing your bright purple handheld lifeline from the front pocket, you are careful not to press any button that will reveal your mission to Mr. Boring, who is yapping away at the front of the room. With the phone in your lap, you try not to look down as you type: “sccer canceled! pick^ @2 thx <3.”
Sent. You slip it into you pocket, fearing you will not be able to discreetly get it back in your bag. But wait … your BFF Lucy’s hair looked utterly ridiculous when you passed her in the hall on your way to bio. It’s unthinkable to wait until lunch to tell her. Only a horrid friend would let her saunter around with a mortifying hairdo! So, you repeat the sneaky process of texting: “Fix ur hair, its sticking ^!!!!” Now, not only have you just missed two whole possibly important minutes of Mr. Boring’s lecture, but you have furthered the decline of your spelling and vocabulary.
Could you understand the title of this article? Anyone who has ever texted or used instant messaging can. Most teens love to text. What our English teachers, parents, and future employers would prefer us to say is “I love grammar,” which most of us don’t. There are times when we have to use proper grammar and times when we don’t. The problem is that the line between when to spell-check and proofread and when to just type and send is becoming blurred and almost invisible.
The way we type when we use virtual communication devices affects the way we spell – not just when we’re in a rush, but on school or job assignments too. Ever caught yourself writing u instead of you in an essay for school? What about tho instead of though? In a world where instant gratification is everything, we simply do not take the time to add the few extra letters. Although teens today will eventually become the ones who set the standards for spelling and grammar, our elders are calling the shots now, and they tend to look down on spelling and grammatical errors. This could easily affect one’s grades or job opportunities.
Notice it or not, the words we choose, or rather don’t choose, when we use informal communication have significance. Rarely in a text message will a teen use the extensive vocabulary preached by our educators. Seldom do we see the word exultant for happy, morose for sad, querulous for annoyed, or ecstatic for glad in a text. We must reawaken this vast glossary of obscure and unused words if we expect to succeed on exams like the SATs that affect our future.
So, go ahead, work your fingers to the bone texting, but before you hit send, think about what you have written. Consider the words you chose and the way you spelled them and maybe, just maybe, you will retype your message.
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 306 comments.
Self respect requires proper grammar? Perhaps this is true for you, but all people have different values, and you have got to respect that no one else is you, and no one else has the exact same values. You value grammar and respect yourself, but other people value family, friends, school work, sports, or social status- and i recommend you respect that of other people, if you don't how can you expect them to respect you and your value of grammar?
For all we know, texting could be the way of the future, or a fad that will doe out quickly, to be looked back at in later years and laughed at like an old fashion trend or hair style. Either way, I wouldn't ridicule. I understand that you might believe grammar trumps a lot of other things, but some others are quite indifferent to the way there words are spelled and sentences are worded.
On top of that, my friend and I text each other back and forth all of the time. We use proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and real words to boot. I am insulted when someone sends me a mesage that is missing vowels. Am I that unimportant to them that they can't take an extra 13 seconds to write properly? I TAed a class once, and docked points on all assignments if I saw "tho" or "u", or other such nonsense. If I see such words, I automatically think the author is a little slow. Self respect demands that one uses proper language skills at all times, regardless of the situation.
I'm not saying that you should try to conform, or that using texting words will make your popularity soar, but it is the desire of many teens to fit in.
Not to mention, I've never written a text in my entirety, and yet i have no problem whatsoever trying to read "sccer canceld! pick ^ @2 thx <3"
Not that I don't appreciate your view, but but quite honestly I do not understand the dilemma. Text talking is kind of like short hand, except far easier to understand. If you cannot understand it, then it is something you have not learned- do not condescend on those who have further knowledge on a certain subject than you.
If I'm ecstatic, I'll say so. Otherwise, I'll say happy because that's what I am. They aren't the same word, and I wouldn't use them interchangeably.
as far as texting being the cause of the downfall of our entire generation's social, literary, and academic futures, i have to disagree.
Have you heard of this funny study? It showed that in France, students who were better at spelling were the ones who used abbreviations most when texting or instant messaging!
I also agree on the fact that this condescending to the population that does not use chat abbreviations, but my opinion differs on the number of population. As far as I've seen, the majority, at least, uses 'lol' or 'brb' or 'idk'.
To be honest, I'm extremely upset that electronic media is deteriorating the English language and print media. I plan to be in journalism and I love online articles, but there's nothing like a great print magazine or newspaper.
There's an 'Interesting concept' for you.
B.) I am however saying, that grammar isn't a concern at all to other people. I recommend you respect that,(if you didn't catch me saying that last time, perhaps you will now...)
C.) I'm sorry that you think some text talk resembles the sounds of a caveman, but to others is resembles the word it's derived from.
D.) Did you even read my first comment before you replied? I could have sworn I had said "this isn't just the laziness of the texter"
I'm also sorry if this comment sounds particularly rude, but I feel as if you are trying to change my words and pick me apart.
Just try to understand! Other people do NOT value grammar, and probably don't get why you do. They do not see text talking as a problem, or even something with a fault.