by Logan Sanderson

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: May 20, 2009

The slang used in text messaging would not be a problem if only it was used for its intended purpose, unfortunately, it has become merged with formal English by many of its users.

Those who text message tend to use a shortened word, abbreviation, or a single letter to represent an entire thought. The word you is usually replaced with the letter u. Their, there, and they're are usually written simply as there, in all three cases. Your and you're are usually simplified to ur or the exclusive usage of your in both occurrences. Thought's such as I don't know and laugh-out-loud have been replaced with IDK and LOL.

These expressions were invented to reduce the number of keystrokes required to convey a message. They serve their purpose well, if both parties can read them. However, some people who use this slang language cannot use proper spelling and grammar when formal writing is required. They've become so used to this informal language, that they cannot write formally when they need to.

Along with formal spellings of words, grammar rules, including capitalization and punctuation, have been forsaken. Shortened expressions lead to ambiguity in writing and, no matter what the skills of the reader, some sentences without proper grammar can be interpreted multiple ways.

Spelling presents another problem; some people who text message rely on their phones to spell out words. They may know the first few letters, but the phone does the rest. When these users are presented with a computer, or even a pencil and paper, they have difficulty correctly spelling and may use the wrong word because it looks similar, or has the same first few letters.

A possible reason why some other informal languages have never become a problem is that their users could understand the difference between informal and formal English.

The reason words like thou and thee fell out of the English language is probably because of lack of use. The same could happen for their, there, and they're, as well as many other subtle spelling differences if we're not careful. Determining the difference between formal and slang English presents a problem for people who use slang 90% of the time; they don't use the formal language, so they forget it. Of course, there will always be people who understand and can write formal English, just as there are people who still understand the correct usage of thou, but if the general population continues to use informal slang more than formal English, it will slowly become the standard.

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