Student texting habits don't carry over into writing
By Andy Treese
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Focus
Text-based communication is a phenomenon that's highly prevalent amongst teenagers across the country, particularly that of text messaging.
According to the Pew Research Center, 85 percent of teenagers say they use text-based communication such as text messaging, e-mailing, instant messaging or even exchanging comments on social networking Web sites like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter.
But does the text messaging trend have an effect on the way students write for their classes?
Writing papers for classes at the collegiate level isn't out of the ordinary for SRU students.
According to sophomore physics major Grant Batchelor, 20, text messaging, to an extent, affects his transitioning to professional writing.
"From time to time, I do catch myself using short-handed language on accident when writing," he said. "However, it doesn't significantly affect the way I write."
Proper grammar and sentence structure are sometimes not taken into account when people send a text message. Rather than spelling out whole words, teenagers like Batchelor make abbreviations for words, such as "LOL" that takes up less space than "laugh out loud."
"I usually like to abbreviate my words when sending a text," Batchelor said. "[Abbreviating] makes it so you don't have to type as many letters, which makes typing the message easier and quicker."
While some teenagers sometimes find it difficult to transition from text messaging to writing papers, freshman history and secondary education major, Thomas Boyd, 19, and freshman biology major, Jake Walters, 19, say text messaging doesn't give them a hassle with their grammar.
"I'm not like the traditional person who sends a text message," Boyd said. "I will usually write whole words instead of substituting them with letters, unless I am in a big hurry."
Walters said he doesn't let his texting habits affect his colligate writing.
"I like to think that I'm clear-cut for the most part," he said. "I'm pretty lazy with my texting habits, but when it comes to writing papers, I usually spell out everything grammatically correct."
According to the Pew Research Center, 85 percent of teenagers say they use text-based communication such as text messaging, e-mailing, instant messaging or even exchanging comments on social networking Web sites like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter.
But does the text messaging trend have an effect on the way students write for their classes?
Writing papers for classes at the collegiate level isn't out of the ordinary for SRU students.
According to sophomore physics major Grant Batchelor, 20, text messaging, to an extent, affects his transitioning to professional writing.
"From time to time, I do catch myself using short-handed language on accident when writing," he said. "However, it doesn't significantly affect the way I write."
Proper grammar and sentence structure are sometimes not taken into account when people send a text message. Rather than spelling out whole words, teenagers like Batchelor make abbreviations for words, such as "LOL" that takes up less space than "laugh out loud."
"I usually like to abbreviate my words when sending a text," Batchelor said. "[Abbreviating] makes it so you don't have to type as many letters, which makes typing the message easier and quicker."
While some teenagers sometimes find it difficult to transition from text messaging to writing papers, freshman history and secondary education major, Thomas Boyd, 19, and freshman biology major, Jake Walters, 19, say text messaging doesn't give them a hassle with their grammar.
"I'm not like the traditional person who sends a text message," Boyd said. "I will usually write whole words instead of substituting them with letters, unless I am in a big hurry."
Walters said he doesn't let his texting habits affect his colligate writing.
"I like to think that I'm clear-cut for the most part," he said. "I'm pretty lazy with my texting habits, but when it comes to writing papers, I usually spell out everything grammatically correct."
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