Student texting habits don't carry over into writing

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."

In article published by The Rocket on Nov. 10, 1989, concern was expressed by several representatives of the English department for the decline of writing skills in students. Because of the decline in writing ability, the professors' concern was that it would affect students' performances in passing classes and finding a job after graduation.

"You cannot give students the idea that they can enter the job market using casual language in both writing and speech, for it would not be a realistic way to treat language and college students," said Edward Walsh, a professor at SRU at the time.

For professor of English, Dr. William Zeiger, text messaging doesn't pose a problem with students and their grammar.

Zeiger said he doubts that the formats of text messaging or other text communication will affect students' odds of finding jobs.

"I suspect that all such skills will be a bonus," he said.

In the process of finding a job, applications must be filled out and submitted with a written resume. Once hired, many jobs require their employees to do a surprising amount of writing, such as proposals, reports, memos and records, said Zeiger.

To Walters, writing skills are very important to becoming successful after graduation.

"I may not like writing, but I acknowledge that it is a big part of being able to find a good job," Walters said. "If you want to find a good job, you're going to have to write very well."

Boyd said that his current major encompasses a lot of writing, and though he's considering changing his major to communication, he said he'll still need to develop his writing.

"To me, I don't think that writing should have such an emphasis on what you can and can't do as a potential employee," he said. "With that said, however, I think writing will greatly affect my job opportunities."

As electronic media and communication are increasingly used every day, Zeiger said he believes that electronic communication has changed the English language.

"The facility of electronic communication gives plenty of oomph to the casual and jaunty language that youth always invents," Zeiger said. "The renaissance-about 400 years ago-may be the last time the English language changed as rapidly as it is changing now. I doubt that the influence of texting on language will continue for a long time, but the changes that happen in this comparatively short period may last a long time.