I was interviewed a year or so ago by an AP writer who read a book I wrote on spelling, and he asked if these text-messaging spellings were creeping over into college writing.  I think he wanted to hear me say "hell yeah and I'm not going to stand for it!"  However, as I would say today to him, I do not believe this is a widespread problem with most college students, who seem able in their formal writing to understand they need to avoid txt-spellings and abbreviations.

However.....my wife who teaches sixth grade has seen an increasing number of the creep-over of these spellings.  Most seem to know such language is not formal; they just say it's 'easy' to use them.   Yet quite a number have no idea that txt-spellings are not considered correct in formal writing.  

Larry Beason



>>> "R. Michael Medley (GLS)" <[log in to unmask]> 06/20/08 9:11 AM >>>
Washington Post staff writer Linton Weeks seemingly believes everything he
reads:

"In a survey, Internet language -- abbreviated wds, :) and txt msging --
seeping into academic writing."

"Text messaging creep-over"?  Not a sign of it as far as I can tell.  I
just returned from reading more than 700 Advanced Placement English
language and composition essays written by students from across the
nation.  I saw plenty of inarticulateness but absolutely no sign
whatsoever of "text messaging creep-over" into academic writing. 
Apparently, high school students, even those who score rather low on their
essays (4.5 is about the average score on a scale of 9), know to keep
features of text messaging register out of their academic writing.

R. Michael Medley, Ph.D.
Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
[log in to unmask]  (540) 432-4051

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