The use of short forms in communication

In case you are just waking up to this reality, let me introduce you to the prevalent communication style online. Think no further, it is the use of short forms of words. It has long been in use as we thought of employing swift patterns of responding to chats in the virtual space. Also, this pattern of writing has been encouraged by our desire to limit the length of our message, especially with an SMS, to avoid the extra tele charges.

Many have taken part in this new norm, including me. But in a formal setting, this isn’t allowed. There, it is required that communication be clear and devoid of ambiguities. To achieve this the communicator must employ words in the English language vocabulary. And in the English vocabulary words do have their acceptable spellings. But the virtual space has transgressed this law of proper spellings.

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The indulgence can have a strong grab on the mind if not put in check. Some of such short forms can be seen as follows; dat (for That), u or ur (for You or Your), gud (for Good), huz (for House), b4 (for Before), uwc (for You Are Welcome), brb (for Be Right Back), d or de (for The), n (for And) frend (for Friend), lyk (for Like), mnt (for Month), etc.

You see, an individual must first be a part of the “community” else such may not be able to comprehend what the person at the other end is saying. Imagine you being new to this sort of writings: “wen (when) r (are) u (you) visiting us again?” Or “2day (today) I had a gud (good) xperience (experience) @ (at) skool (school)” If you are new to the use of short forms of words in communication then you may get lost along the way.

As fashionable as this may look it must not become a part of our daily use of words. Personally I have been tempted to wish that it was possible to employ short forms of words while writing an SMS, a WhatsApp message to an elderly person, or while writing an official letter. It clearly reflects how possible an addiction can result in this case. Having been spending time virtually with friends and colleagues and accepting to chat with them via the use of short forms of words it feels as though it is a standard approach to communication. This must be avoided.

Prolonged use of short forms of words will not help a student in building his/her vocabulary. At any point that the use of short forms is applied to words, the individual concerned must acknowledge that it is only a temporary usage. Without such a mindset then addiction will set in and good communication will be eroded. It shouldn’t get to that. Watch over ur communication health n neva tink dat ur use of short forms is a standard 4mat.

Written by Itoro