A recent poll by the Pew Institute indicates that most workers who use the internet find that email improves their productivity. In the past, there was concern about threats to email such as spam and phishing. In addition it was thought that texting and social media would displace email. But now we find out that landline phones are more important than cell phones to workers who use the internet, and the workers rank social media as being low in importance
In my experience, when I get a business related email from someone, it is usually well crafted in that the writing is proper. I would think that it would have to be if it is used, as described above, in the business world to improve productivity.
But in 2011, I wrote a piece complaining about the more casual uses of email. It relates to how email is used as we write to our friends or relatives about more informal matters. However, since we now see that emails have stood the test of technology time, I would like to bring that 2011 piece back (below) for your perusal:
“Communication of the Written Word.”
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger (March 2011)
Other than speech, words printed on a page were the main way to communicate, going all the way back to the invention of the printing press. But now we have instant messaging, e-mailing, web site posting, blog posting, Tweeting, and social networking.
Undoubtedly you have noticed that these new ways to communicate have had an effect on how we use language. For example with text messaging there is no pretense to sentences or spelling. It is all about speed and abbreviations.
Emails have been a source of concern to those who worry about “proper” use of the written word. It is acceptable in an email to avoid sentences, clarity, spelling, grammar or punctuation. Words go missing, uncapitalized or overcapitalized, and syntax is often “mangled*”. It also is a way to communicate without any evident emotion; so email messages may be misunderstood.
A new generation is emerging that does not know how to properly use commas, hyphens, semi-colons and other little punctuation symbols that give rhythm and meaning to sentences. For those who teach English, their jobs are now tougher and more important than ever.
So what to think about this deterioration in language usage? It can’t be a good thing—-or can it?
Lynne Truss* says, “With text messaging and emailing becoming such universal activities, reading and writing are more a fact of everyday life that they have ever been.”
David Crystal** says, “The internet encourages a playful and creative (and continuing) relationship with the written word.”
For myself, I am pledging to write whole sentences in my emails— with proper spelling and punctuation. I have come to realize that ideas may not be taken seriously if you do not maintain some standards in your messaging. On the other hand, language usage always changes over time, but, for now, I will stick to the usual rules, but with flexibility to allow for new trends, such as how to use commas. (How’d I do in that last sentence?).
Lynne Truss* (Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, 2003)
David Crystal** (Language and the Internet, 2001)
MADELEINE PEYROUX: