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Off Topic - Texting Question

Growler48

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2010
164
6
Maryland
Not sure where to ask this, so I'll do it here.

I have been reading these and other forums and keep seeing people use texting shortcuts, which doesn't bother me too much, but the one that drives me nuts is when they use "your" when they should be using "you're". I'll admit that I do very little texting, so I'm not up on all the shortcuts out there. So, is this a texting shortcut or do a lot of people just NOT know how to properly use "you're"?
 
I use shortcuts all the time... but do differentiate your and you're with "ur" & "u r" haha. I find it annoying as well when people can't use "their, they're, there, you, you're, etc..." correctly. But that's the problem with texting as a whole, kids text more now a days than write out papers and proper sentences.

I use "tho" too! Also "tom" for tomorrow, like "Are you goin out tom?"
 
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Text shortcuts come from when one message was limited to 160 characters. It still is, but these days you can string a longer message together with multiple messages and the recipient will be able to see it as one message.

However, your instead of you're is plain ignorance. I see it a lot on forums too, where there's no need to save characters.

Then there's effect/affect, their/there/they're, lose/loose, the list goes on.

I try to be grammatically correct, but I do use shortcuts when texting if it's a long message.
 
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When i'm texting people I know I use as many shortcuts as possible. But when it's someone I don't know very well, then I text it properly. I think most people know which form of your or you're to use, they just don't anymore because it is a lot quicker to say your. But I am in college and I help some friends edit term papers and it's sad how many people can't write a decent paper.
 
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I use shortcuts all the time... but do differentiate your and you're with "ur" & "u r" haha. I find it annoying as well when people can't use "their, they're, there, you, you're, etc..." correctly. But that's the problem with texting as a whole, kids text more now a days than write out papers and proper sentences.

I use "tho" too! Also "tom" for tomorrow, like "Are you goin out tom?"

Actually, I'm ok with your shortcuts. They at least show that you know how to properly sound out the correct words, unlike using "your" or "ur" for both. I forgot about "their, they're, there, affect & effect". Also VERY annoying.

Thanks everyone. At least I'm not the only one out there that gets annoyed with improper grammar. I'm dealing with this with my own daughter when she sends regular emails and even on some schoolwork. She uses texting shortcuts and she doesn't even have texting on her phone yet! That'll all change for us tomorrow when I get my X and enter the whole family into the world of texting! Honestly, though, w/Swype, voice to text and QWERTY keyboards, I don't see much of a need for shortcuts anymore. Maybe I'll change my tune when I actually start texting regularly!
 
Upvote 0
Not sure where to ask this, so I'll do it here.

I have been reading these and other forums and keep seeing people use texting shortcuts, which doesn't bother me too much, but the one that drives me nuts is when they use "your" when they should be using "you're". I'll admit that I do very little texting, so I'm not up on all the shortcuts out there. So, is this a texting shortcut or do a lot of people just NOT know how to properly use "you're"?

It's important to remember that this is an international forum and as such English is not a first language for many members. A lot of people who didn't learn English as a first language will know the spoken language better than the written language. This means that they will not even be aware that there is a difference between your and you're.

[double checks spelling and grammar before posting]
 
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It's important to remember that this is an international forum and as such English is not a first language for many members. A lot of people who didn't learn English as a first language will know the spoken language better than the written language. This means that they will not even be aware that there is a difference between your and you're.

[double checks spelling and grammar before posting]


Good point. Didn't think about that.
 
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Actually, I'm ok with your shortcuts. They at least show that you know how to properly sound out the correct words, unlike using "your" or "ur" for both. I forgot about "their, they're, there, affect & effect". Also VERY annoying.

Thanks everyone. At least I'm not the only one out there that gets annoyed with improper grammar. I'm dealing with this with my own daughter when she sends regular emails and even on some schoolwork. She uses texting shortcuts and she doesn't even have texting on her phone yet! That'll all change for us tomorrow when I get my X and enter the whole family into the world of texting! Honestly, though, w/Swype, voice to text and QWERTY keyboards, I don't see much of a need for shortcuts anymore. Maybe I'll change my tune when I actually start texting regularly!

I don't know if you allow your daughter to chat online but i'm sure that's where she gets the texting shortcuts from too (don't forget to & too). I think you will look at shortcuts differently once you start texting as someone said above you'll have a 160 character limit, so you'll have to be creative with long texts. But I def use proper grammar with emails I send tho.
 
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