<empty>
<empty>
May 16, 2008
Go
Press Coverage

Selected news stories about the Pew Internet Project and articles citing our data.

OMG! TXT TLK BL33ding In2 Teenz Forml Riting

4/28/2008 | CoverageCoverage

Walaika Haskins, Tech News World, Communication Systems

'"Text-speak, the shorthand slang that some people employ when using electronic communications tools like text messages and e-mail, is winding its way into teens' schoolwork and formal writing, according to a recent Pew study. It's a new version of an age-old task for educators: teaching students the difference between slang and formal use of language.

A large number of teens feel that language more appropriately used in e-mails, text messaging and online postings has made its way into their school work, according to a new survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

About 50 percent of teenagers said they write something for school nearly every day. More than one-third reported having a written assignment several times a week. Most survey respondents, 73 percent, contend that using computers and text-based communications did not influence their formal writing. However, nearly two-thirds, 64 percent, admitted to including, often accidentally, the informal writing more commonly associated with electronic forms of communication."


Many news sites move articles into data bases after a period of time and then offer them for sale, in the process changing the URLs that link to them. Or they require registration. Thus, we provide a link to the front page of the news website and the information necessary to find the story on that site, rather than a direct link to the article.

Learn More