# I'm a stickler for correct spelling and punctuation when texting. Anyone else? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 21, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719 "2012-11-21T14:50:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/1 "2012-11-21T14:50:31Z")
I just sent a moderately long text and, while doing so, it occurred to me that I was being very precise with my spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. I’d never given it much thought before, but on reflection I realize that I never abbreviate and always use proper punctuation (semicolons, even, and always a period when appropriate). I think it is an automatic act of rebellion against the “text-speak” that is so widespread among Generation Whippersnapper. Does anyone else share this mentality and/or practice? mmm (and a Hostess Twinkie goes to the inevitable first response written in text-speak. Go ahead. U no U want 2.) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/2 "2012-11-21T14:53:32Z")
The one thing I dislike about my Moto is that it doesn’t have the ¡ and ¿ signs. I’m such a stickler for proper spelling and punctuation that I once sent my brother a message where I’d abbreviated “que” to “q” (very common in Spanish text, and be grateful that the shortener isn’t using “k” - which isn’t any shorter than “q”); he didn’t understand it, because he couldn’t wrap his mind around “my sister used a purposeful misspelling”. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/3 "2012-11-21T14:55:42Z")
Stickler checking in, lol 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/4 "2012-11-21T14:56:05Z")
I do understand what you mean - I text my son failry often, and his text speak just makes my eyeballs hurt. I don’t always stick to the rules of punctuation and such (mostly out of ignorance because I can’t always remember them) but I do NOT text speak. I got into this habit back in the day when we had pagers that you can type on and I did a LOT of text pages with my bosses at work. I still do a fair bit of texting with my bosses at work on my phone and I would NEVER EVER want to get into that habit when texting with them. So I just don’t do it with anyone. Besides it takes twice as long to read text speak for this old fogey. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/5 "2012-11-21T15:01:36Z")
It really doesn’t take much extra time to send a grammatically correct text. I mean it’s not like writing a novel. So, yes, I pretty much always use correct spelling and punctuation, although I might answer with “OK” or just “K” if I get a message asking me to pick up milk or something. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/6 "2012-11-21T15:04:38Z")
I am checking in as well to voice agreement. I have enjoyed the use of voice to text on the iPhone, but still spend a lot of time editing afterward. I sometimes feel like a language warrior, defending the fortress from the hordes. ((There! Right there! I just had to spell check hordes!)) ---
**Author:** ![PaperBlob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@PaperBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperBlob)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/7 "2012-11-21T15:08:31Z")
I, too, am a stickler - it’s really not that hard to type up messages properly. I’m trying to lead my children and their friends by example, but I’m not sure it’s working… ---
**Author:** ![doctor\_krieger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@doctor\_krieger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctor_krieger)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/8 "2012-11-21T15:09:25Z")
I don’t, nor do I really care through any other medium. I have a theory that people who get uppity about spelling/punctuation are just like grammar nazis in that the only reason they correct others on that stuff is because they have no other way in their pathetic lives to feel superior. Then again, I’m an asshole so think what you will. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/9 "2012-11-21T15:12:57Z")
“I try to write properly” and “I make a point of correcting others” are not the same sentence, Tonto… ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/10 "2012-11-21T15:15:25Z")
Yeah, basically every phone on the market now comes with some sort of predictive text function or other text assist function like autocorrect. If you’re not using shortcuts and textspeak, congratulations, you’re part of the teenage sheeple. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/11 "2012-11-21T15:21:51Z")
I don’t care. Of course I’ve only sent one short text in my life so my English teacher would have okayed it. However, if I DID text, I would probably fall somewhere in the middle. Glaring errors that I NOTICE might get fixed (or not). Things worded poorly might get rearranged. Spelling I know is wrong might get fixed, though if it is one of those “damnit, I can’t remember if the a goes before or after the u in this word” I’ll probably just say fuck it. That how I roll with most of my posts here. I am here to have fun, not write term papers or TPS reports. Also, I have no real desire to do the whole text/leetspeak? thing. Except may on occasion for a laugh. U dig? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/12 "2012-11-21T15:22:23Z")
Not only do I I text with correct spelling and punctuation but I also refuse to reply to a text sent to me using Text Speak. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/13 "2012-11-21T15:38:34Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yeah, basically every phone on the market now comes with some sort of predictive text function or other text assist function like autocorrect. If you’re not using shortcuts and textspeak, congratulations, you’re part of the teenage sheeple. The phone I had before my current one had a great auto correct. I could type ‘i’ and it would make it ‘I’, I could type ‘im’ and it would change it to ‘I’m’. Almost all of the contractions it would do as well. My current phone has auto correct, but it sucks, it predicts really strange words and will change every word even if I didn’t select a word. I had to turn the damn thing off. I spell out my words, I’m not a great speller, but I don’t always put in the ’ as it takes longer to put in. I don’t always capitalize either. I figure my point gets across. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/14 "2012-11-21T15:41:14Z")
Thank goodness none of my friends use text-speak unironically. I have one that who drives me nuts because he writes badly, but at least the words make sense even if his capitalization and punctuation is iffy. Sometimes I get crazy because I have a hard time editing on my phone, so if I make a mistake on Facebook or whatever I can’t fix it. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/15 "2012-11-21T15:42:26Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > Not only do I I text with correct spelling and punctuation but I also refuse to reply to a text sent to me using Text Speak. Me too (mainly because I can’t read it 🙂 ). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/16 "2012-11-21T15:46:18Z")
> [@doctor\_krieger](#): > > I don’t, nor do I really care through any other medium. I have a theory that people who get uppity about spelling/punctuation are just like grammar nazis in that the only reason they correct others on that stuff is because they have no other way in their pathetic lives to feel superior. Then again, I’m an asshole so think what you will. I don’t feel uppity about it at all. The only part of my OP that may appear as such is my Gen W crack, which was, in fact, merely an attempt at humor. And I’m not seeing anything I’ve written that indicates I correct others. Also, I have _plenty_ of other ways to feel superior. (kidding) The main point of my OP is more about me than about others. I feel the need to use proper language, to the best of my ability, when texting. I would feel stupid doing otherwise. mmm ---
**Author:** ![doctor\_krieger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@doctor\_krieger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctor_krieger)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/17 "2012-11-21T16:01:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > “I try to write properly” and “I make a point of correcting others” are not the same sentence, Tonto… You can read too? We’re so proud. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/18 "2012-11-21T16:11:19Z")
I do my best to spell and punctuate correctly in texts. If I look at one before sending and see a spelling error that won’t confuse the recipient, I’ll let that fly. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/19 "2012-11-21T16:22:05Z")
If I knew how to spell and punctuate I would also be a stickler. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719/20 "2012-11-21T17:12:58Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Yeah, basically every phone on the market now comes with some sort of predictive text function or other text assist function like autocorrect. Auto correct can go straight to he’ll. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-stickler-for-correct-spelling-and-punctuation-when-texting-anyone-else/641719.md?page=2)