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Capitalizing Text Messages

Tex929rr
@Tex929rr
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WSJ article about whether or not one properly capitalizes text messages. I guess this is the curmudgeon in me, but I find the entire discussion odd. This quote stood out:

“Morgan typed in lowercase throughout her 20s, feeling it gave off a kind of carefree mimosa-brunch vibe. In her previous role as social-media strategist, she occasionally tweeted in lowercase.

She started a new job last November in Dallas where she works on events and coordinates with clients and vendors. She didn’t want them to see messages in all lowercase and think an intern was texting them. So she turned on auto-capitalization.”

So…Morgan already thought that lowercase looked less professional. Why ever do it at all? I also read recently that Gen Z and some millennials find “full stop” (AKA ending a text with a period) off-putting. How did I get to suddenly be so old fashioned?

PS: I think I used the link that gets past the WSJ paywall but I’m never sure.

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Discussion (30)

  • John H.@JohnH
    Tex929rr (View Post):

    WSJ article about whether or not one properly capitalizes text messages. I guess this is the curmudgeon in me, but I find the entire discussion odd. This quote stood out:

    “Morgan typed in lowercase throughout her 20s, feeling it gave off a kind of carefree mimosa-brunch vibe.

    I am about to post something under the category of Journalism, and I am sorely tempted to tag it with "Not a carefree mimosa-brunch vibe for miles around."

  • Full Size Tabby@FullSizeTabby
    ReplyingtoSamuel Block

    Samuel Block (View Comment):

    I’m a caps & proper grammar text kind of guy. My same-age friends make fun of me for it.

    I still remember our son when he was in college (2006-10) and got his first mobile phone complaining extensively about the texting (and email) habits of his peers not using capital letters, proper spelling, and proper grammar. His complaint was that not following the "old" rules made it hard for him as reader to understand what the sender intended to say. His rationale was, "If you are going to take the trouble to communicate, shouldn't you make it as easy as possible for your reader to understand? Proper grammar and punctuation make it easier for your reader to understand you." And he was an engineering student (a population not generally noted for its affinity for the language arts).

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