Grammar Assassins on The Prowl. Beware! -By Ogechi Esimai

I chose my topic with the word “Assassin” when I got the meaning to be “Any ruthless killer”. And who is this assassinator? The answer is SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION SHORT CODES(SMCSC)! Does this sound verbose? Don’t worry you’ll get it soon. The rate at which we have allowed our grammar to deteriorate with the use of these (seemingly approved) short codes has become both alarming and worrisome. But who approved it?

Before I list out some of these terrible grammar cankerworms, I would first off outline the major perpetrators of this anemic English writing based on my daily dealings and observations(I expect criticisms, attacks and “mtchews”(hisses) but I care less here.)

First in the list are those who want to save their credit but they want to drop loads of information via a one-page SMS(even though sometimes the info concerns what will bring them money or very important issues)

Second group consists of the hasty communicators. They are busy and hardly have time to write out words in full. These are people who do not have the patience to communicate. They would rather shout or call briefly than allow themselves the discipline to write and write well. My advice- leave the writing till you are ready or do your best, which is, make a call.

The third and the funniest group are those whose grammar is bad. They have poor spelling skills, bad tenses, poor vocabulary and short code presented itself as a cover up and they jumped at it. They use these terrible codes to hide their bad grammar. It would be nice to buy grammar enhancement books, read avidly, use the dictionary and improved English apps more often than having themselves soaked in facebook and twitter and WhatsApp writing jargons!

The fourth and last group is made up of those who use these codes because they want to “belong”. They think it’s the stylish, modern, today’s way of showing that you know “What’s up”. This is the most fearful of all. When you engage an average(Don’t know if I should say Nigerian) youth on a writing exchange, you will weep. They are loosing their spellings and vocabulary through the use of these grammar killers. The little they got from from our educational institutions are fast depleting with SMCSC. Please help!

Now here we go….please add to the list, if you wish to.

Word SMCSC

to.         2
And.      n
come.    cum
Tomorrow.   2mao
Weekend.  Wkend
You.            U
your.         Ur
I have.      av
not.    nt
mother.    moda
really.     rly
Christmas.    Xmas(the most controversial)
Understand.  undastnd

Love.     Luv

Thanks. Tx, tanx

And on, and on…..

I read a school proprietor’s note recently and saw these codes in her write up. It didn’t go down well with me. What are you passing on to the kids? I processed a job opportunity for a graduate and she was rejected when she sent a message to the GM with short codes. I work with a teenage Intern and correcting her mind from writing this way has been a battle. It has crept into schools, exam sheets, corporate communication, serious notes and it is now a full-blown war of the mind. My concern is, I have searched and searched and found no successful person who writes in these terrible short codes. It is really an average way of writing.

Please help our young ones. Write properly. Keep the grammar rules or stay away. Comments accepted(positive or negative). Thank you.