Once upon a time, the more abbreviations your text or correspondence contained, perhaps the smarter you appeared.
Fast forward to present day and you’ll discover that abbreviations – more of it – are no longer as effective as they were. They take away the shine from your written works.
The advent of artificially intelligent handheld devices which predict with a high degree of accuracy the next word you type, makes it unnecessary to use abbreviations in mobile chats.
Smartphones use typing assist to provide options once you type the first two or three alphabets. Does it get any easier than that?
The best way to loose the attention of most individuals (mine especially) during an online chat/correspondence is by abbreviating your responses. It is a guaranteed turn off (maybe except on Twitter).
What anyone who is guilty of this act fails to realize is that one of the aims of abbreviating your words is to save time but without loosing the content of the message; this must be done as sparingly as is possible and never on official correspondence.
I am bewildered each time someone responds to my message with the “kk”.
You might want to argue that they are trying to type faster, right?
Have you noticed that the alphabet “O” is just above “K” on your keyboard? How about the error which comes from the fact that both “kk” and “ok” are two alphabets.
Am I the only one already wondering how many micro seconds you could possibly be saving here, or is it just a deliberate attempt at being sloppy?
Another such example is seen when typing the word “how” as “hw ” I am certain it takes less than a second to type an “O” in between.
Whilst you choose to abbreviate on every opportunity that presents itself, you gradually but steadily erode your ability to spell certain words correctly and possibly communicate effectively.
What is more alarming is the image the person on the receiving end might be forced to create about you. Certainly not of an intelligent person.
Ever wondered why smart phones and computers have the auto-correct function?
You must not fail to realize each time you communicate in written form, your choice of words, tenses and most importantly, excessive use of abbreviated words says a lot about you. Your proficiency in English language, maturity, intelligence and level of exposure.
I must admit that your idea is of positive essence, however it seems the topic itself is its own answer. A chat is something informal therefore colloquialism in a chat is allowed. Of course the English language has the words “formal” and “informal.” If one knows when one needs to abide by the rules of either of those two settings and does so, it is wisdom.
I do not agree that abbreviations make anyone lose respect and paint one unintelligent, (I know a handful of intelligent people who abbreviate). It is a social media, therefore it is taken for granted that I’m chatting with a friend, why should I be so formal with my own friend? If anyone has to speak against abbreviations, pidgin and all forms of colloquialism should be the starting point.
I think the encouragement should be that while enjoying the liberty of abbreviations in chats, one should not lose one’s consciousness of the need to develop a good ability of formal communication. After all, outside the smart phone, we hear people say “what’s going on?” “How’s it?” “It’s mine,” I’m good.” These are abbreviations but because they are oral, we tend not to notice them even though they are unofficial.