How are you?
K U
Good, what are you doing?
NM wot up
Trying to get some work done. How’s your brother?
K
Thanks for being so talkative today.
W/E K lol
This is a typical text message sequence between my 14-year-old son and me. Thank goodness that I have a text message dictionary. While I don’t mind communicating with him this way, it does make me wonder if the art of writing will disappear with the next generation. Will the next generation be able actually to construct a sentence? Perhaps, but one thing is for sure: text messaging has created a new language. I just hope that our society doesn’t lose the ability to communicate through writing.
Today, in business, much of our communication is still through the written word. While we may use e-mail, instant messaging, and texting to communicate during the business day, these media do not give us license to forget the correct use and spelling of words.
Even though the tone is more conversational, the proper use of punctuation and grammar is still important. Here are some of my pet peeves regarding written language:
Moot vs. mute. A point is moot (not important or relevant). A person can be mute (can’t speak). Issues are rarely mute unless they involve being unable to speak.
Due diligence vs. do diligence. Due diligence is a practice whereby reasonable steps are taken to investigate something. It is used mostly in the context of buying or selling something. Do diligence is an action oriented phrase that really doesn’t make any sense.
Orient vs. orientate. One can orient a building on its site. One can orient one’s self to an issue. Although recently accepted as a substitute for orient, orientate is really not correct.
Sit vs. set. People, animals, and some things have the ability to sit down, sit there, or sit awhile. It takes an action to set something down. We can certainly sit and talk for a while, and you can set a cup on the table next to us. But we won’t set down to talk.
Definitely vs. defiantly. One would presume that there is a large difference between being sure (definite) and being rebellious or uncooperative (defiant). Imagine if your boss thinks you are being uncooperative when you were really telling him you were positively sure about something.
Conscious vs conscience. When one is aware of something, mindful of a situation, or awake he is considered conscious. A conscience is one’s inner voice. We can be conscious of our conscience, however.
Its vs. it’s. These are some of the most misused words in the English language. “Its” is possessive where “it’s” is a contraction for “it is.” These are difficult words to use correctly. I was taught to say the contraction out loud as “it is” to make sure the sentence makes sense.
Writing is very important in business if we want to communicate effectively. Take the same time and care composing everything you write, even if it is an e-mail, instant message or a text.
I’d like to hear from you:
– Do you have other examples of language mistakes?
L8TR. ROFL.
Craig
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