Social Media Grammar School

When it comes to dashing off a quick thought via Twitter or Facebook, we’re all guilty of a couple LOLs or BRBs, and even the occasional typo. Now there are more and more people popping up to scold us and school us. They’re mad because they think that all grammar rules are going down the tubes on social networking sites.

The New York Times profiled some of these self-proclaimed Twitter police, who routinely target actor John Cusack for his bad spelling and grammar. He blamed the goofs on the lack of spell check on his iPhone.

When Facebook was confronted with its misuse of “unlike” to describe the change from liking someone’s status – it should be dislike – they simply retorted that they plan to have the word changed in the dictionary, like they did with unfriend.

In the editorial department at Parthenon, our job is to constantly think about words and how they are used. We read, edit and reread and re-edit. We take the responsibility seriously enough that it extends past work. I’m guilty of policing a few of my friends and relatives on social media sites, maybe poking fun of them for writing “I’m board” instead of “I’m bored.” Oh, and there are all those times when I see to when the correct word is too.

With so many messages sent and presented online, shouldn’t we start being responsible for our grammar? If we abandon the rules on Facebook, isn’t it more likely we’ll forget them in email messages, and eventually in reports, business correspondence and other communications? Maybe we should all know to cringe at the sight of they’re instead of their, or even there, instead of relying on spell check.