Texting and the Way We Speak Now
By      A  r   i         D    e   j   m   a   n

The way people communicate has changed dramatically in the last two decades. Texting and social media have created a new language that feels fast, casual, and personal. For many people, especially teenagers, this is the language they use most often. It shapes how they talk, how they write, and how they express themselves. Texting favors speed over structure. Acronyms like “LOL,” “WYD,” and “IDK” are part of everyday conversations. Emojis and GIFs allow people to express emotions without needing full sentences. A simple heart or thumbs up can carry the weight of an entire sentence. These habits have become so common that for many people they feel more natural than formal writing. The downside is that the more people rely on this kind of casual communication, the harder it can be to switch back to formal language when needed. A student might write to a teacher the same way they write to a friend. A job application or email might read more like a text message. Grammar, punctuation, and careful word choice often get lost in the rush. Texting also changes how people speak. It can make conversations sound less formal, even in situations that once required politeness and structure. This doesn’t mean texting is bad. It allows people to connect quickly and express themselves in ways that older forms of communication never could. But it does mean people need to be aware of when and how they use it. Surveys have shown that frequent texters are more likely to use slang, abbreviations, and emojis even in situations where they shouldn’t. Younger people, who have grown up with smartphones, show the biggest gap between their informal and formal communication skills. As this generation enters the workforce, knowing how to adjust language to fit the situation is becoming more important. Language is always changing. The rise of texting has created a new layer of communication that is fast and emotional but less structured. The key is learning how to move between both worlds. Informal language can connect us, but formal language still shapes how we are understood and respected.