Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
You see all sorts of “creative” English being written and shared online. A lot of the language quality is a throwback to when social media was used primarily for personal communications and a lot of abbreviated English was used.
With the rapid pace of available online technology coming at you and new terms, which are being introduced on a very regular basis, that English language is bound to be affected. Along with new terms that are being used to describe new tools are the rules that apply to those particular tools. Of course, the tools are introduced to the public more quickly than the rules themselves. In fact, it can take a very long time for the new terms to be officially integrated into the language.
Not always what you think
As you are writing your content, you will be inclined to use some of the new terms to which you have been introduced. You shouldn’t necessarily assume that they are spelled the way that they sound. Another annoying variable is Autocorrect. If you aren’t careful with Autocorrect, you may end up with all sorts of interesting (and incorrect) terms. You can’t really rely on Spellcheck either because it doesn’t recognize most new terms and, in fact, it will only recognize whatever is in its glossary. Let’s face it, the most reliable thing when it comes to getting the English language correct is the human brain. Computers, no matter how sophisticated they may be, are still just machines. There are many common Internet terms that you will come across through your online work. Not only is the spelling important but the punctuation and consistent style are also important.
List of terms (they are used exactly as written)
e-reader, e-commerce, e-learning (all of those terms use a hyphen)
geolocation
Internet
location-based
podcast
website
Facebook (Facebook’s founder insists that whenever “Facebook” appears in print, it must have a capital “F”)
“like” in Facebook’s context must appear in quotation marks
friend (used as a verb)
news feed
Twitter (always with a capital “T”; however, “tweet” is lowercase)
follow
unfollow
retweet
hashtag
stream
crowdsourcing
Foursquare
checkin (as a noun)
check in (as a verb)
Google (as a noun)
google (as a verb)
StumbleUpon
YouTube
Consistency is critical
It is of the utmost importance that you are consistent in the way in which you use the online terms. You will probably end up using many (if not all) of the terms and you need to make sure that they appear exactly the same each time. If you are not 100% consistent, it won’t be the end of the universe; however, if you demonstrate consistency and your content is completely error free as far as grammar, punctuation, and spelling are concerned, people will regard you as someone who really cares about their work and has a great eye for detail.
Conclusion
Proper grammar in your writing is one of the most important elements because it makes a statement about you as a professional and as a person. Also, if you have grammatical errors in your content, you may be hurting your chances of your readers understanding what you are trying to convey. Caring enough to make sure that your content is perfect will go a long way to making a statement about your work and your business. Good grammar is a sign of good breeding. People will appreciate your refinement. Always read your content carefully before you send it out to the great big cyberworld.
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Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Linked-N Bergen County NJ
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Kind of amusing article considering grammar seems worse than EVER these days, ESPECIALLY in social media. My biggest pet peeve is the complete lack of understanding (or caring) of the words “you’re” and “your.” Almost doesn’t seems to matter any more, unfortunately.
Posted by Gene Sower
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Social Media & Community 2.0
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Great sharel! Grammar is one of my biggest pet peeves and hopefully this will enlighten those who come across the article.
Posted by Darryl Villacorta
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: ASBPE
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
For us punctilious business editors and grammarians (and stylists), the sloppy shortcut language used by business people in social media is disconcerting. The language will evolve as a result of new media formats. I don’t want to be a curmudgeon. Instead of getting bummed out, I’ll try to embrace the more creative elements of it.
Posted by David M. Freedman
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Social Media Advisors
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
I think we have to match our grammar with the media. Twitter is the most challenging. I do try to spell correctly and use proper grammar, but not always with Twitter. Otherwise, I’m in agreement. I truly dislike reading” twitterese” on LinkedIn and Facebook, for example.
Posted by Marilyn Kay
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: “Write It Down”-A Website for Writers
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Carolyn, I find proper grammar depends on what you are writing. It matters if you are writing an essay for a magazine or any conventional medium, but if you are writing a novel with multiple characters, people don’t make sounds according to what is considered proper. People just talk like they wanna talk, and they don’t care ’bout enunciation or proper anything. The setting is important too. When you’re in an office dealing with suits you sound one way, but on the streets or in a restaurant with friends, you sound another way. At home, all the rules are abandoned. It is the writer’s job to capture all that.
Social media is another thing. You say what ya think they understand. And please don’t get vulgar, or vulgate.
Posted by R. Anthony Joseph
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Linked-N Bergen County NJ
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
And it’s a popular topic of discussion lately – thanks for posting this. I say there are times to be creative (of course as a copywriter I would say that) but there are many times where it’s not appropriate nor does it reflect well on the writer!
Posted by Caryn Starr
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Informed Ideas For Writers
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Right you are. And while you are at it encourage them to use upper case for the personal pronoun, I.
Posted by James E Tate
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: For Women Entrepreneurs
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
This is both my biggest pet peeve and crime online. I thought I was pretty good with punctuation until I had an article reviewed (red penned) by a professional editor at a big magazine. Ouch!
Posted by Angela Neal
Via Facebook
Good find, Mike! Some of my social media pet peeves are horrible grammar and intentional misspelling (i.e. text speak, etc). Proper spelling, in particular, is important for keywords to work. It also builds a business’ online visibility (SEO) and positive reputation. Have you experienced social media horror?
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: ASBPE
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Getting your message across in a concise manner while still utilizing keywords, hashtags, and other SEO-optimizing efforts is definitely a challenge.
Posted by Mikaila Adams Breeding
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: ASBPE
Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
As a veteran journalist, I believe we should write for readers, not for search engines. In fact, some of the more experienced (and less self-serving) SEO experts agree.
But that’s a different issue from grammar and typos. These days a lot of people send e-mail via smart-phone, and they have this signature line: “Sent via my smartphone; please excuse typos.”
In other words, typos are not just OK but practically *de rigueur* as a byproduct of mobility and hyper-responsiveness.
Posted by David M. Freedman
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: William Paterson University of New Jersey
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
I think that is because we are used to abbreviate due to texting now. Social Media is not really the place for “creative” English as you put it Jonathan. I think those should take the time and reread their work before sending as much of Social Media now focused on business marketing, therefore should be looked at as a professional forum.
Posted by Doreen Savran
Via LinkedIn Groups
• Group: Future Social Media
• Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
It’s not only in English, I see it in Dutch & German tweets/postings as well…
Posted by Marc van Maanen
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Social Media Advisors
Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Great article. I completely agree that the way our social pages are written will change how page visitors view us. If we want them to view us as a trusted professional, then we need to give them a reason to!
Posted by Craig Faulkner
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Social Media Advisors
Discussion: Using Proper Grammar Through Social Media
Excellent article. I'm all for language evolving, but it feels as though many writers are in such a hurry that they lose track of basics and as the article discusses, consistency. Spell-checkers are an obvious tool, yet one that even the newspaper industry seems to be leaving behind as many national business and daily newspapers seem to full of errors these days.
An important aspect of writing is targeting the audience accurately, so that they feel you are writing to them as a peer, i.e. they can relate to you as if you were talking directly to them. Another mistake many people make imho is that they understand your jargon:)
Posted by Luigi Cappel
Following all those procedures and considering every aspect mentioned in the article will indeed help you to use correct grammar and I have personally learned from all these.