Devoted to technical writing and technical writers

The inherent limitation of a text message to about 160 to 180 characters per page (each page is charged a certain unit of text cost) and lack of time has caused unique vocabularies to spring forth from the use of this medium. Unless one is used to receiving text messages, it is conceivable that a newcomer to the genre would fail to recognize or understand what is being said.

It is common practice to shorten words or phrases: w8 for wait; b4 for before, f for if, 4get for forget, ncom for income, cud for could, ad nauseum. It is not uncommon too, for one to substitute numbers for certain words: 2 for to/ too; or 4 instead of for.

If one were to make use of various communications media, e.g., shifting from a computer to a cellphone, it would not be far-fetched to imagine one lapsing into grammatical errors or practice when the time comes to write an honest to goodness paper or report. I have seen this happen more than once with reports I have had to edit. Case rests.