Is the Internet killing the written word?

Question

Do you think that grammar, spelling and the structure of written langauges, in this case English are suffering with the Internet?

Those of us who went to school before Microsoft et al, grew up writing in exercise books with a teacher closely monitoring our mistakes. Today, children seem to be learning bad grammar online with nobody to point out the errors (just look at some of the questions here).

What do you think will happen when they reach university?

Thank you for the comments so far.

My point is really about the QUALITY of the written word.

Everyone accepts that we are writing more since MSN, Y! Answers etc came about, but the quality of writing seems to be declining.

Answer 1

People use slang on purpose; it doesn't mean they're any less intelligent. Most just find it quicker and so easier to type in short hand. That doesn't, however, mean that the people who do choose to do that don't understand grammatically correct English because, believe it or not, we still do write in text books with teachers pointing out errors =). In fact, I actually read an interesting idea the other day on the Internet, about how if people show they can write and understand slang, it actually shows they're more intelligent (something to do with being able to convert easily, almost between two different languages. Apparently it challenges the brain, and so is actually useful.)

Answer 2

Absolutely. Today it is not necessary to be able to spell... Spell check will do that, hand writing is unheard of, that is "old hat", why write if it can be word-processed?
Teachers will not even correct grammatical or spelling mistakes now, even at primary level. Will we soon find that our children start school, never to use a pen to write with? Will the concept of using a pen and paper become consigned to ancient history?
The whole thing is out of control. Don't get me wrong, the computer is a wonderful invention, but should it rule our lives 100%?

Answer 3

No, it's not. But it is changing it. There is a difference.

Take me for example. I try to write fairly well when I answer questions on yahoo, or e-mail on business. But when chatting with friends I use abbreviations, slang, and quick typing. Allthough chatspeak annoys me to no end what me and my friends us is almost like chatspeak.

If you watched an instant messaging conversation between me and a friend, you'd be surprised at the difference between that me and the me that rights grade 'A' research papers. Language is constantly changing. Do you think that Shakespearian english was any better? Even though it was the early end of new english, how many people understand it.

How about old english? What about a sample of Chaucer's middle english?
Whan that Aprill with his shoures sote
The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote,
And bathed euery veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in euery holt and heeth

Answer 4

if anything I think it's making youth use words and typing more often, when I was young all contact was through the phone and I have a feeling that had we had instant messaging back then there would have been all sorts of abbreviations and purposeful misspellings then too. The fact is to use the internet one has to read and write alot, so while it may look like it takes away, I think it does the exact opposite.

Answer 5

While I understand your point of view. I do not wish to respond. Too much AM radio. In my life. I like people who recognize a problem and find a solution to it. If you are unhappy with the grammer, spelling, and structure of written langauges then do something about it. W.T.Lucas

Answer 6

Some think just the opposite, in that email has brought back letter writing... an art form once considered forever lost due to the telephone.

Answer 7

For sure, I haven't written a letter in a few years! Everyone I know has email. I still use proper grammer/spelling in things Yahoo! Answers and email but not instant messaging. It takes too long. But still, I know proper grammer and spelling.

Answer 8

I think your point is made perfectly clear by 'Damians' statement, and if he is the best in his English class then I really dread what the future holds for the written word.

Answer 9

In the UK, Blairs inheritance to us is a badly educated school leaver, it is further promoted on this forum by the same people. It's up to them to realise what the future holds for them and to take the steps to recify the problem.

Answer 10

Hell no, the internet's not killing the written word - I've never written so much since i had a lap top!

But the correctly spelt written word..... well that's another thing!

It makes me shudder actually.