This is a 2-in-1 question, I suppose. I type the way I do. I’ve always typed this way, but I’ve noticed when interacting with people (not on here) that people always think I’m far older than 19. They think I’m in my forties or fifties.
Also, I tend to type using full stops, which people may think are rude. When I’m typing a full sentence, though, I end it with a period. If I say, “He’s being an asshole,” (with a period), I mean that as a fact, not out of anger. It just happens to be ended with a period since it’s a sentence.
Because those of who grew up communicating a lot via the written word stopped feeling beholden to type using classic grammar rules like ending every sentence of every communication with a period no matter what.
The entire purpose of language is to express yourself, and people started noticing that their texts sounded friendlier if they sounded less abrupt, so they started typing that way.
You type according to traditional essay writing rules which is how older people learned to write, younger people learned to focus on producing natural sounding language and conversation.
I guess because people under 20 type like illiterates that if you type correctly, using proper punctuation and spelling and what not, they assume you have to be older.
I don’t want to agree. Also, I often agree.
The iPhone keyboard requires 2 taps for punctuation, including periods. Americans (and iirc especially younger ones) use more iPhones than Android phones (don’t know about other countries, but OP indicated in a comment that they’re in the US). I’m not some old guy saying the youngsters are just lazy, but I do think the iPhone keyboard is a factor in how text-based communication has evolved.
The idea of periods being rude or something is moronic.
It’s simply linguistic evolution, and I find it interesting how the internet has shaped language. Writing on the internet tends to be very short and conversation-like, so if you want to get a point across there’s no need for a full stop. This meant, that when people put full stops at the end of messages on the internet, it started being seen as more formal and serious, which became a tone marker
linguistic evolution
“Usage dictates form” is how vapid influencer bimbos are driving English into the dumpster. French evolves: it has a committee to weed out stupid. English has no such guidance, and that’s why it trends toward an appearance we’d call ‘platypodian’ if we could only find some instagram bimbo to promote it.
I’ve never had one, but they seem to be assholes in general. Cramps, bleeding, unwanted hormone surges.
Older people grew up writing less than younger people have, because of texting, so they’re more accustomed to taking their time with the proprieties of grammar. Younger people began using grammar as a tone marker differently from how it had previously been used, so they tend to see a bigger difference between “no” and “No.” as an answer to a question than older people do. For younger people, the latter tends to seem more abrupt and final, which could come across rudely.
accustomed to taking their time
Taking time to do it right? What fucking losers. Wait; why did my heart monitor stop workin--------
They didn’t say do it right, they said do it with propriety, as in making sure to follow the rules for the sake of following the rules.
Well, I only know that people who don’t end their sentences properly sound like rambling idiots.
True.
no offense, but mature people wouldnt ask this question. its attention-seeking behavior often found in children.
I’ll say that, and I’ll know from the downvotes just who needed to hear it.
Good one!
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What an insensitive take
I’d say it’s more insecurity
I think it’s trying to understand society and his place in it. These aren’t bad questions. At a certain point you rather know where you fit and other people be damned. But at 19, your trying to understand how other people think still. You have your own thought process and are still getting used to other adults not processing information the way you do.
Oh? Thanks for your input. Well, I’m a mere 19 year old.
This community is literally called “no stupid questions”. Don’t worry about it.
if you say so. not sure why it matters
You could shut the fuck up then instead of damaging a space called “no stupid questions” you started punching down at this kid.
Seriously go take a time out sit in s corner and actually think about what you have done
You just said why it matters in your previous post
- *comment, not “post.” This whole thing is one post that we’re all forming comment chains on.
- I think he meant he doesn’t see why OP made this post in the first place at all, though I could be wrong.
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I make this mistake all the time. Thanks for catching it! Maybe one day I’ll remember.
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Huh. Good idea. I dunno, either.
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What does this have to do with maturity? The post didn’t even seem like it came from insecurity, merely curiosity.
There’s a linguistic shift happening where people tend to not use periods in short form communications (sms, dms, etc…). So older people who may not be as plugged in to the youth culture sill use them. So it only makes sense someone would be seen as older if they did.
E: avoiding certain wording. Nothing substantive.
Because old people like me view written correspondence as less disposable. When jotting down personal notes, we don’t worry about spelling or punctuation, but writing a letter? You double check that shit so there isn’t documentation of how illiterate you are!
Youth grew up with texting. It’s designed to be fast and efficient. Sup? OMG 👍 They just need to get the point across, it’s not a grammar competition.
Neither is right or wrong, it’s just a generational difference.
Young people focus on the tone they’re conveying.
Old people focus on following the rules that were beaten into them as children for no reason.
Oh, no. It’s wrong. Punctuation makes everything clear!
It made everything clear back when everything was hand written or done on a type writer. This mattered as paper wasn’t infinite.
Much of modern communication is done in bubbles on screens, so the punctuation doesnt matter as much as it used to.
That said, run-on sentences and word salad are quite common which makes for some entertaining yet stroke inducing screenshots.
The so-called “rules” of language arent actually rules. They are observations. Language use has greatly evolved over time, and schools teach the rules as they know them, forgetting that even a hundred years ago, it was different.
There is absolutely no difference between “no” and “No.”. Both can be understood perfectly well.
Or … If you can’t understand it unless they spell it out for you, there may be a deficiency on your end.
Lol
I’m glad you thought it was funny.
Evidently it hit a little too close to home for others.
it’s not a grammar competition.
While I agree that there’s less of an expectation of grammar, informal text communication has definitely developed grammar of its own. OP mentioned full stops, for example — ending a message with one is a tone marker now
Full stops are slowly becoming a separator instead of a terminator in colloquial chats, which I find interesting, since some scripts use an equivalent character like that
Ooh, that’s interesting. I’m not really sure what to look for here, could you give me an example of a language/script that has that?
The way you type is like any other form of self-expression. If others want to read into it or decide they don’t like it, that’s on them. Type however you like and don’t give it another thought.
YES IM JUST EXPRESSING MYSELF, ITS TOTALLY EVERYONE ELSES FAULT FOR FEELING OFF-PUT BY MY TYPING STYLE. THERE DEFINITELY ARENT SOCIAL NORMS AND CONTRACTS THAT WE ALL FOLLOW TO BE ABLE TO EASILY AND ACCURATELY COMMUNICATE.
I don’t see how typing style is much different from things like slang or making references. If you can be understood by the people you’re communicating with, great!
I agree with you there, but the key is the last part about being understood. In OP’s case they’re insisting on using a formal writing style that makes the average person perceive their message with an unintended tone.
I’ve seen certain parts of the internet develop “accents” as well in ways of typing.
What do you mean?
Like slang and acronyms that appear more in various communities and chatrooms, or Minecraft servers, people start using them more.
The obvious examples are people typing in Scots or AAVE but that’s more just phonetic transcription of existing language.
https://youtu.be/SDPasRas5u0?si=hPKGYQ-beH99GBBC
This video is ten years old so the examples are outdated but the idea is sound.
Scots is its own language with its own writing system, people have been writing in Scots for centuries before the internet and it’s not just colloquial. Scottish English is seperate, being an actual dialect, but there is an English-Scots dialect continuum so finding the exact difference is hard
I am only assume it’s because your written communication is of a higher standard than your contemporaries. Keep it up.
Quit typing so bigoty, boomer. /s
Sorry, what?
It was funnier before coffee. I was insinuating that your written language belied your age, thus making you a boomer. Chalk it up to morning fogginess.
This forces my own question
People can tell my age just by my punctuation or lack thereof?
Apparently so. People think the fact that I use proper grammar makes me around forty or fifty.
Is your intention to convey a certain tone or win a grammar competition?
Kind of. There is one punctuation tell that you can typically use to tell if someone is older, and thats if they use ellipsis to separate thoughts rather than line breaks in informal settings.
Back in the day when you were writing on paper, space was a limited resource, so people that are more used to that will separate ideas with a ‘…’ rather than starting a new paragraph because you can fit more text into a smaller footprint.
Come the turn of the millennium, digital writing became the norm and people that grew up surrounded by computers tend to use line breaks instead because space is not limited in the same way anymore.
I don’t think people use an ellipsis as a pseudo-line break… They use it for pacing. It’s just a pause within the same thought most of the time.
This is the first time I’m reading this sort of thing and I wouldn’t be too sure of it because I’m a millennial who intermittently uses ellipses, haha.
Yes, each generation has words or a style of typing that they grew up or had to adapt to.
IIRC Boomers and Gen Z use more emoji than Gen X and Y.
Millenials grew up with keyboards, so they tend to type full sentences, punctuation, shit like that. With Gen X being a toss-up.
Boomers tend to use formal language, but they suck at distilling their thoughts into something another human person can understand. (Boomer ramblings on Facebook)
Wish I could find the article that broke it down, but search engine sludge makes any question about generations into links to quizzes.
Im in disguise now
Bet the skibidi, my bussin bro
fr fr no cap
It’s pretty normal for language to vary between generations, it’s just that we all communicate via text a lot more now, so differences in punctuation usage have become noticeable parts within those language variations
Twenty years ago when I was your age, I felt the same way. People are just ignorant.
If it makes you feel any better, this is the most 19 year old post ever.
You’re asking the wrong crowd. People likely think you’re old because you talk to us too much.
I feel like there’s a fine line here between wanting to use proper grammar and thinking you’re superior for doing so
I just want to.
