In today’s fast-paced world, many of us are continuously connecting with people via numerous channels, including as texts, emails, and social media. As a result, we frequently use slang and abbreviations to rapidly and efficiently communicate. Despite the fact that these short cuts might be helpful, it’s crucial to find a balance between utilizing them responsibly and overusing them to the point where they harm communication.
Let’s start by defining what we mean by slang and abbreviations. Slang describes words or expressions that are not accepted as part of the English language yet are often used in casual discussions. On the other hand, abbreviations are condensed versions of words or phrases, such “ASAP” for “as soon as possible.” Even though they can be helpful in some situations, these can also be overused to the point where they are unclear or even improper.
Overusing slang and abbreviations can have a negative effect on professional communication, which is one of the primary problems. For instance, it’s crucial to use official language while composing a business email and to stay away from slang and confusing abbreviations. Using “u” in place of “you” or “lol” in place of “laugh out loud” might give the impression that you are irresponsible and unprofessional in this situation.
Having said that, it’s also critical to understand when and when slang and abbreviations are suitable for use. For instance, using shorthand or abbreviations that everyone knows while messaging friends or family members may be appropriate. Similar to this, employing slang and abbreviations in casual settings, like social media, may show off your individuality and set a more laid-back tone.
Therefore, how do you find the right balance? The idea is to keep the audience and environment in mind. Lean on the side of safety and use normal language if you are not certain if a specific abbreviation or slang phrase is suitable. Think about the tone you want your message to have as well. Using slang or abbreviations might help you communicate a more relaxed, pleasant tone when communicating to a close friend. However, if you are writing a formal email to a prospective employer, it is best to use standard language and avoid any slang or abbreviations that might come off as unprofessional.
Knowing these abbreviations could greatly improve your communication skills:
https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/15-english-abbreviations-you-need-to-know/
Some (frequently asked questions) FAQs :
- Is it ever appropriate to use slang or abbreviations in academic writing, or should I always use formal language?
- How often do you use slang / abbreviations?
- Does the use of abbreviations on text truly save as much time as people think?
Great read, Rashid! I enjoyed reading your post.
Using slang words and phrases in formal and academic setting is one problem that I continuously face and is actually annoying. I feel like constantly using abbreviated terms and slang phrases made me forget certain vocabulary that have been replaced. I also think that this modernization in the way we communicate can threaten languages because of getting used to the inappropriate way of writing and speaking in that language. In addition, I find it hard to to switch modes between friends and professional settings without accidentally saying a word or two that are slang. However, as you said, it is important to be aware of our surrounding and speak accordingly.
Great read, Rashid!
Using slang words and phrases in formal and academic setting is one problem that I continuously face and is actually annoying. I feel like constantly using abbreviated terms and slang phrases made me forget certain vocabulary that have been replaced. I also think that this modernization in the way we communicate can threaten languages because of getting used to the inappropriate way of writing and speaking in that language. In addition, I find it hard to to switch modes between friends and professional settings without accidentally saying a word or two that are slang. However, as you said, it is important to be aware of our surrounding and speak accordingly.
This was such an interesting read. Great job, Rashid! Having grown up in the 21st century, I feel like we can all agree that slangs and abbreviations are an important part of our little subculture, if you will. Even when I do more professional writing, there are points where I might use ‘bcz’ instead of ‘because’ or ‘aight’ instead of ‘alright,’ among many other instances.
Now, to answer your question, I am a strong proponent of the fact that writing needs to be expressive of who you are as a person. So, in the case of journals or stories, go for all the slangs you want. But in the case of academic writing, that is a more professional setting, and just as how you can’t go dressed in your PJs to a job interview, you cannot just use any word within such pieces. That’s just my take.
Great and relevant topic, Rashed! I think nowadays, it is difficult to use social media without being familiar with the modern slang – and not just the acronyms or abbreviations you mentioned, but also some internet phrases that are introduced every other day. I understand why some acronyms would be used – I use them too – as they help us text faster, especially if two people are texting each other in real time. Also, like you said, such slang can set the tone while texting, as unlike talking in real life, you cannot convey emotions through voice of facial expressions, instead you do that through words (or emojis). For example, many people reply with “k” instead of “okay” if they want to come off as passive aggressive.
Thank you for this interesting blog, Rashid. I believe it is okay to use slang and abbreviations to clarify concepts and offer commentary in papers that explore topics connected to popular culture and online spaces. It can be good for things like video essays, blog posts, and even articles especially if you know that the intended audience will understand what you are talking about. Slang and abbreviations won’t typically be acceptable in academic writing because you can’t guarantee that everyone will understand them. When I text with friends, I frequently use abbreviations and slang, but not often elsewhere. I believe that using abbreviations can help you save time and be more concise, especially when using social media platforms like Twitter that have character limits. Slang and abbreviation usage, in my opinion, depends heavily on context and situation.
I couldn’t agree more with your points on finding the right balance. It’s so essential to be mindful of the audience and the environment when choosing our words. Your discussion on when it’s appropriate to use slang and abbreviations in casual settings versus more formal settings really made me think about how I communicate daily.
I really like your blog post Rashid. Answering your first question I don’t think it is ever appropriate to you abbreviations in formal and academic writing unless you are giving examples of them in the written work. I personally use a lot of abbreviations in most of my text it does save time but not by a lot .
Due to my knowledge of English being equally from the internet (Youtube, talking to friends from abroad, and playing games) and books, I have seen both the academic and slang side of the language.
For me, I rarely, if ever, use abbreviations/slang terms even when texting. I would wager this is due to me being a rather “traditional writer” (whatever that may mean). Quite interestingly, this has led me to be quite a fast typer, especially when it comes to texting. By the time the person I am texting reads my first text, I would have already sent about five or so more texts.
However, I will say that, for the average person, slang terms/abbreviations do save a slight bit of time. Depending on the situation and the person, that may be a dealbreaker.
Great post! It was definitely interesting to stop for a minute and recognize how common slang and abbreviations are. To answer your question, “How often do you use slang / abbreviations?” I would say my use of slang and abbreviations decreased as a grew up. When I was 13-16 years old, I was obsessed with learning all the abbreviations and knowing all the slang words because it was “cool” among people my age. However, now that I communicate with people from different places and different ages, using this kind of language is not really appropriate and does not fit the context of the conversation most of the time.
Amazing article Rashid! I think we all struggle with keeping abbreviations out of our formal writing because they are just how we usually write and text. My belief is, if it is something the majority of people struggle with then it shouldn’t exist in the first place, meaning that abbreviations are a part of language and should not be regraded as beneath classical language and should be allowed into academic writing.