The NO NO Typing Practices!

Today I am talking about the proper things we are all taught NOT to do.

Not the normal things like don't pick your nose or chew with your mouth closed.  Good hygiene and discreet bodily function issues should be approached in a tasteful manner if at all possible.

I am referring to the some grammatical and punctuation issues I just don't agree with.  These guidelines have been presented as fact by some when it comes to texting, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, other social media.  And they are not, nor is there a strong reason grammatically or socially why they should be.

I am not normally a person who says break the rules of the English language.  I made a career of guiding people away from making mistakes.  There are some guidelines I feel strongly that should be done correctly.  There, their and they're-your and you're-its and it's-a lot is two words unless it is allot-are all worthy of a cringe when I see them done incorrectly.

BUT the idea that capital letters in a text is shouting irks me.  If I want to shout at you, I will.   And I will do it at a loud speaking volume, in person.  Trust me, if I care enough to shout at you I want to be involved in a conversation that doesn't consist of me typing to get my message across.  (Actually, if I am shouting, things are still good.  If I drop in tone and volume and sound like Clint Eastwood, just do whatever I say.  You may survive the interaction.)

A second thing I disagree with is that using exclamation points makes you look immature or uneducated when writing.  I agree this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! is too much, but this ! says, "Hey, I am excited about what I am talking about!"  If I wanted to put this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, it means I probably want to talk about it in person anyway.

Who made these two things into "rules"?  Who makes these rules that often don't follow their own guidelines was often asked by my students.  The fact is we all do and word of mouth is how it is accomplished down through the generations.  I say we rise up and stop these naysayers who are trying to do away with capitals and exclamation points.  The world needs big letters and enthusiastic punctuation.

So, if I want to STRESS something I am going to put it in capital letters.  If I want to share my exuberance, then an exclamation mark is for ME!  It doesn't make me ignorant of the current psuedo English language trends.  I am just a grammatical and punctuation free spirit. 

A REBEL to the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!