Are emailing and text messaging eroding punctuation standards? A Guest Blog by Judy Holt, Technical Writer

As with most people, the intricacies of punctuation use were drummed into my head and habits during my school years. However, taking Comm 1007 and 1008 at BCIT has reminded me of long-forgotten rules, and made me think twice about every punctuating tap on my keyboard. In particular, I realize how many rules I abandon when emailing and texting—leading me to wonder about the impact of these informal communications on punctuation. While browsing for commentary on the subject, the following websites and blogs caught my eye:  DailyWritingTips: a blog helping readers write clear, correct English in this age of e-mail, blogs and social networks.  BBC Skillswise: a great site with useful fact sheets, videos, games and quizzes to help adults improve their punctuation.  LynneTruss.com: the website for the author of the implausibly entertaining book on punctuation, “Eats, Shoots & Leaves”.  GrammarBlog: this fun blog’s header says it all: “Mocking Poor Grammar Since 2007”. Like Lynne Truss, I wonder whether future generations may look at keyboards and grumble "Why do they still have all these keys with things like dots and spots and eyes and mouths and things? Nobody does smileys any more." :-)