Written language is always changing and evolving. One of the biggest factors driving change today is the use of texting and messaging.
So called “text-speak” has evolved to be quick and informal and is often marked by abbreviations and acronyms (lol, BTW, IDK, etc.), limited use of punctuation and capitalization, informal greetings, and the use of emojis.
Text-speak is fine for informal communication, but it is increasingly appearing in professional email communication. And that can be a problem say the authors of Customer Communicator, the training and motivation newsletter for frontline reps.
In addition to appearing unprofessional, there is a risk of miscommunication between the generations. Younger people are typically more comfortable with the informal style of text-speak, while older people may find it difficult to understand or inappropriate.
The January issue of Customer Communicator provides six no-nonsense rules for effective and appropriate email in the age of text-speak.