Long and Shorthand of It

A recent study of IM-ing by college students found that the communication was more formal than might be expected in a speech-like medium

Instant messaging (IM) is a relatively new form of communication. The fact that IM is more immediate and direct than email makes it seem more like speech than writing. But a recent study of IM-ing by college students found that the communication was more formal—in use of vocabulary and abbreviations—than might be expected in a speech-like medium. And when divided along gender lines, the messages between females were more formal—with fewer contractions and better punctuation—than those between males. “The female IM looks more like a written genre, while the male IM looks more like a spoken genre,” Naomi Baron of American University said. Overall, though, the messages surprised Baron with their level of linguistic sophistication, considering IM gives the impression that it is something you do “as fast as you can”. Out of 11,718 words, there were only 31 abbreviations (mostly ‘k’ for ‘ok’), 90 acronyms (mostly ‘LOL’ for ‘laughing out loud’), and only 49 emoticons (mostly the smiley). The level of formality was higher among women than men.