TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Emily Post-ing From:Judith Wisdom <wisdom -at- UDCEMAIL -dot- UDC -dot- UPENN -dot- EDU> Date:Mon, 24 Jan 1994 03:02:43 EST
I think the mistakes, like "exercise" for "exorcise" are mostly the result
of the poor editing capabilities on E-mail, as well as poor-to-no spell
checking mechanisms. But as a result there has emerged a tolerance
towards spelling and punctuation errors of the sort that are not revealed
in spoken language. I must confess that while this bothered me at first,
and I still do try for standards of written correctness, I find some charm
in the errors, and experience them as a kind of informality that brings
this form of fast communication over vast spaces more like face to face
contact. I risk being interpreted as approving of lower standards, which
I am not, but feel that this tendency might just be viewed as different
standards not lowered ones. However, if the result is that we notice some
effect on non-E-mail written language emerging, then we're in trouble, and
I will have to hang my head in shame.
