Recently, I read an article that discussed that communication that was brief, casual and even misspelled could actually produce more business. It was based on findings in the technology industry. Even so, the most interesting part of the article was not the article itself, but instead the comments. The older generation was livid.
The article may as well have talked about abortion, gay marriage or the death penalty. The response was loud, heated and full of passion. It became the new generation versus the old generation, the millenials versus the baby boomers.
Before I go any further, I feel I should caution that I myself am a millennial, even if only by a year or so. Does it create a bias? I should think not.
My thoughts to the whole debacle was that yes, grammar is important but, language is ever involving. Every generation is going to argue that the new generation is less knowledgeable or flat out wrong. I am 100% positive that the generation before Shakespeare thought his writing was crass and full of grammatical liberties. All you have to do is read the classics to understand the evolution of language; it is ever changing alongside technology. Without a doubt, it is changing faster than it ever has as changes occur at an ever-rapid pace.
This however does not mean that I am excusing misspellings. There is a difference between the evolution of a language and the devolution of written communication. While freedoms may be taken with grammar and the level of formality, correct spelling is of utmost importance in understanding. When words are misspelled the message can be lost.
I do believe that communication written and verbal has become more casual and that it is acceptable. Communication has also become a lot shorter and to the point. The long letters of yesteryear are no longer necessary, as all thoughts don’t need to be sent in one letter. With the quick turn around of emails and text messages there is no need to write for the sake of writing. E-mail and text messages create real “communication” that creates an ease of back and forth. Brief emails also save time when you are responding to over 100 a day.
Technology is fast and the communication should match it. Should we carelessly misspell words? I don’t think so. However, is it okay for communication to be casual and brief? Sure! Do you really want to read a formal email?
As marketers we know that our educated clients expect correct grammar and spelling when we put together marketing pieces, they would not tolerate anything less. Now, there are times when we purposely ignore conventions, and even spelling. This differs from poor grammar and misspellings as a result of laziness or lack of education.
In short, casual is okay, misspellings are bad, grammar is important but, not always critical, and lastly brief is better.