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2b or not 2b – is this the right way to write such a question? Is it okay to substitute numbers and letters for words?

This week's Write Space by Glenn Hancock.

I am astounded at the level and complexity of text language printed as comments in The Bay of Plenty Times. Some texts I could hardly understand and that led me to think about whether such language is appropriate in the public arena.

True, we all do it. It's quick – and easier than typing the whole word. However, when we are communicating through social media is it okay to use text language and will we be understood?

I guess what I am asking is this: Can how we write, in this technological age, affect how we are perceived?

When we write a story or poem, our main objective is to be understood. We hope the reader gets what we're saying.

The same applies when we text or contribute to an online discussion. So by abbreviating a word, or substituting numbers for letters, do we fail to get our point clearly across? Will we be misunderstood?

With the popularity of texting and social media, our written language runs the risk of obliteration in the public arena.

We now have the opportunity to comment instantly on any topic via text, email, Facebook or Twitter. To keep up, are we dumbing down what we say and how we say it?

One possible flow-on effect could be the use of text language in creative and professional writing. Imagine a novel written like this, or a poem. What would it say about the author?

Some authors write words how they sound to accentuate a character's accent or dialect. This is meant to make the character more real in the reader's mind.

Text language fails to make this happen. It's difficult to take seriously any opinion expressed in text, or the person who wrote it.

Expressing an opinion on the internet offers another benefit – anonymity.

Hidden behind a pen name we can all express ourselves freely no matter how we write. That's one thing I hate about blogs.

You can be rude, obscene or close to slanderous when you respond to what's in them – without once disclosing your real identity.

Where will it end? Text slang is already sneaking into our spoken language.

You think you're immune? Only if you never gave out a website address without once saying dub dub dub dot.