You learn to read properly by reading, to speak properly by speaking, to write properly by writing.
There are no valid shortcuts--no symbols, no abbreviations, no ersatz gimmicks--to clear communication.
LOL (laughing out loud) may have invaded many message boards, but Teen Speak (like, rad, for real, etc.) hasn't corrupted the English language in adolescent cyberspace.
Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada found that only 2.4 percent of words used in teenage instant text messages were corrupted or shorthand forms.
The research concluded that extensive use of computers and the Internet actually enhances teenage writing abilities.
That's :). (13 AUGUST 2006)
