I can't understand what you're saying!

[ShayRN]

I have a big favor. I know that in texting writing "ur" or "2" for to is acceptable. But honestly, when you post like that, I don't understand what it is your trying to say. I usually just skip over the whole post, because it looks like gibberish to me. Please, this is a nursing forum, not facebook. Can we write in standardized English so we can ALL understand the content? Thank you.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I think y'all are way too uptight. I refuse to sweat small stuff like this.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I think y'all are way too uptight. I refuse to sweat small stuff like this.

Everyone has their pet peeves. Yours may just be different ones that would seem petty to someone else.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I actually have a few things, but they are mostly actual important things like child or animal abuse. Other than that I keep my panties un-wadded.

I admit that I just do not get why some people get so wrapped up about something like this. Good gawd, really crummy stuff may be just around the corner. Save your energy!

[rn/writer, RN]

It's fine to do what you want in your own world. But when you are a guest, whether in real life or online, the courteous thing to do is to defer to the wishes of your host, even if you think their standards are silly. Of course, if a host asks you to do something you find truly burdensome or offensive, you can always protect yourself by taking distance from their unreasonable demands.

Another reason that we ask people to avoid using textspeak is that we have quite a few international members for whom English is a second (or third or fourth) language. We would like this site to be as accessible to as many people as possible. Having members use standard English helps us to achieve that goal.

Keep in mind here that we're not grading papers or expecting the verbal equivalent of APA format. We just ask that people stick to standard abbreviations and skip texting shorthand.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

Another reason that we ask people to avoid using textspeak is that we have quite a few international members for whom English is a second (or third or fourth) language. We would like this site to be as accessible to as many people as possible. Having members use standard English helps us to achieve that goal.

To be honest, I never even thought of it from that perspective. I'm a native speaker and find it visually difficult to follow passages which have a lot of text speak, so I can imagine the challenges a non native speaker could face.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

Is Shakespearean English acceptable?

O day and night, but this txtspk wondrous strange!

[ShayRN]

I really wasn't trying to start a debate. I am just making an observation that when you type in textspeak (didn't even know there was a word for it) I cannot understand what it is your trying to say. So even if you need advice or are giving advice I completely skip over the post. Can't understand it, I seriously mean that. Furthermore, really? Get with the times, don't be so uptight, old fogie? I am pretty good with computers, even wrote some programs for my old boss when his billing program wasn't working. Being with the times isn't always a good thing. There are enough people on here saying the same thing, we don't understand you. So either type in appropriate spelling or understand when people can't help you.

[gymnut]

I can't do text speak even when texting. It makes my brain sad.

I do however would like to see a font on here called Doctors Handwriting and type posts using that just to see how many can translate.

[AICU RN]

I have to say, when I read the title I thought it was going to be tricks on how to understand a tubed patient. I'm really bad a that.

Gymnut,

I do like that idea. After spending 7 years as a UDC at a hospital where all orders/progress notes were hand written, I pride myself on being fluent in the foreign language of physician.

Now my place of employment is completely electronic. Sometimes I catch myself thinking that the notes are way too easy to read

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I have to say, that I do not have a problem with people using the ampersand, but it takes me more time to find which number the & symbol is above on the keyboard and then shift to it compared with just typing the word 'and.'

Also, I know the difference between their and they're, you're and your, etc. If I do use the wrong one, it is a typo. For the most part, I give to the benefit of the doubt to people who use the wrong one...i.e. treat it as a typo, not ignorace as to which one to use. However, I am less likely to give the benefit of the doubt to them if they have a bunch of other grammatical error. On the other hand, I know that I am not perfect, and I have no right to criticize someone else's mistakes

The one thing that really does drive me nuts is when someone starts a thread with a 1000 word post with typos in every other sentence. (This is usually a rant about how they had to wait 3 minutes longer than the expected to get treatment in the ER...but I digress). When someone points out the sloppiness of their post they say something to the effect of "I was so mad I typed it right away on my smart phone. This is why there are so many mistakes." (like this somehow absolves them of the mistakes) My advice: go home, collect you thoughts, and type a message that is actually readable.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

The one thing that really does drive me nuts is when someone starts a thread with a 1000 word post with typos in every other sentence. (This is usually a rant about how they had to wait 3 minutes longer than the expected to get treatment in the ER...but I digress). When someone points out the sloppiness of their post they say something to the effect of "I was so mad I typed it right away on my smart phone. This is why there are so many mistakes." (like this somehow absolves them of the mistakes) My advice: go home, collect you thoughts, and type a message that is actually readable.

One of my most memorable AN moments was just that: commenting on a nearly illegible post, including a couple of sentences in which the poster's run-on words completely changed his/her intended meaning. And for that, I was chastised by the poster who screeched, "I typed this on my phone!!!" (yes, there were multiple exclamation points)

Well ... alrighty then ...

Would you stand on a street corner and publicly shout without considering the ramifications?, later claiming, "oh, that's not what I meant!" Broadcasting electronically without regard for the resulting post is the electronic equivalent of the same.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

The day I start using my phone to read and post on Allnurses.com is the day I off myself. No offense, but the goings on of Allnurses.com just aren't all THAT interesting that I need to use my phone to check up on and respond to posts here. Then again I don't get the attraction of sites like twitter and facebook. I'm sort of an outcast on most nursing units as apparently that's how most folks communicate these days. Random nurse, "Did you see the full moon this morning? I posted on my Facebook about it this morning." My response. "Mmmmkay."