We learned to write the way we talk

Found at the New York Times.
Because of my work as a copyeditor, people often gleefully send me examples of misplaced apostrophes or their/they’re confusions with the expectation that I’ll join them in mocking the writer. It just makes me sad. The point of the ‘rules’ is to clearly communicate meaning to another human being. If you let broken rules stop you listening to other people’s meaning, you’re completely undermining what’s beautiful about language.

This piece by internet linguist Gretchen McCulloch is a celebration of new ways of writing, from Ironic Capitals to strettttchedddd out words and the passive-aggressive full stop (“Ok.”) These flourishes let us convey emotional nuance in text like never before. It’s an exciting time to be a writer!

Of course, a personal, conversational style is not always appropriate. But neither is a formal style. No one wants to get a birthday card that begins “To whom it may concern…”

If reading this has raised your hackles, please read the article. I hope it will convince you to embrace this more open and flexible approach to writing, and the rewards that come with it.