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Pedants' corner

'give me a text' this always makes me want to shout.

29 replies

MrsDougRoss · 04/08/2008 12:17

I know it is wrong and it drives me mad. Why have people started using this? For many years people have always said, send a letter. Surely give is only used when passing something from person to person with no middle man. Or have i got it wrong. Please Pedants let me know.

OP posts:

Report

branflake81 · 04/08/2008 15:04

I agree. Sad thing is I have said it myself on occasion. Must do better in future.

allgonebellyup · 04/08/2008 15:09

What about "give me a call?"

That would be wrong?

MrsDougRoss · 04/08/2008 16:46

now you mention it, i am not sure about give me a call, but that is one i am guilty of.

OP posts:

Cappuccino · 04/08/2008 16:48

pedants shouldn't be texting anyway

Pedants Say No! To Texting

MaryAnnSingleton · 04/08/2008 16:48

my mum thinks they are called 'tex' - ie. Dad will tex you

Twiglett · 04/08/2008 16:50

I have never heard this

thank gawd

FluffyMummy123 · 04/08/2008 16:52

Message withdrawn

MrsDougRoss · 04/08/2008 18:34

i do like to use punctation and proper words, it takes ages to type a text message.

OP posts:

Cathpot · 04/08/2008 18:46

OK. I sometimes browse through pedants threads, usually I find myself thinking ohmygod I do that. This is the first time I have been moved to write anything and am very nervous as no time to spell check... but please, how can you complain about how people refer to texts?? Our language is very old and constantly changing, we would all struggle to understand the English spoken a few hundred years ago, and could all spot as different a piece of text written only a few decades ago. Texting is very new, how we choose to talk about texting is very new. Who is to say what's right? (Ducks and runs for cover and considers name change).

MrsDougRoss · 04/08/2008 19:43

Cathpot, I am also new to pedants. The thing is it sounds wrong in my head and the way i see it is the medium is different i.e using a phone but it is the same as a letter or email. Do people say give me an email? It may not be wrong, and i am no expert. Language rules exsist and can be applied to new circumstances.

OP posts:

BarcodeZebra · 04/08/2008 21:52

I'm with Cod. Text away but only with proper spelling, full punctuation and, where appropriate, quotation marks to denote speech.

dingdong05 · 04/08/2008 22:16

I just wanted everyone to know how hard I am resisting the urge to go mega text speak on y'all...

ButterflyMcQueen · 04/08/2008 22:18

people lol at my texts as i punctuate them etc and use long words

thumbwitch · 05/08/2008 00:52

agree that texts should be in same category as letters and emails, not same as phonecalls. And therefore should be sent, not given.

MrsDougRoss · 05/08/2008 16:40

Another one, this is possibly taking it too far, but i feel people should take more care over the typing of their Facebook status.

OP posts:

nickytwotimes · 05/08/2008 16:47

Excellent post Cath.

I would argue that 'give' is the correct word as texting is part of telecommunications.

I know I haven't put that very well.

Tigerschick · 05/08/2008 17:11

Texts are sent not given.

I text using correct spelling and punctuation 98% of the time - sometimes I run out of space and replace 'you' with 'u' or something similar ... Please don't tar and feather me

SheikYerbouti · 05/08/2008 17:16

I hate

"I text him"

It's "I sent him a text"

I used proper words in my texts. I have predictive texting so I don;t need to put "UR a shtsmr txt msg" type stuff

SheikYerbouti · 05/08/2008 17:20

Obviously, I use predictive texting.

I am a pedant, albeit one that can't type.

By the way, one of the regular advertisers i9n the magazines that I work of have an ad for sexual health services. It says

"Plannin on scorin?
Dnt 4get ur cndms"

It makes me cringe everytime I read it. I can imagine some polyester-clad 50 somethings in their office in central Milton Keynes trying to get dwn wiv da kidz by using txt spk in thier adverts

Word · 05/08/2008 17:20

I've been laughed at for using proper words and punctuation in my texts.

Word · 05/08/2008 17:22

Oh, and I HATE HATE HATE people who use predictive text and don't check the words. The message usually takes 10 mins to interpret.

(Fancy going out for a neck, anyone?)

SheikYerbouti · 05/08/2008 17:22

So have I word, so have I.

We need to rise up against it. I always feel dinosaurtastic when I am replying to people who say "wat tme u cmin rnd l8r?"

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MrsDougRoss · 05/08/2008 17:25

the thing i do not get is words like l8tr surely take just as long to type as the real word. Why bother?

OP posts:

SheikYerbouti · 05/08/2008 17:27

I always want to reply "UR a thk cnt"

But I am a common old harridan with a mouth like a potty

Word · 05/08/2008 18:26

Respect, Sheik.

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