Language is an ever-changing, dynamic tool that human’s earliest ancestors used to communicate with each other. We continue to use it today. People speak about 5,000 languages in the world today. A new language/lingo emerging is one I call “tween speak.”

When my friends text, instant message or e-mail, they use abbreviated phrases and slang such as ROFL, LOL, WTF and ATF which appear to be a time and space saver. However, this may be saving you time and texting space today, but will writing in this shorthand manner have disastrous long-term effects down the road?

Using shorthand whilst on the Internet or your phone can carry over unconsciously to your schoolwork, interaction with people face-to-face and to the workplace. You might be scoffing now, thinking, “WTF, I don’t talk like that in class!” When the use of slang and abbreviations is not limited just to e-mails, text messages or instant messages, people find themselves using it all the time and it becomes an integral part of their writing and speech.

According to a report done by Good Morning America, slang and abbreviation talk is showing up in student’s schoolwork, in their SAT essays and in college admission applications. I hear people on campus speaking and then throwing out an OMG, LOL, JK, or WTF, and no, I’m not trying to save space.

We are all in college to get a degree so we can get a job. We are anxious to be an adult in every way except the one that is the most distinctive – our speaking and writing styles. When you graduate and get a job, there is no magical switch you can flip on to make you start speaking like a professional adult. It is a transitional process that needs to be started when you start college. So am I saying dress in a suit to come to school and start carrying a brief case? No – I’m saying there are some basic changes we can make to improve our language and writing skills, ones that will take us further toward our goal of achieving a good job.

When you go for a job interview, you get all dressed up, you practice what you are going to say and you make sure to try to speak as professionally as possible. Cursing and speaking in slang during a job interview is not plausible. Cut down on the slang and cursing in your everyday speech and writing, and you will be surprised by how people take you seriously when you communicate in a more structured manner.

Think of it as another way to ensure your successful future.