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As the use of instant messaging and text messaging has increased, so has the use of abbreviated language in formal writings. Teachers have become increasingly astonished at the abbreviations and spelling errors that have found in students' academic writings. Some of the students even admit to not even noticing the use of this language in their papers. They use it so frequently that they do not notice it as being out of place. Some teachers find this appalling and some find it as a way to spark students' creativity.

Plester, Beverly, Clare Wood, and Victoria Bell. "Txt msg n school literacy: does texting and knowledge of text abbreviations adversely affect children's literacy attainment?." Literacy 42.3 (2008): 137-144. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of children who own and use mobile phones regularly. Some of these children even prefer text messaging to actual conversation and have developed a knowledge of an abbreviated language used in text messages known as "textisms." Many studies have focused on the effects of "textisms" in the language of adults, but few have focused on children and how extreme exposure to text messaging affects their development of language. The authors strive to evaluate these effects in this article, which describes a study they performed. The first part of the study analyzed how the number of text messages sent along with the knowledge of "textisms" affect performance on a standardized test known as the Key Stage test. The second part focused on the link between the use of "textisms" and spelling and writing. From this study and the results it produced, the authors determined that, in general, there is not a connection between text messaging and poor writing and reading abilities.

Plester, Beverly, Clare Wood, and Victoria Bell. "Txt msg n school literacy: does texting and knowledge of text abbreviations adversely affect children's literacy attainment?." Literacy 42.3 (2008): 137-144. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of children who own and use mobile phones regularly. Some of these children even prefer text messaging to actual conversation and have developed a knowledge of an abbreviated language used in text messages known as "textisms." Many studies have focused on the effects of "textisms" in the language of adults, but few have focused on children and how extreme exposure to text messaging affects their development of language. The authors strive to evaluate these effects in this article, which describes a study they performed. The first part of the study analyzed how the number of text messages sent along with the knowledge of "textisms" affect performance on a standardized test known as the Key Stage test. The second part focused on the link between the use of "textisms" and spelling and writing. From this study and the results it produced, the authors determined that, in general, there is not a connection between text messaging and poor writing and reading abilities.

Rosen, Larry D., et al. "The Relationship Between "Textisms" and Formal and Informal Writing Among Young Adults." Communication Research 37.3 (2010): 420-440. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. This article is about whether or not there is a connection between textisms and the quality of writing. There has been an overwhelming increase in the use of text messaging, and in some cases young adults use messages more than talking. Two studies were performed trying to determine if there is a relationship, because not much research has been completed. On top of that most of the research has yielded different results. These two studies did not see a connection between the use of textisms and formal writing, but it did between the use of textisms and informal writing.

Rosen, Larry D., et al. "The Relationship Between "Textisms" and Formal and Informal Writing Among Young Adults." Communication Research 37.3 (2010): 420-440. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. This article is about whether or not there is a connection between textisms and the quality of writing. There has been an overwhelming increase in the use of text messaging, and in some cases young adults use messages more than talking. Two studies were performed trying to determine if there is a relationship, because not much research has been completed. On top of that most of the research has yielded different results. These two studies did not see a connection between the use of textisms and formal writing, but it did between the use of textisms and informal writing.

Smith, Peter K., et al. "Cyberbullying: its nature and impact in secondary school pupils." Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry 49.4 (2008): 376-385. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. Bullying has taken on a new form as it has started to occur through the Internet and cell phones and has begun to be known as "cyberbullying." This article focuses on a study in which students of secondary schools took a survey on how often the had been bullied through electronic means. In the first study, phone call and text messaging bullying were most frequent. In the second study, phone call and instant messaging were most frequent and text messaging next. Both studies discovered that cyberbullying takes place more often outside of school than inside school. This can be stopped maybe by informing parents more and including this topic in education.

This article acknowledges the growing prevalence of instant messaging and text messaging in today's society. It reveals the two different beliefs of how these new forms of communication affect writing. One belief is that it has caused a "breakdown of the English language" from the use of abbreviations and lack of punctuation. The second is that students have been encouraged to write more and that it is helping them practice their literacy skills. These technologies can be used as learning tools, but the problem is that students have a hard time distinguishing when to use informal and when to use formal writing. The challenge now is how to teach children how to use this new tool for literacy.