Education

Are Newbie Internet Writers Changing Our Professional English Rules – Yes, We Are!

In proper English grammar there are quite specific rules as to the use of quotation marks, and interestingly enough most all of these rules were written long before the Internet. This seems rather problematic to me because today there are more web pages in English than all the written records and writings in all languages combined throughout past human history by a factor of 10 plus. The other day, I was discussing this with a group of writers online.
Indeed, I had suggested that people now use quotation marks to highlight or emphasize words. In fact, I do this quite a bit actually myself. One writer noted that this is; wrong! And whereas, I agree with him that it is wrong, nevertheless, I will continue to use quotation marks for emphasis and if the rest of the world doesn’t like it – tough luck for them – because the internet is changing such things, and the old way is out, and everyone else needs to get with the new program. That’s the way I see it.
Besides that, I’ve always had a problem with English teachers and most writers, they love to enforce nonsensical rules – “let the world evolve,” I say. The use of quotations for emphasis now is quite common and since there are a trillion webpages that means all the past written recorded history pales in comparison. We’ve changed that rule, we win, the world must adapt. See that point. Since these rules no longer apply, it seems as if all the English teachers and journalism majors in the world need to stop trying to prop up the status quo and get with this new paradigm shift.
Does this seem rather ironic to you that all these English grammar rules were made before speech recognition software, prior to word processing programs, or even electronic keyboards? When these rules were created there were no fax machines, mobile phones, the Internet, or in many cases not even microwave ovens. And yet the English teachers of the world, the English professors, and the journalists want as to follow those ancient rules; why I ask?
Do you know in many states there are rules that if you are driving a horseless carriage that you have to fire off a flare everyone hundred feet to warn people that you are coming down the road. Can you imagine any of us following such nonsensical rules today on our modern freeways or driving through our neighborhood? Those rules are actually on the books in many places, but if you were to fire a flare, you’d surely be cited for public nuisance, disturbance, or charged with arson if it started a fire.
It’s time for all of the status quo English grammar enforcers to get out of the way, the Internet writers of the future are changing the game. Please consider all this and think on it.
FYI: this is my 27,300th article. I’ll follow my own rules thank you very much, because I’ve written more than any of the people who have made those rules for English grammar. In fact, if I were to tally up the number of words I’ve written, it would exceed all but four of the most prolific novelist in human history. Don’t tell me how to write, and please move out of the road so you don’t get run over in your horse-drawn carriage. Ha ha ha.

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