LANGUAGE REVISION WORKSHEET FOR GRADE 11 AND MATRIC LEARNERS
Grammar Goes Out the Window: Is Social Media Changing the Way We Write?
1. Have you ever received a message that simply read, "u coming?" or "idk...
lol"? For many teenagers, this style of writing is perfectly normal. Social media
platforms encourage quick communication, and users often value speed over
accuracy. As a result, abbreviations, emojis, and shortened words have
become part of everyday conversations. While this style may be suitable for
texting friends, many teachers are becoming increasingly concerned about its
influence on formal writing.
2. Language has always changed over time; however, the pace of change today
is remarkable. A learner who spends hours scrolling through social media
may see thousands of examples of incorrect grammar, missing punctuation
and poorly constructed sentences every week. Over time, these habits can
become automatic. Some educators argue that learners are no longer making
careless mistakes—they are simply writing the way they communicate online.
3. Not everyone believes this is a problem. Linguist Dr Karen Mitchell recently
stated, "Language reflects the society that uses it, and social media is simply
another stage in its development." She explained that every generation
invents new words and expressions. Others, however, disagree. They believe
that formal writing requires precision and clarity, especially in academic and
professional settings. One employer admitted that poorly written job
applications often create an unfavourable first impression.
4. Social media has also introduced entirely new expressions. Phrases such as
"spill the tea" and "it's giving" have entered everyday speech, while words like
"ghosting" and "doomscrolling" have found their way into dictionaries.
Although these expressions enrich informal conversations, they are not
always appropriate in examination essays. Learners must understand that
different situations require different registers.
5. Ironically, people now communicate more than ever before, yet many struggle
to express themselves clearly. Autocorrect fixes some errors automatically,
but it cannot replace careful thinking. A message filled with vague wording or
ambiguous expressions can easily be misunderstood. Consider the sentence,
"The teacher told the learner she needed to work harder." Who needs to work
harder—the teacher or the learner? Without clear pronoun reference, the
meaning remains uncertain.
6. Teachers continue to remind learners that good grammar is not about
impressing others; it is about communicating ideas accurately. Writing "free
gifts", for example, is a tautology because gifts are already free. Likewise,
saying "I personally, myself think..." adds unnecessary repetition. As one
experienced English teacher remarked, "Grammar is like the referee in a
soccer match—you only notice it when it goes wrong." Although social media
is here to stay, mastering Standard English remains an essential life skill.
, SECTION 1
Refer to paragraph 1 of the article.
Have you ever received a message that simply read, "u coming?" or "idk... lol"?
For many teenagers, this style of writing is perfectly normal. Social media
platforms encourage quick communication, and users often value speed over
accuracy. As a result, abbreviations, emojis, and shortened words have become
part of everyday conversations. While this style may be suitable for texting friends,
many teachers are becoming increasingly concerned about its influence on formal
writing.
1.1 Refer to the following sentence:
Have you ever received a message that simply read, "u coming?" or "idk...
lol"?
1.1.1 Rewrite the following text-message examples in Standard English
(a) "u coming?"
(b) "idk... lol" (2)
1.1.2 Explain the effectiveness of beginning the article with a rhetorical
question. (1)
1.1.3 Explain the purpose of the ellipsis in the example:
idk... lol (1)
1.1.4 Explain why the writer has placed the examples "u coming?" and
"idk... lol" inside quotation marks. (1)
1.2 Identify whether the following is a simple, compound or complex sentence.
Justify your answer. (2)
For many teenagers, this style of writing is perfectly normal.
1.3 Refer to the following sentence.
Social media platforms encourage quick communication, and users often
value speed over accuracy.
1.3.1 Provide ONE suitable synonym for the word 'encourage' as it is
used in the sentence. (1)
1.3.2 Identify the TWO finite verbs. Explain why they are classified as
finite verbs. (4)
1.4 Explain whether the two commas perform the same function. Refer to each
comma in your answer. (2)
Grammar Goes Out the Window: Is Social Media Changing the Way We Write?
1. Have you ever received a message that simply read, "u coming?" or "idk...
lol"? For many teenagers, this style of writing is perfectly normal. Social media
platforms encourage quick communication, and users often value speed over
accuracy. As a result, abbreviations, emojis, and shortened words have
become part of everyday conversations. While this style may be suitable for
texting friends, many teachers are becoming increasingly concerned about its
influence on formal writing.
2. Language has always changed over time; however, the pace of change today
is remarkable. A learner who spends hours scrolling through social media
may see thousands of examples of incorrect grammar, missing punctuation
and poorly constructed sentences every week. Over time, these habits can
become automatic. Some educators argue that learners are no longer making
careless mistakes—they are simply writing the way they communicate online.
3. Not everyone believes this is a problem. Linguist Dr Karen Mitchell recently
stated, "Language reflects the society that uses it, and social media is simply
another stage in its development." She explained that every generation
invents new words and expressions. Others, however, disagree. They believe
that formal writing requires precision and clarity, especially in academic and
professional settings. One employer admitted that poorly written job
applications often create an unfavourable first impression.
4. Social media has also introduced entirely new expressions. Phrases such as
"spill the tea" and "it's giving" have entered everyday speech, while words like
"ghosting" and "doomscrolling" have found their way into dictionaries.
Although these expressions enrich informal conversations, they are not
always appropriate in examination essays. Learners must understand that
different situations require different registers.
5. Ironically, people now communicate more than ever before, yet many struggle
to express themselves clearly. Autocorrect fixes some errors automatically,
but it cannot replace careful thinking. A message filled with vague wording or
ambiguous expressions can easily be misunderstood. Consider the sentence,
"The teacher told the learner she needed to work harder." Who needs to work
harder—the teacher or the learner? Without clear pronoun reference, the
meaning remains uncertain.
6. Teachers continue to remind learners that good grammar is not about
impressing others; it is about communicating ideas accurately. Writing "free
gifts", for example, is a tautology because gifts are already free. Likewise,
saying "I personally, myself think..." adds unnecessary repetition. As one
experienced English teacher remarked, "Grammar is like the referee in a
soccer match—you only notice it when it goes wrong." Although social media
is here to stay, mastering Standard English remains an essential life skill.
, SECTION 1
Refer to paragraph 1 of the article.
Have you ever received a message that simply read, "u coming?" or "idk... lol"?
For many teenagers, this style of writing is perfectly normal. Social media
platforms encourage quick communication, and users often value speed over
accuracy. As a result, abbreviations, emojis, and shortened words have become
part of everyday conversations. While this style may be suitable for texting friends,
many teachers are becoming increasingly concerned about its influence on formal
writing.
1.1 Refer to the following sentence:
Have you ever received a message that simply read, "u coming?" or "idk...
lol"?
1.1.1 Rewrite the following text-message examples in Standard English
(a) "u coming?"
(b) "idk... lol" (2)
1.1.2 Explain the effectiveness of beginning the article with a rhetorical
question. (1)
1.1.3 Explain the purpose of the ellipsis in the example:
idk... lol (1)
1.1.4 Explain why the writer has placed the examples "u coming?" and
"idk... lol" inside quotation marks. (1)
1.2 Identify whether the following is a simple, compound or complex sentence.
Justify your answer. (2)
For many teenagers, this style of writing is perfectly normal.
1.3 Refer to the following sentence.
Social media platforms encourage quick communication, and users often
value speed over accuracy.
1.3.1 Provide ONE suitable synonym for the word 'encourage' as it is
used in the sentence. (1)
1.3.2 Identify the TWO finite verbs. Explain why they are classified as
finite verbs. (4)
1.4 Explain whether the two commas perform the same function. Refer to each
comma in your answer. (2)
