I think the SMS style of writing is absolutely awful - it is ruining language - I can only hope it is a passing phase. Unfortunatley the younger generation seem to be adopting it which will be to their detriment once they are working in the world of commerce and industry. So many of the questions on this forum use this style and frankly I don't understand them - and I don't want to either.

I try avoiding short words. That spoils beauty of language.

Dear Sum,
Abbrevations were internationally accepted in our shipping industry when we used to communicated by telex where each extra word / minute was considered costly. To give u an example of chartering of ship; I will cite this example ;

- 10,000 mt bgd sbm s/f 68' wog
- 1-2 sb Mum / 1 sb Spore
- L/D 1200t pwwd shex / fhex eiu bends
- Dem 3500 hd wts bends

Abv lines mean;

- 10,000 metric tons bagged Soya Bean Meal, stowage factor 68 cubic feet without gurantee.
- 1 or safe berthe Mumbai / 1 safe berth Singapore
- Load/Discharge rate 1200 metric tons per weather working days - sundays & holidays excluded even if used.
- Demurrage $ 3500 per day on working time saved, both ends.

These r just 4 lines. We used make 4 page messages like that on telex & in the case of dispute / arbitration, this language was accepted in the english court of law. With advent of email, there is no need for such abbrevations any more.

Rgds / Cocktail Raj

new gen is forgetting spellings of words.