I have been informed that there are about ninety symbols and acronyms used in texting. Once in a while I use one, and twice in a while I can decode one.
I’m using the history of the autograph book to compare the communication skills of adolescents in our current culture and those from roughly one hundred years ago. Have we “smartened-up” or “dumbed-down?” (Grammarians, did I put the end quotation mark and question in the right order?)
Origin and history:
They came about from the very common practice of signing yearbooks in universities. Autograph albums first appeared in any great numbers in Australia in the 1830s and 40s, increasing in popularity in the sentimental seventies and elegant eighties when they were considered to be ‘quite the fashion’. The custom appears to have originated in the mid-sixteenth century in Europe with university students carrying a small leather-bound album amiculum to record the comments and hopefully approving sentiments of their patrons, protectors, companions and comrades. https://www.warrenfahey.com.au/the-history-of-an-autograph-book/
I have a litter full of precious great granddaughters. Their little fingers fly through the acronyms I referred to above. But I don’t think they ever attend to the thought of having a “brand new” thought.
How did the autograph writers get so capable with their little rhymes and light-hearted teasers in the days before google and Oneta? 😀
I tried to find a reference to a book from a hundred years ago. Found one that might be interesting, but the price is too high for me. http://A BIRTHDAY BOOK BEING A BOOK OF WISE AND PITHY SAYINGS FOR EACH DAY IN THE YEAR by M.L. Gwynn. I’ll just use my own autograph album.
I like my title referring to the good advice that went along with some of the album writings. This one, for instance. I got it from google, don’t know origin.
If you’re ever discouraged or blue, Little Girl,
I will tell you a wonderful trick.
That can bring you contentment if anything can.
Do something for somebody quick.
Sweet aroma 
Great advice.
🙂
For a while, back in the 1980s, the “slam book” was quite popular. Shows you how far we’ve fallen.
As to your question on the quotes and question mark: When the question is part of a quote, the mark goes inside the quotes. When it is not, then the question mark goes outside the quotes. In your sentence, the question mark should go outside the quotes.
Examples: Did she say, “We have dumbed-down our language”? (the whole sentence is a question)
She said, “Have we dumbed-down our language?” (only the quoted material is a question)
Now, aren’t you glad you asked? Gave me a chance to exercise my Grammar Nazi muscles 🙂
Very well explained. Thank you.
Interesting about the yearbook signing and autograph books. I know I had one, well I still have it, from when I was a kid. And I have all my school yearbooks which people signed. Lots of cute sayings in both. 🙂
You have such a terrific imagination! Have you thought of an interesting way to keep (pass on) yearbooks? This is not the place for one of your terrific lies, but I would probably laugh if you give me one. 😀
I suppose my girls will get my old yearbooks and everything else, but who knows if they’d even want anything. I’m glad you enjoy my fibs on Friday! Here’s a funny – true or false … I have bought yearbooks and diaries and photo albums of other people at yard sales just because it’s fun to read the entries and sayings written in them.
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that would be True! haha 🙂
Probably contributes to your wide range of “funny.”
🙂 🙂