THESE DAYS, periods are more than just a punctuation mark. As modern communication evolves, the period has recently been perceived as a symbol of anger, insincerity, and passive-aggression, particularly through the medium of messaging.

Messaging has made writing more conversational, setting aside traditional grammar rules in place of more casual forms of expression. In turn, a divide arises between casual conversationalists and those who simply like to be grammatically correct.

Today, the divide is more pronounced than usual. The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed texting to become the most convenient mode of communication as face-to-face communication remains restrained. Despite the connections fostered by messaging, there persists a disconnect between people as the medium leaves messages open to interpretation.

Periodt.

Periods have not always been a sign of anger and hostility. In writing, a period simply marks the end of a statement. Irene Benitez, English Department professor and a member of Generation X, elaborates further upon this with her experience as this is the first time she’s heard of the period connoting anger. “When I use periods…it’s not a show of anger but rather simply using English correctly,” she shares. “[I’ve] never had that [miscommunication] with my relatives and friends.” 

The view on this perilous punctuation has shifted, however. “There’s a new way of communicating and the connotation of a period is very different from what it used to be–especially with the younger generation,” says KB Belandres, Music Department teacher in Xavier School San Juan and a member of the millennial generation. “I think text messaging limits how you are able to convey emotions in the way that you write. If there’s one thing that history taught us–or at least language shows–is that it evolves constantly.” 

Although Belandres sees the period as simply the end of a sentence, she has used the punctuation connote hostility. “I think there [were] one or two times where I felt like that period was the final punch to the message. It’s just like ‘Here, take it,’” she shares. 

In spite of the new semantic rules created by messaging as a medium, the youth do not always perceive the period as all anger and aggression. Javi Del Mundo (2 BS LM), a member of Generation X, explains that the use of the period simply shows formality. He feels that the period on its own does not connote anger—rather, it is the context behind the message. “Some people just have different messaging styles. It can mean [hostility], but I think unless they outright say it, there’s no need for you to try to guess and assume,” he states. “The only way to know for sure is to ask.”

The usage of the period has morphed significantly from generation to generation, both in meaning and usage. In spite of generational differences, however, everyone is still trying to navigate this new medium and its unspoken conventions.

A period in time

 With texting not necessarily taught in the academe, each generation’s experience paints the picture of how texting has evolved. “There is no rulebook. After talking to a lot of people over time, you realize that not a lot of people are using periods, and that’s okay. You realize that it’s okay to use ‘r’ instead of ‘are’ or ‘u’ instead of ‘you’,” Del Mundo states.

Understanding the context of sending and receiving a period is key in the formation of its reputation. “I always ask students to consider three things: Purpose, audience, and context. When one is a sender of a message, he or she must consider who the recipient is,” Benitez explains. “In the same way, as a receiver, we also have to consider the context of the sender.”

Misunderstanding these factors to communication can lead to miscommunication between people who text in different ways—Belandres proposes the need to begin learning subtle social cues for the sake of compromise. Although the process entails trial and error, this allows older and newer generations alike to understand and learn from it.

Full stop

With the limitation and freedom that texting provides, the conventions that it creates hold a significant yet fragile place in the culture of those who use the medium. Serena M. Vaswani, a Communication Theory professor from the Communication Department, believes that a greater appreciation of nuances in the way people communicate makes us more sensitive in engaging with online communication. “I also think that consciously reflecting on these differences helps us become more discerning and critical of the way we are shaping language and how it is shaping us, in turn,” she says.

By choosing to look behind the surface of how people text, people who subscribe to modern texting conventions can better understand what people want to convey. As communication evolves across generations, active mindfulness of contexts behind the humble dot allows people to recognize meaning beyond conventions.