Periods—as of recently—have attitude. Examine the following two hypothetical text messages:
“I’ll be home at 6”
and
“I’ll be home at 6.”
Which one would make you more nervous about the sender’s mood?
I think we would all agree that the primary importance of language is to convey meaning. But language itself isn’t enough. Texting limits one’s ability to convey intent. While in-person one can read facial expressions and tone, the phone only shows words. Additionally, texts are brief. When a lot of texts are only one sentence or phrase, periods become superfluous.
These forces combined to give the period its unique textual meaning. This isn’t just a coincidence though. The ending period offers a sense of finality. I can’t help but think back to the debate over Obama’s campaign slogan “Forward.” How can we move forward if the period stops us in our tracks?
Ending without a period or with an ellipse (…) invites more of a response. It provides less closure and finality, allowing the conversation to move forward. Conversation is a unique and powerful method of communication. It is no wonder that texting has attempted to mimic its helpful features.
For a more complete analysis of this phenomenon, check out this article from the New Republic.