 | The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the English-speaking world and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (October 2024) |
Telegram style, telegraph style, telegraphic style, or telegraphese[1] is a clipped way of writing which abbreviates words and packs information into the smallest possible number of words or characters. It originated in the telegraph age when telecommunication consisted only of short messages transmitted by hand over the telegraph wire. The telegraph companies charged for their service by the number of words in a message, with a maximum of 15 characters per word for a plain-language telegram, and 10 per word for one written in code. The style developed to minimize costs but still convey the message clearly and unambiguously.
The related term cablese describes the style of press messages sent uncoded but in a highly condensed style over submarine communications cables. In the U.S. Foreign Service, cablese referred to condensed telegraphic messaging that made heavy use of abbreviations and avoided use of definite or indefinite articles, punctuation, and other words unnecessary for comprehension of the message.
- ^ Alred, Gerald J.; Brusaw, Charles T.; Oliu, Walter E. (2003). Handbook of Technical Writing (7th ed.). New York: St. Martins Press. p. 522. ISBN 0-312-39323-7. LCCN 2002101242.