A study was conducted to determine if text messaging habits positively or negatively affected the writing skills of 678 subjects ages 11-25. Participants completed a writing task that was graded based on comprehension, vocabulary, mechanics, grammar, etc. The results showed that using more acronyms, no apostrophes, and shortened words in text messages was related to lower writing scores. Therefore, some aspects of texting may negatively impact literacy skills. While technology use is prevalent, basic literacy remains important for learning across all subjects. Incorporating technology into literacy instruction can help engage students and bridge gaps between home and school experiences with reading and writing.