How Has Technology Changed the Way We Write?

Irene Thomas
Nov 4 · 2 min read

Well for one, I’m writing this on a computer. I think that says something big about writing these days — it’s far easier to write quickly and more accurately (with the use of auto correct and grammar check and the like). Access to information and research is at my fingertips, as are multiple definitions for every word I could ever think of.

For myself, writing on the computer is much faster than writing by hand and is less bothersome for my hands. I tend to hold a lot more stress in my hands with a pen than while typing. (If you’ve seen me wince and shake out my hand, that’s why) They don’t ache half as much when I type as they would if I wrote everything by hand. If I couldn’t use a computer to type, I would not write nearly as much as I do, so technology has aided me a lot when it comes to writing.

Writing is definitely seen as a physical activity, and writing on the computer does change that view, because the images on the computer aren’t physical until they’re printed out. Words hold less importance, because they are more easily deleted. It’s less permanent than paper and pen.

Technology has opened up ways for people to share more about books than ever before and is probably responsible for a lot of the biggest literature fandoms, like the Harry Potter Wiki site, aka everything you would ever need to know about the world of Harry Potter.

While it’s changed the way writing looks forever, the idea of writing is the same: sharing ideas expressed through words with anyone who wishes to read it.

Irene Thomas

Written by

Fake name, real heart for stories.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade