Gretchen McCulloch’s Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language is a lively, insightful exploration of how the internet has transformed the way we use language. Drawing from linguistics, cultural history, and personal anecdotes, McCulloch makes a compelling case that online communication isn’t degrading language but evolving it in fascinating, nuanced, and deeply human ways. If you have poked around the website, you might recognize her name from other resource lists and podcasts. While I’ve always had an interest in languages and how they work, Because Internet fueled and solidified my passion for linguistics as a social science.
The book is divided into thematic chapters that explore everything from the history of internet communication to the complex role of punctuation in texting. McCulloch traces how different generations of internet users (which she calls “internet people”) adopted distinct styles of writing and interacting online. She outlines the differences between “pre-internet” users, early forum users, and the “semi-oral” generation raised on social media, offering a framework that helps readers make sense of shifting norms in digital communication.
One of the book’s strongest sections is its discussion of tone and expression in text. Without the benefit of face-to-face cues, internet users have developed inventive strategies like ALL CAPS, tildes, creative punctuation, emoji, and even keyboard smashes to convey emotional nuance, irony, enthusiasm, or sarcasm. McCulloch shows how these forms aren’t sloppy or random, but follow subtle social rules that are just as meaningful as spoken cues. Through this lens, things like the dreaded “period” at the end of a text become understandable as markers of tone, not just grammar.
What makes Because Internet so compelling is McCulloch’s accessible and enthusiastic tone. She deeply loves language and writes like it. Her explanations are never condescending or overly academic, she takes the effort to make complex concepts from sociolinguistics and pragmatics are made clear and approachable, even for readers with no background in linguistics. Her genuine excitement is infectious, and she encourages readers to view their texting habits and social media posts as opportunities for analysis rather than criticism.
The book also highlights broader themes in linguistics, such as language change, code-switching, prescriptivism vs. descriptivism, and the power of community norms. By examining how digital communication is reshaping language, McCulloch also challenges long-standing ideas about what “proper” language is, and who gets to define it. This perspective resonated with me deeply, especially as someone interested in sociolinguistics and the intersection of language and culture.
Reading Because Internet was my introduction to contemporary linguistics, and it opened my eyes to how vibrant and relevant the field can be. It showed me that linguistics isn’t just about old texts or technical grammar, it’s about how real people use language every day, and how global connections are changing it. In sum, Because Internet is not just a celebration of how the internet has changed language, it’s a celebration of language itself. For anyone curious about linguistics, internet culture, or the future of communication, it’s a fascinating and joyful read.