ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of Short messaging Service (SMS) language on the written essays of rural and urban senior secondary school students in Zaria metropolis, kaduna state. The design adopted for the study is the descriptive survey design. Five secondary schools were selected for the study, three from the urban and two from the rural area. The sample of the study comprises 100 students from the selected secondary schools, SS2 students were used. For data collection, samples of the students' written essays were examined for the following features of SMS: spelling errors; lack of punctuation; over-punctuation; shortening of words, incomplete sentences and acronyms. These were grouped under the four components of the WASSCE marking scheme which are content, organization, mechanical accuracy and expression. The data was analyzed using t-test statistical instrument. The results of the study showed that using signs and symbols (SMS) has an effect on the development of content, organization, mechanical accuracy and expression components of the students' essay writing. Texting helps students to develop writing ability and create ideas but these ideas are not properly presented. In the light of the results of the study, the researcher recommended that students be given more essay writing exercises and teachers of English should endeavor to mark regularly based on the content, expression mechanical accuracy and organization components of the WASSCE marking scheme and give corrections and feedback.