Why does Prince use "U" "2" "4" "", etc?

because he doesn't know how to spell?

To be different and original... ???

quicker to write, perhaps...

It was cute for a while but it got old pretty fast.

that is just the way he writes and i like it myself

He is dyslexic

I always thought it was a nod to Sly.

I actually use it quite a bit even at work now too...

I figure that with all the keystrokes I save, it might prevent carpal tunnel!!!

beacuse he had a stroke at a very early age & has been "hooked on phonics" ever since..

It always reminded me of the rebus puzzles I used to do as a kid.

It's his signature style so I am not too bothered by it.

short hand!! i started using it in junior high school B4 i knew about prince. but mainly only on words "4"(for) "2"(to,too) but i like it. i set up my microsoft word to type the correct word automatically when i type in those symbols or numbers to put in the correct spelling.


PEACE N B WiLD!!!

DavidEye said:

4jamiestarr said:

I agree with the shorthand bit, but drawing an for "I"?

Heres some Prince won't b using anytime soon: '4Q' & 'TW@'

Because he writes lyrics, and probably writes them quickly. I've always used "2" and "U" in writing lyrics...

Picture writing a verse on a napkin... not much space.

Spontaneous creation sometimes necessitates shortcuts...

G.

I used to use the shortcuts, but it pissed off more people than anything else.
hehe!

Maybe in the early 80s, he foresaw the rise in mobile telecommunications, bought shares in Nokia and then decided to popularise text messaging.

BinaryJustin said:

it's just one lousy muthafuckin dime!

Anxiety said:

Very good

Prince was in a prison for several years. He picked up the lingo from stamping all of those personalized license plates.

squirrelgrease said:

Cause he is illiterate.

it was alright at first. Using 'U' and '2' was cool but it got a bit stupid with 'B', 'R' and the nonsense.


[This message was edited Wed Oct 8 13:19:48 PDT 2003 by Marrk]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

That's the reason Ive kept using it 2 be perfectly honest - It just became a bad habit over the years. Im lazy online I guess!

Probably bcuz he wants 2 shorten the words they stand 4 & be different. Thats why I use them. As a shorthand, and I only use them with the prince sites and when writing 2 ppl "into" prince. Its not proper language usage, so I dont use it elsewhere with ppl unfamiliar with the ways of prince.
[This message was edited Thu Oct 9 0:54:05 PDT 2003 by grandebelle]

it's because he's so deliciously mysterious

REDFEATHERS said:

Only till the age of seven

phunkadelic said:

I thought that was epileptic.

REDFEATHERS said:

That's it!!