We've discussed before how the sound at the end of gerunds and present participles in English represented by {ng} (/ŋ/ a velar nasal) in the suffix -ing is a single sound, and how for those who pronounce this final sound as a simple alveolar nasal {n} /n/, they are not really dropping a g but substituting a different nasal sound. What I hadn't realized until today was that this eng {ŋ} was one of seven new letters (and one ligature of two existing letters) proposed by Benjamin Franklin as part of his proposed spelling reform (link). While living in London in 1768, Franklin wrote A Scheme for a New Alphabet and a Reformed Mode of Spelling (link) which he latter published in his 1779 Political, Miscel laneous, and Philosophical Pieces.

Interesting. I wonder why he "lost interest" in it. It surely seemed as though he was linguistically talented.

In the second link, there was a letter to Mrs. Deborah Franklin, and I see he spelled "though" as "tho," among other things. Funny, now we see the peevologists ranting about that.

I see he spelled "though" as "tho," among other things.

And, more often than not, assigning this abbreviation / respelling to teens using txt.