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Feb 20, 2024 · Learn common text abbreviations used in everyday messages and business texts, and get tips on how to use abbreviations for texting in 2024.
- Texting Etiquette
Learn some fun facts about texting etiquette in this helpful...
- Number Types
Toll-free numbers — those with prefixes of 800, 888, 877,...
- Texting Etiquette
Jul 15, 2022 · Texting slang involves sending shortened messages between mobile devices. This texting slang dictionary helps you quickly find all the most common abbreviations.
- Michele Meleen
- Staff Editor
- Why abbreviate?
- 3Cya
- 4DM
- 5Ftw
- 10Irl
- 11Jk
- 13Lol
- 14Nbd
- 18Omg
- 21Rofl
In the olden days before “unlimited talk and text” data plans, text messages were expensive to send and receive, and because they were limited to 160 characters per message, every character was precious. Texting using a standard telephone keypad was also a laborious process, requiring multiple key presses per character. So mobile phone users adapte...
CYA:See ya “C” is often used as a stand-in for “see,” such as “CYT” (“see you tomorrow”) and “CU” (“see you”).
DM:Direct message On social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, a “direct message” is a private message that only the recipient can access, rather than a post that’s publicly visible. The phrase “sliding into her/his/their DMs” (which has inspired many memes) typically refers to an admirer sending a bold or suave direct message to a stra...
FTW:For the win The exact origins of this phrase are debated—Hollywood Squares, rugby, and World of Warcraft have all been cited as popularizing it. It’s typically used as a rallying cry or as an exclamation of celebration, sometimes ironically.
IRL:In real life This phrase is typically used to differentiate between online (or media) personas, and how things are in reality.
JK:Just kidding You might genuinely use this texting abbreviation while joking around, but it’s also frequently used to indicate sarcasm.
LOL:Laughing out loud Occasionally mistaken for “Lots Of Love,” LOL is one of the most widely known texting abbreviations and has been around for almost 30 years. Originally it was used in texting and chatting to communicate that you found something so funny that you were literally moved to laughter. Over time LOL has evolved from its original mean...
NBD:No big deal Can be used to genuinely say that something isn’t that important, but can also be used to downplay a brag or sarcastically to show what a big deal something actually is.
OMG:Oh my God A popular and long-used abbreviation, the Oxford English Dictionary has traced usage of “OMG” back to the early 1900s, but this exclamation didn’t come into common use on the internet until the 1990s.
ROFL:Rolling on floor laughing This acronym is typically used when responding to something especially funny—so funny that “LOL” and “LMAO” are not enough to convey how hilarious you think it is.
Oct 6, 2021 · Image Credits. Back in the early days of texting, longer texts were more expensive to send. So early texters developed texting abbreviations and acronyms that made sending messages easier and cheaper. These abbreviations are still common in texting, but they’ve also made their way to social media, message boards, and even conversational slang.
- Beth Parent
- Certified Teacher
Jul 4, 2023 · Learning these texting abbreviations will save you time—and a headache when you don't know what they stand for!
Jul 2, 2022 · Using abbreviations can save reading time and get you replies ASAP. In business texting, it’s important not to use too many (or any) acronyms and abbreviations, as these are very often considered unprofessional and childish. That said, know when to use and not use a texting abbreviation.
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Texting dictionary. Stay on top of the words children use online. This texting dictionary explains the text abbreviations and acronyms children and young people use online. We’ve compiled a list of text language terms to help you decipher any text slang you might not understand.
