Learning The Language of the Internet
by Maria Marsala
Maybe you're new to computers. Maybe you're new to using an Instant Message program. Maybe you're wondering what your children are saying online. But it's all written in some weird looking code!
Well, the code are acronyms and this article will help you get started learning the language of the Internet. It's a list of the most commonly used acronyms. With special thanks to Lynn, (a client), who reviewed my list and added a bunch of acronyms that were new to me!
- AFK: Away from keyboard
- AFAIK: As Far As I Know
- B2B: Back to back
- B4: Before
- BAK: Back at keyboard
- BBL: Be back later
- BBS: Be back soon
- BCNU: Be Seeing you
- BF: Boyfriend
- BRB: Be right back
- BTW: By the way
- BTDT: Been there, done that
- CUL: See you later
- DH: Dear hubby (if angry, damn or dumb hubby)
- DL: Download
- DNO: Do Not Open this message. Whole answer is in the subject line
- DYJHI or DYJHIW: Don't you just hate it (when)
- F2F: Face to face
- FAQ: Frequently asked questions (usually a document)
- FC: Fingers Crossed
- FUBAR: F***'d up beyond all recognition
- FWIW: For what it's worth
- FYI: For Your Information
- <g>: Grin or giggle
- FYA: For Your Amusement
- GA: Go Ahead
- GF: Girlfriend
- GMTA: Great minds think alike
- H: Hug
- HHAJ (or K): Ha Ha, Only Joking (or Kidding)
- HIWTH: Hate It When That Happens
- IMO: In my opinion
- IMHO: In my humble opinion
- IMCO: In my considered opinion
- IOHO: In our humble opinion
- IOW: In other words
- ISP: Internet service provider
- IDK: I don't know
- IYKWIM: If You Know What I Mean
- JAM: Just a minute
- JK: Just Kidding
- KISS: Keep it simple, stupid or sweetheart
- LMK: Let me know
- L8R: Later
- LOL: Laughing out loud
- LMAO: Laughing my A** off
- LMK: Let me know
- K: OK
- OBTW: Oh By The Way
- OIC: Oh I See
- OTOH: On the other hand
- OTP: On The Phone
- PAW: Parents Are Watching
- PIR: Parent in Room
- POS: Parent over shoulder
- POV: Point of View
- RL: Real life (supposedly off the computer things)
- ROFL: Rolling on floor laughing.
- ROTFLMAO: Rolling on the floor laughing my A** off
- RTFM: Read the Fine(or bleeped) manual
- <sp>: Possible spelling error
- <s>: smile
- Snail Mail: Post Office Delivered Mail
- Skin Meeting: Meeting where you see a person's face
- SNAFU: Situation Normal: All [bleeped] Up'
- SYL: See You Later
- TGIF: Thank God it's Friday
- TL: Until later
- TNX: Thanks
- TTYL: Talk to you later
- TTFN: Ta-Ta for now
- TY: Thank you
- TYVM: Thank you very much
- WRT: With Regard To WTF:
- What the F*** WTH: What the Hell
- WTHDTM: What The Hell Does That Mean?
- WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get
- YMMV: Your Mileage May Vary
- (((((whoever))))) Or {{{{whoever}}}}: Person or person's name or names enclosed within is getting a hug from you.
These are called "emoticons" Use them when you want to make a point or make sure that your message is understood in the "emotion" you want.
- :-) Your basic smiley. This smiley is used to inflect a sarcastic or joking statement since we can't hear voice inflection over e-mail.
- ;-) Wink (something said tongue-in-cheek).
- :-( Sad, disappointed face.
- :-I Indifferent smiley. Better than a :-( but not quite as good as a :-)
- :-> User just made a really biting sarcastic remark. Worse than a ;-)
- ;- Winky and devil combined. A lewd remark was just made.
- <:-O "Eeek!"
- :o "O" Premier Edition!
- :_( User is crying.
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More acronyms, abbreviations, smileys and emoticons.
Computing Acronyms Test
