Web Slang: List of Acronyms And Abbreviations

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Deadline: Thursday, February 22nd

Web Slang: List of Acronyms And Abbreviations

As any text-messaging teenager will tell you, POS BBL means “parents over shoulder; be back later.” For those of us who need a translator: “An adult is reading this over my shoulder. I’ll have to get back to you when I have more privacy.” This “Web slang” has evolved from a few shortcut phrases used in e-mails and chat rooms (cu = see you) to a full-blown pseudo language that allows people to communicate with less typing.

In Peter Straub’s In The Night Room, the main character communicates with the dead via e-mail—all in acronyms and abbreviations. It may look like gibberish to some, but Web slang has become a universal language, even in places where the native language is not English.

We’ve compiled a list of the most common slang terms and acronyms used in chat rooms, text messaging, and e-mail. They are listed in capital letters for ease of reading, but as any Web-speak master knows, using all capitals is the equivalent of shouting and is considered rude…or flaming. Many common acronyms have not been included due to R-rated language; if you’re under the age of 21, you probably know all of these and more…feel free to skip this part.

(WEG*)          *Wicked Evil Grin

List of Web slang acronyms, emoticons, and terms

<3 = love or heart (turn your head sideways)

AAK: Alive and kicking

ADN: Any day now

AFK: Away from the keyboard

AFN: That’s all for now

ASL: Age/Sex/Location

B4: Before

BBL: Be back later

BCNU: Be seeing you

B/F or BF: Boyfriend

BFF: Best friend forever

BRB: Be right back

BTW: By the way

CU or CYA: See you or see ya

DEGT: Don’t even go there

DIKU: Do I know you?

DIS: Did I say

EG: Evil grin

EM: E-mail

F2F: Face to face

flame: to insult someone

FOCL: Falling off chair laughing

FTW: For the win, usually accompanied by o/, as in arms raised in victory

FWIW: For what it’s worth

FUBAR: “Fouled” up beyond repair

GAL: Get a life

G/F or GF: Girlfriend

GGOH: Gotta get outta here

GJ: Good job

GL: Good luck

GMTA: Great minds think alike

GR&D: Grinning, running & ducking

GTR: Got to run

H&K: Hugs & kisses

HAGD: Have a good day

HAGO: Have a good one

HB: Hurry back

HTH: Hope that helps

IB: I’m back

IC: I see

IDN or IDK: I don’t know

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IDTS: I don’t think so

IMHO: In my humble opinion

IRL: In real life

JIC: Just in case

JW: Just wondering

KIT: Keep in touch

LMAO: Laughing my a** off

LOL: Laughing out loud

LTNS: Long time no see

LY: Love ya

JAS: Just a second

NIMBY: Not in my backyard

NP: No problem

NRN: No response necessary

NT: No thanks

O RLY?: Oh really?

OL: The old lady

OM: The old man

OMG: Oh my gosh, oh my god

OT: Off topic

OTOH: On the other hand

P911: Parents are in the room

peeps or PPL: People

peep this: Hey, listen to this

PLS or PLZ: Please

PMJI: Pardon me for jumping in

POTS: Plain old telephone service

POS: Parents over the shoulder

RL: Real life (versus online)

ROFL: Rolling on floor laughing

RSN: Real soon now

RU: Are you?

SH: Same here

SO: Significant other

SOS: Same old “stuff”

SOTA: State of the art

SRS BZNS: Serious business

STR8: Straight (as in sexuality)

SY: Sincerely yours

TAFN: That’s all for now

TC: Take care

THX or TY: Thanks!

TL; DR: Too long; didn’t read

TMI: Too much information

TNT: Till next time

TRDMF: Tears running down my face

TPS: That’s pretty stupid

TTFN: Ta-ta for now

TTYL: Talk to you later

USA: Until sides ache

UV: Unpleasant visual

UW or YW: You’re welcome

WB: Welcome back

WEG: Wicked evil grin

WEU: What’s eating you?

WTG: Way to go

WFM: Works for me

WWJD: What would Jesus do?

YAA: Yet another acronym

YBS: You’ll be sorry

The above are list of Web acronyms, abbreviations, and slang terms is part of an emerging Internet language common in chat rooms, instant messages (IM), blogs, forums, Twitter, Facebook, and many other places. Since net lingo is ever growing and ever changing, we at Writer’s Relief recommend using Urban Dictionary.

Of course, we recommend using Web slang only in the most informal of settings unless, like Peter Straub, your work demands it. If you’re looking for additional information on language more commonly used in professional writing, please be sure to check out some of our other posts on using age appropriate or historically accurate language, gender neutral language or sensitive language.

1 Comment

  1. Leadie Jo

    As an English teacher I am always searching for new ways and things to help my students learn more, better and easier. This is a great way to get them interested in the expansion of their vocabulary in a different way. And it lets me keep up with my students, family and friends.
    Thanks

    Reply

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