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Text messaging for dummies i.e. the middle aged!
Are you feeling left out when it comes to the text messaging/online chatting revolution? I know I do.
If I need to send a text from my phone, I’m ashamed to say I give it to one of my children and then dictate my message to them for them to type for me.
Not only can they text (txt) as fast as I can speak, they also use that pesky predictive text like they invented it. Last time I tried to use it I couldn’t get past calling myself Nun instead of Mum – a weird connection between two words if ever there was one.
Even when I tried to write my son’s name ‘Gaz’, it came out as Gay which didn’t please him as you can imagine! Try as I would, I couldn’t change it. The phone nearly ended up through the window and that’s when I gave up on texting, other than the occasional longhand version with predictive text firmly switched off.
Texting like this is tediously slow though, so I’m very glad of the shortcuts and abbreviations for words that are commonly used now. Writing cu l8r made me feel very cool I can tell you, although my kids weren’t impressed in the slightest. Remembering how encouraging I was to them when they took their first steps as toddlers, I find it a little hurtful that they couldn’t reciprocate.
As I’m one of those people who can’t help but chat for ages once I phone someone, texting actually saves me money. This means that texting is a necessity not a luxury (according to my bank manager), so I’ve now invested in a mobile phone with a keyboard and it’s FANTASTIC. My particular model is the T-mobile Vario lll with pull out keyboard but I know lots of people swear by Blackberries and other similar models of phone.
That's solved the thorny ssue of predictive text, but being a busy ard working woman of the third millenium, time is an issue as well. At the best of times I'm a not very fast two-fingered typist and a tiny keyboard, no matter how useful, is still really only suitable for thumb typing - unfortunately the digits I use to type with everyday are not normally thumbs. That fact, combined with the other fact that since text messages are limited to 160 characters, using text-speak (or lingo) is the way to go if I want to get everything into just one message.
So, at great personal expense (because I had to beg my kids for help, and now I apprently owe them) I have compiled this fairly comprehensive list of shortcuts, which are also used in messaging programs such as MSN messenger. A word of warning though – only use them if you’re sure you know what they mean – I don’t want to be responsible for you being an object of ridicule amongst the young (and your trendy forever youthful peers).
Text messaging shortcuts
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| <3 | heart |
| 404 | I haven't a clue |
| ADN | Any day now |
| AFAIK | As far as I know |
| AFK | Away from keyboard |
| ARE | Acronym-rich environment |
| ASAP | As soon as possible |
| A/S/L? | Age/sex/location? |
| B4N | Bye for now |
| BAK | Back at the keyboard |
| BAS | Big a** smile |
| BBIAB | Be back in a bit |
| BBL | Be back later |
| BBN | Bye bye now |
| BBS | Be back soon |
| BEG | Big evil grin |
| BF | Boy friend |
| BFD | Big f***ing deal |
| BFN | Bye for now |
| BG | Big grin |
| BIBO | Beer in, beer out |
| BIOYIOP | Blow it out your I/O port |
| BL | Belly laughing |
| BMGWL | Busting my gut with laughter |
| BOTEC | Back-of-the-envelope calculation |
| BRB | Be right back |
| BTA | But then again... |
| BTDT | Been there, done that |
| BTW | By the way |
| BWL | Bursting with laughter |
| BWTHDIK | But what the heck do I know...? |
| CICO | Coffee in, coffee out |
| C&G | Chuckle and grin |
| CNP | Continued in next post |
| CRB | Come right back |
| CRBT | Crying real big tears |
| CU | See you |
| CUL | See you later |
| CUL8ER | See you later |
| CYA | See ya |
| CYA | Cover your ass |
| CYO | See you online |
| DBA | Doing business as |
| DFLA | Disenhanced four-letter acronym (that is, a TLA) |
| DL | Dead link |
| DLTBBB | Don't let the bed bugs bite |
| DIKU | Do I know you? |
| DITYID | Did I tell you I'm distressed? |
| DOM | Dirty old man |
| DOS | Dozing off soon |
| DQMOT | Don't quote me on this |
| DTRT | Do the right thing |
| DWB | Don't write back |
| EG | Evil grin |
| EMFBI | Excuse me for butting in |
| EMSG | E-mail message |
| EOM | End of message |
| EOT | End of thread (meaning: end of discussion) |
| ETLA | Extended three-letter acronym (that is, an FLA) |
| F2F | Face to face |
| FAQ | Frequently-ask question(s) |
| FC | Fingers crossed |
| FISH | First in, still here |
| FLA | Four-letter acronym |
| FMTYEWTK | Far more than you ever wanted to know |
| FOMCL | Falling off my chair laughing |
| FTBOMH | From the bottom of my heart |
| FUBAR | F***ed up beyond all repair or recognition |
| FUD | Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt |
| FWIW | For what it's worth |
| FYI | For your information |
| G | Grin |
| GA | Go ahead |
| GAL | Get a life |
| GIGO | Garbage in, garbage out |
| GD&R | Grinning, ducking, and running |
| GF | Girlfriend |
| GFN | Gone for now |
| GGP | Gotta go pee |
| GIWIST | Gee, I wish I'd said that |
| GL | Good luck |
| GMAB | Give me a break |
| GMTA | Great minds think alike |
| GOL | Giggling out loud |
| GTRM | Going to read mail |
| GTSY | Glad to see you |
| H&K | Hug and kiss |
| HAGN | Have a good night |
| HAND | Have a nice day |
| HHIS | Hanging head in shame |
| HIG | How's it going |
| HT | Hi there |
| HTH | Hope this helps |
| HUB | Head up butt |
| IAC | In any case |
| IAE | In any event |
| IANAL | I am not a lawyer (but) |
| IC | I see |
| IGP | I gotta pee |
| IHA | I hate acronyms |
| IHU | I hear you |
| IIRC | If I recall/remember/recollect correctly |
| ILU or ILY | I love you |
| IM | Immediate message |
| IMCO | In my considered opinion |
| IMHO | In my humble opinion |
| IMing | Chatting with someone online usually while doing other things such as playing trivia or other interactive game |
| IMNSHO | In my not so humble opinion |
| IMO | In my opinion |
| IMS | I am sorry |
| IOW | In other words |
| IPN | I'm posting naked |
| IRL | In real life (that is, when not chatting) |
| ITIGBS | I think I'm going to be sick |
| IWALU | I will always love you |
| IYSWIM | If you see what I mean |
| J4G | Just for grins |
| JBOD | Just a bunch of disks (like |
| JIC | Just in case |
| JK | Just kidding |
| JMO | Just my opinion |
| JTLYK | Just to let you know |
| k | ok |
| KISS | Keep it simple stupid |
| KIT | Keep in touch |
| KOTC | Kiss on the cheek |
| KOTL | Kiss on the lips |
| KWIM? | Know what I mean? |
| L8R | Later |
| L8R G8R | Later gator |
| LD | Later, dude |
| LDR | Long-distance relationship |
| LHO | Laughing head off |
| LLTA | Lots and lots of thunderous applause |
| LMAO | Laughing my a** off |
| LMSO | Laughing my socks off |
| LOL | Laughing out loud |
| LRF | Little Rubber Feet (the little pads on the bottom of displays and other equipment) |
| LSHMBH | Laughing so hard my belly hurts |
| LTM | Laugh to myself |
| LTNS | Long time no see |
| LTR | Long-term relationship |
| LULAB | Love you like a brother |
| LULAS | Love you like a sister |
| LUWAMH | Love you with all my heart |
| LY | Love ya |
| LY4E | Love ya forever |
| MorF | Male or female |
| MOSS | Member of the same sex |
| MOTOS | Member of the opposite sex |
| MTF | More to follow |
| MUSM | Miss you so much |
| NADT | Not a darn thing |
| NFG | No f*****g good |
| NFW | No feasible way or no f*****g way |
| NIFOC | Naked in front of computer |
| NP or N/P | No problem |
| NRN | No response necessary |
| OIC | Oh, I see |
| OLL | Online love |
| OMG | Oh my God |
| OTF | Off the floor |
| OTOH | On the other hand |
| OTTOMH | Off the top of my head |
| PANS | Pretty awesome new stuff (as opposed to "POTS") |
| PAW | Parents are watching |
| PCMCIA | People can't master computer industry acronyms |
| PDA | Public display of affection |
| PEBCAK | Problem exists between chair and keyboard |
| PIBKAC | Problem is between keyboard and chair |
| PITA | Pain in the ass |
| PM | Private message |
| PMFJIB | Pardon me for jumping in but... |
| POAHF | Put on a happy face |
| ::POOF:: | Goodbye (leaving the room) |
| POTS | Plain old telephone service |
| PU | That stinks! |
| QT | Cutie |
| RL | Real life (that is, when not chatting) |
| ROR | Raffing out roud (Engrish for "laughing out loud") |
| ROTFL | Rolling on the floor laughing |
| ROTFLMAO | Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off |
| ROTFLMAOWPIMP | Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off while peeing in my pants |
| ROTFLMBO | Rolling on the floor laughing my butt off |
| RPG | Role-playing games |
| RSN | Real soon now |
| RT | Real time |
| RTFM | Read the f***ing manual |
| RYO | Roll your own (write your own program; derived from cigarettes rolled yourself with tobacco and paper) |
| S^ | S'up - what's up |
| S4L | Spam for life (what you may get when you become someone's customer or client) |
| SHCOON | Shoot hot coffee out of nose |
| SEG | S***-eating grin |
| SETE | Smiling ear to ear |
| SF | Surfer-friendly (low-graphics Web site) |
| SHID | Slaps head in disgust |
| SNAFU | Situation normal, all f***ed up |
| SO | Significant other |
| SOL | Smilling out loud or sh*t out of luck |
| SOMY | Sick of me yet? |
| SOT | Short on time |
| SOTMG | Short on time must go |
| STFW | Search the f*****g Web |
| STW | Search the Web |
| SU | Shut up |
| SUAKM | Shut up and kiss me |
| SUP | What's up |
| SWAG | Stupid wild-a** guess |
| SWAK | Sealed with a kiss |
| SWL | Screaming with laughter |
| SYS | See you soon |
| TA | Thanks again |
| TAFN | That's all for now |
| TANSTAAFL | There ain't no such thing as a free lunch |
| TCOY | Take care of yourself |
| TFH | Thread from hell (a discussion that just won't die and is often irrelevant to the purpose of the forum or group) |
| TGIF | Thank God it's Friday |
| THX | Thanks |
| TIA | Thanks in advance (used if you post a question and are expecting a helpful reply) |
| TILII | Tell it like it is |
| TLA | Three-letter acronym |
| TLK2UL8R | Talk to you later |
| TMI | Too much information |
| TNT | Till next time |
| TOPCA | Til our paths cross again (early Celtic chat term) |
| TOY | Thinking of you |
| TPTB | The powers that be |
| TTFN | Ta-Ta for now |
| TTT | Thought that, too (when someone types in what you were about to type) |
| TTYL | Talk to you later |
| TU | Thank you |
| TY | Thank you |
| UAPITA | You're a pain in the ass |
| UW | You're welcome |
| VBG | Very big grin |
| VBSEG | Very big s***-eating grin |
| WAG | Wild a** guess |
| WAYD | What are you doing |
| WB | Welcome back |
| WBS | Write back soon |
| WDALYIC | Who died and left you in charge? |
| WEG | Wicked evil grin |
| WFM | Works for me |
| WIBNI | Wouldn't it be nice if |
| WT? | What/who the ? |
| WTFO | What the F***! Over! |
| WTG | Way to go! |
| WTGP? | Want to go private? |
| WU? | What's up? |
| WYSITWIRL | What you see is TOTALLY WORTHLESS IN REAL LIFE! |
| WUF? | Where are you from? |
| WYSIWYG | What you see is what you get |
| YBS | You'll be sorry |
| YGBSM | You gotta be s***tin' me! |
| YMMV | Your mileage may vary. |
| YW | You're welcome |