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
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.
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