Text messaging is now a normal part of everyday life. These abbreviations will help you to write common expressions with fewer key strokes or button presses. It was once though that communicating in this way, using a form of code, would reduce people’s standards of literacy. We now know that the opposite is the case: see David Crystal’s excellent defence in Txtg: The Gr8 Db8.
| Abbreviation | Full expression |
|---|---|
| @ | at |
| 1 | one |
| 2 | to, too |
| 2day | today |
| 2moro | tomorrow |
| 2nite | tonight |
| 3sum | threesome |
| 4 | for |
| AAM | as a matter of fact |
| AB | ah bless! |
| AFAIC | as far as I’m concerned |
| AFAIK | as far as I know |
| AKA | also known as |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| ATB | all the best |
| B | be |
| BCNU | be seeing you |
| Bwd | backward |
| B4 | before |
| BBFN | bye bye for now |
| BFN | bye for now |
| BRB | be right back |
| BTDT | been there done that |
| BTW | by the way |
| BYKT | but you knew that |
| C | see |
| CMIIW | correct me if I’m wrong |
| CU | see you |
| CYA | see ya! |
| CUL8R | see you later |
| CW2CU | can’t wait to see you |
| Doin | doing |
| EOL | end of lecture |
| FAQ | frequently asked questions |
| FITB | fill in the blank |
| F2T | free to talk |
| FOAD | f*** off and die |
| FUBAR | f***ed up beyond all recognition |
| Fwd | forward |
| FWIW | for what it’s worth |
| FYI | for your information |
| GAL | get a life |
| Gr8 | great |
| GD&R | grinning, ducking, and running |
| GG | good game |
| HAND | have a nice day |
| H8 | hate |
| HTH | hope this helps |
| Hot4U | hot for you |
| IAC | in any case |
| IAE | in any event |
| IANAL | I am not a lawyer (but…) |
| ICCL | I couldn’t care less |
| ICL | in Christian love |
| IDK | I don’t know |
| IYSS | if you say so |
| IHTFP | I have truly found paradise [or] I hate this f***ing place |
| IIRC | if I recall correctly |
| ILUVU | I love you |
| ILUVUMED | I love you more each day |
| IMCO | in my considered opinion |
| IMHO | in my humble opinion |
| IMNSHO | in my not so humble opinion |
| IMO | in my opinion |
| IOW | in other words |
| ITYFIR | I think you’ll find I’m right |
| IYKWIM | if you know what I mean |
| JM2p | just my two pennyworth |
| KIT | keep in touch |
| L8 | late |
| L8r | later |
| Luv | love |
| LOL | lots of luck [or] laughing out loud |
| MGB | may God bless |
| MHOTY | my hat’s off to you |
| MMD | make my day |
| MMDP | make my day punk! |
| Mob | mobile |
| Msg | message |
| MYOB | mind your own business |
| NE | any |
| NE1 | anyone |
| NH | nice hand |
| NO1 | no one |
| NRN | no reply necessary |
| OIC | oh I see! |
| OTOH | on the other hand |
| PCM | please call me |
| PITA | pain in the arse |
| PLS | please |
| PPL | people |
| PS | post script |
| QL | cool |
| R | are |
| RGDS | regards |
| ROF | rolling on the floor |
| ROTFL | rolling on the floor laughing |
| RSN | really soon now |
| RU | are you? |
| RUOK | are you OK? |
| SITD | still in the dark |
| SIT | stay in touch |
| SMS | short message service |
| SOHF | sense of humour failure |
| SOME1 | someone |
| Stra | stray |
| SWG | scientific wild guess |
| SWALK | sealed with a loving kiss |
| THNQ | thank you |
| Thx | thanks |
| TIA | thanks in advance |
| TIC | tongue in cheek |
| Ti2GO | time to go |
| TPTB | the powers that be |
| TTFN | ta ta for now |
| TTUL | talk to you later |
| TWIMC | to whom it may concern |
| TUVM | thank you very much |
| U | you |
| UR | you are |
| WAN2 | want to |
| WAN2TLK? | want to talk? |
| W | with |
| Wknd | weekend |
| WRT | with respect to |
| WTTW | word to the wise |
| WYSIWYG | what you see is what you get |
| X | kiss |
| XLNT | excellent |
| YKWYKD | you know what you can do |
| YMMV | your milage may vary |
| YR | your |
| YTLKIN2ME? | you talking to me? |
| YWIA | you’re welcome in advance |
| YYSSW | yeah, yeah, sure, sure, whatever |
© Roy Johnson 2009
More on How-To
More on literary studies
More on writing skills
what k + s means
KS = Kill then steal (online gaming)