Acronyms

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Acronyms are words formed from the first letters of words in common phrases.

Here are a few examples in everyday use:

  • AFAIK As far as I know
  • AKA Also known as
  • BAK Back at keyboard
  • BTDT Been there done that
  • BFN Bye for now
  • [bg] Big Grin
  • BTW By the way
  • FWIW For what it's worth
  • FYI For your information
  • [g] Grin
  • GMTA Great minds think alike
  • HTH Hope this helps
  • IAE In any event
  • IANAL I am not a lawyer (but ...)
  • IIRC If I recall correctly
  • IMO In my opinion
  • IMHO In my humble (honest) opinion
  • IOW In other words
  • IYSWIM If you see what I mean
  • LOL Lots of laughs or Laugh out loud
  • OIC Oh I see
  • OTOH On the other hand
  • PITA Pain in the arse
  • ROTFL Rolling on the floor laughing
  • RTFM read the flipping manual
  • SWIM See what I mean
  • THX Thanks
  • TIA Thanks in advance
  • TLA Three lettered acronym
  • TTFN Ta-ta for now
  • [vbg] Very Big Grin
  • WRT With regards/respect to

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Emoticons

Emoticons are shorthand symbols used in email and newsgroup postings to illustrate mood / tone / humour (hence emotion icon) in what would otherwise be a 'cold' medium. Use them or your true meaning may be misconstrued!

Here are a few of the more useful ones:

:) or :-)
smiley
;-)
wink /not serious
:( or :-(
frown

:\ or :-\

Smirk
:-@
Swearing / distasteful
:O or :-o
Surprise / Realisation / Yelling (depends on context)
>-|
Frown / displeased
:-|
No feelings / don't care  /  so what?  (some people use this for frown)
<:-)
Feeling stupid; asking beginners question (wearing dunces hat); or wizard
O:-)
Feeling superior; making innocent remark (halo above head)
:-P
Poking tongue out
:-]
Not impressed
:-[
Disappointed
>:-)
Bad / naughty / devilish
:-?
licking lips
:-x
Kiss OR Not Telling (make sure you know which!)
<grin>
or <g>
Grin!
(-:
Smile (user is left-handed or Australian)
:-*
Kiss
:->
Very happy
:-<
Terribly sad
:'-(
Crying
:-/
Thinking
:-D or :-))
Big smile
8-)
Glasses (boggle eyed)
B-)
Sunglasses (dazzled)

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