Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS
For those of us who have spent any length of time on the Internet, we have learned that there is a language out there being used that is quite unique. Oftentimes, you will be reading newsgroups or e-mail, or chatting in a chat area, only to find some strange abbreviations.
These acronyms are called "Net Speak." I thought it would be useful to publish the following list that will translate some of the more common acronyms that you may see on the Internet. You may need this list one day to communicate with your children - LOL! TTYL... :-) !
AFAIC: As far as I`m concerned
AFAIK: As far as I know
AFK: Away from keyboard
AKA: Also known as
AOL: America Online
ASAP: As soon as possible
BAK: Back at keyboard
BBFN: Bye bye for now
BBL: Be back later
BBS: Be back soon
BCNU: Be seeing you
BRB: Be right back
BTDT: Been there, done that
BTW: By the way
CMIIW: Correct me if I`m wrong
CU: See you
CUL8R: See you later
CYA: See ya
CYL: Catch you later
EMSG: Email message
FAQ: Frequently asked question
FWIW: For what it`s worth
FYA: For your amusement
FYI: For your information
GFN: Gone for now
GTSY: Glad to see you
H&K: Hugs and kisses
HAGN: Have a good night
HAND: Have a nice day
HTH: Happy to help or hope this helps
IC: I see
IME: In my experience
IMHO: In my humble opinion
IMNSHO: In my not so humble opinion
IMO: In my opinion
IRL: In real life
JK: Just kidding
KIT: Keep in touch
L8R: Later
LHO: Laughing head off
LMAO: Laughing my a** off
LOL: Laugh out loud
LTNS: Long time no see
NP: No problem
NRN: No reply necessary
OIC: Oh I see
OL: Out of luck
OTF: On the floor
OTOH: On the other hand
PITA: Pain in the a**
PM: Private message
PMFJI: Pardon me for jumping in
ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
SETE: Smiling ear to ear
SLAP: Sounds like a plan
SYOL: See you online
SYS: See you soon
TA: Thanks again
TIA: Thanks in advance
TIC: Tongue in cheek
TMK: To my knowledge
TNTL: Trying not to laugh
TNX: Thanks
TOY: Thinking of you
TTFN: Tah-tah for now
TTYL: Talk to you later
TYVM: Thank you very much
WB: Welcome back
WBS: Write back soon
WTG: Way to go
WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get
YT: Yours truly
*g* : Grin
*h* : Hug
*k* : Kiss
*w* : Wink
: Grin
And, of course, there are those cute emoticons...
:-) happy or smiling
;-) winking
:-( sad or frowning
:-& tongue tied
:-D laughing
:-@ screaming
:-o yawning
:-p sticking tongue out
:`( crying/sad
:`) crying/happy
:-> sarcastic
:-[ pouting
:-S incoherent
:-/ undecided
:-# my lips are sealed
:-X my lips are sealed
:-* kisses
:-{} blowing a kiss
((((name)))) hug
o:-) angelic
:-c bummed out
@>-- rose
Jeffrey B. Dalin, DDS, FACD, FAGD, practices general dentistry in St. Louis. He also is the editor of St. Louis Dentistry Magazine and spokesperson and critical-issue-response-team chairperson for the Greater St. Louis Dental Society. He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone, (314) 567-5612; or fax: (314) 567-9047.
