Word abbreviations for text

Text Message Abbreviations

Updated February 2nd, 2023

Text abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases that help save time and characters. They’re often used for things like social media posts and text messages to limit the number of characters used. Many text abbreviations are also used as slang, especially by younger generations, and keeping up-to-date on the latest text shorthand can help you communicate better with your audience. 

At this point, text abbreviations almost deserve their own dictionary. With every generation, text slang changes, and a whole new set of abbreviations needs to be learned. If you want to stay relevant in your marketing messages — because even companies use abbreviations in business texts — then you’ll need to stay up-to-date on the latest text abbreviations. 

Luckily, you’re not alone if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering, “What does btw mean in a text?” or “Is it appropriate to say LOL right now?” 

Here’s a guide to text abbreviations and ideas on how you can use them to improve your mass texting and SMS marketing.

134 Text Abbreviations and Acronyms To Remember

Here’s a cheat sheet of SMS and text message abbreviations to make sure you’re never stumped the next time someone uses text shorthand in a message.

Common text abbreviations

  1. ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
  2. STFU: Shut the f*** up
  3. ICYMI: In case you missed it
  4. TL;DR: Too long, didn’t read
  5. TMI: Too much information
  6. AFAIK: As far as I know
  7. LMK: Let me know
  8. NVM: Nevermind
  9. FTW: For the win
  10. BYOB: Bring your own beer
  11. BOGO: Buy one get one
  12. JK: Just kidding
  13. JW: Just wondering
  14. TGIF: Thank goodness it’s Friday
  15. TBH: To be honest
  16. TBF: To be frank
  17. RN: Right now
  18. FUBAR: F***** up beyond all recognition
  19. BRB: Be right back
  20. ISO: In search of
  21. BRT: Be right there
  22. BTW: By the way
  23. FTFY: Fixed that for you
  24. GG: Good game
  25. BFD: Big freaking deal
  26. IRL: In real life
  27. DAE: Does anyone else?
  28. LOL: Laugh out loud
  29. SMH: Shaking my head
  30. NGL: Not gonna lie
  31. BTS: Behind the scenes
  32. IKR: I know right
  33. TTYL: Talk to you later
  34. HMU: Hit me up
  35. FWIW: For what it’s worth
  36. IMO: In my opinion
  37. WYD: What are you doing?
  38. IMHO: In my humble opinion
  39. IDK: I don’t know
  40. IDC: I don’t care
  41. IDGAF: I don’t give a f***
  42. NBD: No big deal
  43. TBA: To be announced
  44. TBD: To be decided
  45. AFK: Away from keyboard
  46. ABT: About
  47. IYKYK: If you know you know
  48. B4: Before
  49. BC: Because
  50. JIC: Just in case
  51. FOMO: Fear of missing out
  52. SNAFU: Situation normal, all f***** up
  53. GTG/G2G: Got to go
  54. H8: Hate
  55. LMAO: Laughing my a** off
  56. IYKWIM: If you know what I mean
  57. MYOB: Mind your own business
  58. POV: Point of view
  59. TLC: Tender loving care
  60. HBD: Happy birthday
  61. W/E: Whatever
  62. WTF: What the f***
  63. WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get
  64. FWIF: For what it’s worth
  65. TW: Trigger warning

Business text abbreviations

  1. EOD: End of day
  2. FAQ: Frequently asked question
  3. AKA: Also known as
  4. ASAP: As soon as possible
  5. DIY: Do it yourself
  6. LMGTFY: Let me Google that for you
  7. NP: No problem
  8. N/A: Not applicable or not available
  9. OOO: Out of office
  10. TIA: Thanks in advance
  11. COB: Close of business
  12. FYI: For your information
  13. NSFW: Not safe for work
  14. WFH: Work from home
  15. OMW: On my way
  16. WDYT: What do you think?
  17. WYGAM: When you get a minute

Social media text abbreviations

  1. SMP: Social media platform
  2. DM: Direct message
  3. FB: Facebook
  4. IG: Instagram
  5. LI: LinkedIn
  6. YT: YouTube
  7. FF: Follow Friday
  8. IM: Instant message
  9. PM: Private message
  10. OP: Original post
  11. QOTD: Quote of the day
  12. OOTD: Outfit of the day
  13. RT: Retweet
  14. TBT: Throwback Thursday
  15. TIL: Today I learned
  16. AMA: Ask me anything
  17. ELI5: Explain like I’m 5
  18. FBF: Flashback Friday
  19. MFW: My feeling when
  20. HMU: Hit me up

Romantic text abbreviations

  1. ILY: I love you
  2. MCM: Man crush Monday
  3. WCW: Woman crush Wednesday
  4. BF: Boyfriend
  5. GF: Girlfriend
  6. BAE: Before anyone else
  7. LYSM: Love you so much
  8. PDA: Public display of affection
  9. LTR: Longterm relationship
  10. DTR: Define the relationship
  11. LDR: Long-distance relationship
  12. XOXO: Hugs and kisses
  13. OTP: One true pairing
  14. LOML: Love of my life

Text message marketing acronyms and jargon

  1. CTA: Call to action
  2. UGC: User-generated content
  3. UX: User experience
  4. SMS: Short message service
  5. MMS: Multimedia messaging service
  6. RCS: Rich communication services
  7. ROI: Return on investment
  8. CTR: Click-through rate
  9. CPC: Cost per click
  10. CR: Conversion rate
  11. SMB: Small/medium business
  12. TOS: Terms of service
  13. SEO: Search engine optimization
  14. 5G: 5th generation, meaning the newest generation of mobile communications
  15. TCPA: Telephone Consumer Protection Act
  16. Text Broadcast: A single message sent to a large group of people
  17. Text to Join: A method people can use to opt into your text list
  18. Text to Win: A contest you run through text message
  19. Text to Landline: When you send or receive text messages on a landline phone

Sometimes, text abbreviations just make sense. They’re especially helpful when you’re trying to keep your texts within a certain character limit, or when you’re using very common abbreviations that don’t need to be written out. Using a text message abbreviation in the right way can also help you break through to consumers and speak to them in a natural way, especially if you’re reaching out for ecommerce marketing initiatives

Here are examples of where text abbreviations fit naturally within the body of the message.

Example 1:

Thank you! Your customer service request has been logged. A specialist will reach out by EOD.

Example 2:

ICYMI: Storewide sale this weekend only. Show this text at the counter for an additional 10% off. BTW, store hours are 9AM-7PM Sat and Sun. 

Example 3:

TGIF! Celebrate the start of the weekend at [RESTAURANT NAME]. Show this text for two-for-one appetizers.

Example 4:

NOTICE: We’ve had to delay our event today due to weather. A new day is TBD, and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s decided!

Example 5:

HBD! Celebrate your big day with 25% off your next order with code [NAME][DATE].

Best Practices for Sending Mass Texts with Abbreviations

These are merely a few examples of how you can use a text abbreviation to establish a rapport with your customers when sending automated text messages. No matter how you decide to use text shorthand, try to keep these guidelines in mind.

1. Keep it simple

Because text slang and text message abbreviations can be personal, you don’t want to get caught trying to use abbreviations that don’t quite make sense — especially when you’re sending business text messages. Sticking with the classics, like using BTW to say by the way, is always a good idea. Also, don’t try to cram too many letters into one abbreviation. If it gets too cluttered, it loses the purpose of simplifying what you’re trying to say. 

2. Stay professional

Definitely avoid abbreviations with foul language in them when you’re sending business text messages. It’s already hard to convey tone through text, and adding edgy abbreviations just complicates this task. Play it safe and stick to family-friendly slang.

3. Add media to your texts

The great thing about text message marketing is you’re not limited to only text! By sending an MMS message you can actually attach an image or a GIF. If you’re sending a TGIF appetizer special, for example, attaching an image to the mobile coupon can help you look more professional and compelling.

Avoid Abbreviation Mistakes

Even though text abbreviations can be useful, it’s also quite easy to go wrong when trying to use them. Part of the reason for this is that slang changes rapidly, and using a text message abbreviation that’s no longer in vogue can make you stand out—in the wrong way. Avoid these mistakes in order to come across in your best light when texting.

1. Watch out for dated slang

What’s in style and what’s dated is obviously subjective, so part of this really relies on your knowing your audience. Just as an example: it would probably come across as out-of-touch to millennials if you incorporate numbers into your abbreviations. Common abbreviations like “Good 2 c u” or “Come 2 our bar 2nite 4 a gr8 time” probably aren’t going to convince many younger people that you know what you’re talking about.

It’s a good idea to run your abbreviations by a few different people on your marketing team before using them. Try to get the best sense for your audience, and scrap any abbreviations you’re unsure about.

2. Don’t overuse abbreviations

You don’t want a whole text full of abbreviations, because that’s just going to make people feel like they’re deciphering a code. As a guideline, it’s safest to stick with one well-placed abbreviation in your entire text message. If you’re trying to abbreviate because you’re running out of room, consider sending a shortened link to a website that can more fully explain the details you’re trying to get across. Or, send an MMS with a photo that contains more information.

Text Abbreviations As a Marketing Asset

Using a text abbreviation in the right way gives your company the chance to speak casually with your customers and show them you truly understand their language. Just make sure your abbreviations are simple and common enough that people actually understand what you’re saying. If you’re ever in doubt, opt for a full-length version of the word you’re trying to shorten.

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Do you know your LMK from your IDK or even your IDC? Texting abbreviations are so prevalent these days that they seem to be a language all of their own. There are probably enough of them in existence to fill a dictionary!

Although you’ll be acquainted with some texting lingo, you’re not alone if you’ve seen a few acronyms that baffle you.

In this article, we’ve listed the top 100 text abbreviations that are most commonly used, along with their meaning. Use these to save time talking to friends and family. There’s also a specific list of texting abbreviations for business text messages. But first, here’s an explainer of the basics…

What are texting abbreviations?

Text abbreviations are simply shortened versions of a word or phrase. They’re often used in text messages where space for getting your message across is limited.

(You only have 160 characters to play with in a text message – any more and you’ll end up sending multiple texts. And depending on your mobile texting plan, you may pay per text message. So going over the character limit even by a few words will cost you double.)

Depending on how old you are, you might remember the early days of texting, before predictive text became a thing. Finding a particular letter on a mobile phone keypad was somewhat tedious; you’d often have to tap a button numerous times to get to the correct letter to spell out a word. Hence, mobile phone users began to use text abbreviations.

Nowadays, it’s much easier to type out a text message on a smartphone keyboard. But texting abbreviations are more widely used than ever before. And not just by younger generations that use text slang day in and day out. Two-thirds of adults use text abbreviations (and seven out of ten use acronyms in email as well).

Text abbreviations are helpful for anyone who needs to be succinct when communicating through text messages. Businesses should also be using them now and then, when appropriate, to stay relevant.

Using text abbreviations can help you fit more content into your text message and save you time, as you don’t need to type every word out in full. At the very least, it’s essential to know what some of the most popular text abbreviations mean so that you can respond in the right way.

Text abbreviations example

The most common texting abbreviations

You’ll probably have come across many of these text abbreviations before… even if you’re not quite sure what they mean. Once you get the hang of them, they can be quite the time saver when you’re chatting to friends and family via text messaging.

1. LOL – laughing out loud

2. OMG – oh my god (or oh my gosh)

3. IMO – in my opinion

4. IMHO – in my humble opinion (or in my honest opinion)

5. BTW – by the way

6. IDK – I don’t know

7. LMK – let me know

8. TBH – to be honest

9. TGIF – thank goodness it’s Friday

10. ROFL – rolling on floor laughing

11. BRB – be right back

12. BBL – be back later

13. TTYL –talk to you later

14. THX – thanks

15. TY – thank you

16. YW – you’re welcome

17. ASAP – as soon as possible

18. POV – point of view

19. NBD – no big deal

20. OMW – on my way

21. DIY – do it yourself

22. AKA – also known as

23. SMS – short message service

24. OATUS – on a totally unrelated subject

25. ICYMI – in case you missed it

26. STFU – shut the **** up

27. BF – boyfriend

28. GF – girlfriend

29. SO – significant other

30. ILY – I love you

31. YOLO – you only live once

32. B4 – before

33. IRL – in real life

34. TMI – too much information

35. ATM – at the moment

36. BFF – best friends forever

37. BYOB – bring your own beer

38. CU – see you

39. UR – you are

40. FYI – for your information

41. FOMO –fear of missing out

42. GR8 – great

43. SMH – shaking my head

44. L8R – later

45. JMO – just my opinion

46. NVM – never mind

47. GL – good luck

48. FWIW – for what it’s worth

49. GBU – god bless you

50. IMNSHO – in my not so humble opinion

51. RN – right now

52. TLDR – too long, didn’t read

53. QOTD – quote of the day

54. TBF – to be frank

55. DKDC – don’t know, don’t care

56. IDC – I don’t care

57. K – okay

58. 2NITE – tonight

59. CWOT – complete waste of time

60. LMAO – laughing my a** off

61. MU – miss you

62. SSDD – same stuff, different day

63. XOXO – hugs and kisses

64. NE1 – anyone

65. OTT – over the top

66. PLZ – please

67. DM – direct message

68. RUOK – are you okay?

69. SPK – speak

70. SRY – sorry

71. SUP – what’s up?

72. TTFN – ta ta for now

73. VN – very nice

74. WTF – what the ****

75. Y? – why?

76. JK – just kidding

77. BC – because

Texting abbreviations example

The top text abbreviations used in business text messages

These text abbreviations below are those you’re more likely to use in a business setting when you’re communicating with colleagues and customers. (There are a few in the above list too, such as DM, THX, TY, ASAP and POV).

78. TBC – to be confirmed

79. TBA – to be announced

80. TBD – to be determined

81. FAQ – frequently asked questions

82. N/A – not applicable

83. TIA – thanks in advance

84. OOO – out of office

85. T&C – terms and conditions

86. NP – no problem

87. EOD – end of day

88. ETA – estimated time of arrival

89. EMBM – early morning business meeting

90. CTA – call to action

91. ROI – return on investment

92. VFM – value for money

93. CTR – click-through rate

94. B2B – business to business

95. B2C – business to consumer

96. BOGOF – buy one get one free

97. FF – follow Friday

98. OTP – one time password

99. HTH – hope this helps

100. WFH – work from home 

Using text abbreviations in a business text message

It’s perfectly acceptable to use certain text abbreviations in business and marketing messages, for brevity and relevance. Doing so can position your brand as one that’s forward-thinking and modern. But bear in mind that too many texting abbreviations can make your text message content hard to read and look unprofessional.

The trick is to strike a balance. Use well-known text abbreviations wisely (and only a couple per text message), and you’ll connect with your customers in a way they’ll recognise and appreciate.

Text abbreviations can work brilliantly in the following situations:

  • If your brand identity and messaging are fun, quirky and modern.

  • If you know your audience is likely to understand your abbreviated text message content. (People age 34 and under are more likely to be familiar with most common text abbreviations, and an older audience may understand the mainstream ones, e.g., LOL, ASAP, FAQ and T&C.)

  • When you’re sending out ‘good news’ promotional SMS messages, such as special offers, flash sales and product/service discounts. (Note: don’t abbreviate gratitude in a business text message. It’s important to say thank you the old fashioned way: plain and simple.)

  • When you have quite a bit to say in a text message and need to save on character space.

  • When communicating with co-workers and you’re short on time.

Texting abbreviations for business

An education in texting abbreviations!

Hopefully, our list of the top 100 texting abbreviations will help you become a whizz in text slang and save time when texting. At the very least, you’ll have a rough idea of what people are talking about when you receive acronym-filled text messages!

Texting shouldn’t be complicated, especially in business when you need to send out communications urgently and efficiently. If you’re using SMS messages for business, browse the Messente blog for tons of helpful articles that’ll help you get the best out of your SMS campaigns.

Abbreviation for Texting! Texting abbreviations is the key point in your typing speed. If you use Abbreviation for Texting in your text message instead of full words then it will enhance your speed to infinity. If we use abbreviations in our text messaging it will help us to save our time and send your message to another person Faster than a lengthy text. It also helps to talk in code wording. Learn chat abbreviations and a list of abbreviations for students. There is a list of important abbreviations from a to z pdf.

My friend thinks ‘Lol’ means ‘Lots of Love’. She texted me saying, “My dog died”. Lol.”

Fun Stuff To Do Says:

Here are a few other funny answers by readers on what ‘LOL’ means:

  • LITTLE OLD LADY
  • LOVE ONLINE
  • LYING ONLINE
  • LIVING ON LOAF
  • LEARNING OTHER LANGUAGE
  • LEAVE OTHERS LIVING
  • LOVING OTHER LOSERS (IT CAN’T GET WORSE!)

Here is the list of commonly used a to z abbreviations list:

Abbreviation for Texting list

ACK Acknowledgment
AUS Are you serious?
CTN Can’t talk now
CWYL Chat with you latter
C&P Copy and Paste
DTR Define the relationship
DUK Do you Know?
FACK Full Acknowledge
GB Good Bye
IDK I don’t know
N/A Not Available / Applicable
OTOH On the other Hand
TBA To be Announced
2N8 Tonight
w00t Whoomp, there it is; Meaning “Hooray”
APP Application
AFK Away from Keyboard
BCOY Big crush on you
CRT Create
DGMW Don’t get me wrong
DL Download
4Uri For your info
FTW Fuck the World / For the Win
IMNSHO In my not so Humble / Honest Opinion
noob n00b Newbie
ROTFL Rolling on the Floor Laughing
CU See you
10 Q Thank you
THX TNX Thanks
WTF What the Fuck
AAMOF As a Matter of Fact
B4 Before
BR Best regards
BTW By the Way
DUR Do you remember?
EOT End of Thread / .. Text / .. Transmission
4AO For adults only
GBU God Bless you!
ICUB I call you Back
ICYMI In Case you missed it
MMW Mark my Words
OT Off Topic
CUO See you Online
SPOC Single Point of Contact
TYVM Thank You Very Much
ACK Acknowledge
AKA Also known as
COS Because
CM Call me
DIY Do it Yourself
DUKM Do you know me?
EOL End of the Lecture
FWIW For what it’s Worth
BDY Happy Birthday
143 I love you
IMO In my Opinion
NOYB None of your Business
RSVP Repondez s’il vous plait (French: Please reply)
TIA Thanks in Advance
WTH What the Hell / What the Heck
B2K BTK Back to Keyboard
BC Be cool
BT Bite this
BIL Brother in law
DH Dear Husband
EMA Email address
EOD End of Discussion
HF Have fun
ITT In this Thread
OMG Oh my God
6k Sick
SCNR Sorry, could not Resist
TTYL Talk to you Later
YMMD You made my Day
FYI / JFYI (Just) For your Information
B/C Because
BF Boyfriend
Cam Camera
CB Coffee break
DIKU Do I know you?
EOBD End of Business Day
EOL End of life
IOW In other Words
NRN No Reply Necessary
9 Parent is watching
RTFM Read the fine Manual
TQ Thank You
YAM Yet Another Meeting
AFAIR As far as I remember / recall
ASAP As soon as possible
BIL Brother in law
CTO Check this out
CYS Check your Settings
DM Direct message
FKA Formerly known as
G2R Go to run
IMHO In my Humble Opinion
LU Love you
NNTR No need to Reply
POV Point of View
10 X Thanks
TGIF Thanks God, its Friday
WRT With Regard to
ATB All the best
AFAIK As far as I know
BIB Boss is back
Dud Dude
FAQ Frequently asked Questions
GF Girl Friend
GL Good Luck
1432 I love you too
IIRC If I Recall / Remember Correctly
NaN Not a Number
PEBKAC Problem exists between Keyboard and Chair
CU See you
CUL See you later
TBC To be Continued / To be Confirmed
WFM Works for Me
BTT Back to Topic
BB Big Brother
BPLM Big person little mind
DBEYR Don’t Believe everything you read
EOM End of Message
E1 Everyone
4YEO FYEO For Your Eyes Only
GN8T Good night
HTH Hope this Helps
LOL Laughing out loud
OP Original Poster, Original Post
SFLR Sorry, for late Reply
TYT Take your Time
W8ng Waiting
YMMV Your Mileage may vary

Infographics (100 Text Abbreviations)

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Abbreviation for texting pdf

About The Author

    • Several Latin-derived abbreviations are commonly used in both everyday and academic English (like e.g., i.e., et al., etc.). These abbreviations do not need to be explained.

      Usually, these abbreviations take a full stop, “.“, after the last letter in each abbreviated word, although some publications dispense with the periods (like eg, ie, et al, etc). Some journals put all Latin abbreviations in italics, either with or without the periods (et al., e.g., i.e., etc.). Whichever style is used, it is important that the style be used consistently throughout the text.

      • The word and/or can be used to simplify writing. For example,

        There are many ways to detect convective events if they produce heavy rainfall and/or lightning.

        means that the events can be detected if they produce either heavy rainfall or lightning, or both heavy rainfall and lightning. Note that no blank space occurs between the words and the slash.

      • The abbreviation anon. stands for “anonymous.” This abbreviation is typically used in a list of references to refer to a work by an anonymous author.

      • The abbreviation c. or ca. stands for the Latin word “circa,” which means approximately. With a numeral, the symbol ~ may be used.

      • The abbreviation cf. stands for the word “confer” and means “compare to.” It is sometimes italicized: cf.

      • The abbreviation def. means “definition.”

      • The two abbreviations e.g. and i.e. are easily confused with each other. The abbreviation e.g. stands for the Latin exempli gratia, which means “for example”. Use e.g. when giving a non-comprehensive list or example.

        Many colors can be created by combining primary colors (e.g., orange is a combination of red and yellow).

        The abbreviation i.e. stands for the Latin id est, which means “that is” or “in other words”. Use i.e. when rephrasing or giving clarifying information.

        It is generally supposed that there is no overlap between P and NP-Complete problems (i.e., that NP-Complete problems cannot be solved in polynomial time).

      • The abbreviation ed. can either mean “editor” or “edition.” The plural forms of the word, “editors” and “editions” are abbreviated eds.

      • When citing a reference with more than two (or three) authors, it is common to give only the last name of the first author followed by et al., which is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase et alii, meaning “and others”. Note that a period comes after the letters “al”, because this word is an abbreviated form, but not after “et”, because this word is not an abbreviation.

        Efforts towards a sustainable strategy have been initiated by the Swedish government (Gerhardt et al., 2013).

      • The abbreviation etc. stands for the Latin et cetera, which means “and other things”. The abbreviation is used to indicate that a given list is not comprehensive. The word is usually followed by a full stop, but note that if etc. ends a sentence, only one full stop is used.

        We included several characteristics about the measuring sites (whether they were urban, rural, etc.) in our data.

        Monitored pollution types included particulate matter, gases, etc. We also collected information from the factories themselves.

      • The abbreviation ibid is an abbreviation for the Latin word ibidem, which means “in the same place”. Ibid. is used in a reference list when several works by the same author are listed consecutively.

      • The abbreviation illus. means either “illustration” or “illustrated by.”

      • Ms. is an abbreviation for manuscript. Mss. means manuscripts.

      • The abbreviation n/a means “not applicable.” It is used to indicate when there is no relevant information available.

      • The abbreviation NB stands for the Latin word “nota bene,” which means “take note” or “notice.” It is used to indicate that readers should take special notice of something.

      • The abbreviation nd may appear as n.d., ND, or N.D. In a table reporting results, nd usually stands for “not determined”. When used in a citation, nd usually means “no date”, for example with an internet source. (The full reference should report the date that the information was accessed.)

        Convective initiation is the first stage in any kind of convective event (Groenemeijer et al., n.d.).

      • The abbreviations no. (sometimes seen as ) means “number” (from Latin numero). This abbreviation can only be used in front of a numeral; it cannot stand on its own as a noun within a text.

      • The abbreviations p. and pg. mean “page.”; pp. and pgs. mean “pages.”

      • The abbreviation pseud. stands for “pseudonym.” A pseudonym is a fictitious name assumed to hide one’s true identity.

      • The abbreviation pub. can either mean “published by” or “publisher.”

      • The abbreviation qtd. in, when used in a citation, stands for “quoted in”, and is used when quoting from a secondary source. As with many abbreviations, the full stop at the end of qtd is optional.

        Simone de Beauvoir’s famous words “one is not born a woman; one becomes one” (qtd in Moi, Sexual/Texual… 92) formed the starting point for second-wave feminism.

      • The abbreviation trans. stands for “translation.”

      • The abbreviation UP stands for “university press.” A university press is a publishing house tied to a university.

      • Viz. is an abbreviation of the Latin word videlicet, which means “namely.”

      • The abbreviation vol. means “volume” and commonly refers to one book in a series of related books. The plural form of the word, “volumes,” is abbreviated vols.

      • The abbreviation vs. comes from the Latin word versus, which means “against.”

As advocates of SMS marketing best practices, we would be remiss if we don’t acknowledge the rise of text slang and abbreviations.

What Are Abbreviations for Texting?

Text abbreviations are shortened versions of a word or phrase used to save time. They’re also helpful when you have to stay within a limited character count.

In the past, deciphering text-speak was for cool moms and dads who wanted to fit in with their teens. 

Today, businesses of every size are starting to recognize the value of incorporating text abbreviations into their campaigns to attract, engage, and foster relationships with their customers.

Learning text abbreviations is a must for any marketer who wants to keep up with the speed and brevity of today’s bite-sized communication style. 

The challenge is to adapt to text-ese (an evolving language by itself) while maintaining proper texting etiquette and providing value at the same time.

If you’re still baffled every time you read IIRC, BRB, and IDK, this cheat sheet of SMS abbreviations and internet acronyms commonly used is for you. 

Let’s walk through some of the slang abbreviations for texting you’re likely to come across.

The Most Popular SMS Abbreviations

  1. BRB – Be Right Back
    Sorry, just grabbing a coffee – BRB!
  2. BTW – By the Way
    I’m on the way, BTW should I bring anything?
  3. OMG – Oh my God/Goodness
    OMG I can’t believe that happened!
  4. IDK – I Don’t Know
    The traffic’s delayed me, IDK what time I’ll get there!
  5. TTYL – Talk to You Later
    I’ve got to run, TTYL.
  6. OMW – On My Way
    I’ve just left, OMW now!
  7. SMH – Shaking My Head
    I can’t believe you just said that, SMH.
  8. LOL – Laugh Out Loud
    That’s so funny, LOL!
  9. TBD – To be Determined
    The time and place is TBD!
  10. IMHO/IMO – In My Humble Opinion/In My Opinion
    IMHO, coffee is way better than tea.
  11. HMU – Hit Me Up
    If you need anything just HMU!
  12. LMK – Let Me Know
    LMK if you need anything from the grocery store.
  13. OG – Original Gangsters (used for old friends)
    You’ll love her, she’s one of my OGs!
  14. FTW – For The Win
    Did you see the match last night? Bills FTW!
  15. NVM – Nevermind
    NVM about grabbing the chips, I found some at home!
  16. OOTD – Outfit of the Day
    What’s your OOTD? I don’t know which shoes to wear!
  17. FWIW – For What It’s Worth
    FWIW, I think it’s going to rain anyway.

Romantic Text Abbreviations

Texting abbreviations can be casual, but you’ll also need quick and easy ways to tell that special someone you’re thinking about them.

  1. BF – Boyfriend
  2. GF – Girlfriend
  3. ILY – I Love You
  4. MCM – Man Crush Monday
  5. WCW – Woman Crush Wednesday

Other Common Text Abbreviations and Acronyms

This list of SMS abbreviations and Internet acronyms is far from complete. Like culture, text-ese evolves over time. As a result, new acronyms and SMS abbreviations are introduced and used every day.

There are a few of our favorites that you can be confident most people will know. Give one a try today!

Abbreviation/Acronym

Meaning

AKA

Also Known As

ASAP

As Soon As Possible

CTA

Call To Action

DIY

Do It Yourself

DND

Do Not Disturb

EOD

End of Day

NP

No Problem

N/A

Not Available

W/O

Without

TY

Thank You

TMRW

Tomorrow

TGIF

Thank God It’s Friday

TBH

To Be Honest

UGC

User Generated Content

T&C

Terms And Conditions

RN

Right Now

QOTD

Quote of the Day

OOO

Out Of Office

Common Texting Slang

Like text abbreviations, texting slang can be confusing if you’ve never encountered them before. Take a look at the most common slang examples below.

  1. No cap – No lie; I’m not lying. Ex. “Did you get tickets to the concert for real?” “No cap.”
  2. Gucci – Good, cool. Ex. “I got us tickets to the concert.” “Gucci.”
  3. Sus – Suspicious or suspect. Ex. “I got us tickets to the concert that’s sold out.” “That’s sus.”
  4. Sending me – Used to describe something that excites or humors you. Ex. “This new song is sending me!”
  5. Lowkey – Moderately; kind of. Ex. “This new song is lowkey my favorite.

Business Abbreviations For Texting

Texting is also common among coworkers and customers. These abbreviations will help you navigate the world of professional texting.

  1. B2C – Business to Consumer
    We serve all kinds of B2C companies, from ecommerce to tech support.
  2. DSC – Dedicated Short Code
    A unique 5- to 6-digit number that your business can use to send SMS or MMS messages (this article provides more information on all our number types).
  3. EOD – End of Day
    Good morning! Our year-end sale is only until EOD. See you at our store!
  4. FTFY – Fixed That For You
    Thank you for calling customer support! We’ve addressed your concern as of 9 PM today. FTFY!
  5. ICYMI – In Case You Missed It
    ICYMI, The Expanse Season 3 is now on our archives. Upgrade your account today to get access!
  6. MMS – Multimedia Messaging Service
    MMS messaging allows you to add media like audio, video, and GIFs to your texts.
  7. SMS – Short Message Service
    SMS is a message type you can use to send and receive texts over a cell network.
  8. TL;DR – Too Long; Didn’t Read
    Good day! You will be receiving an in-depth explanation on how to file your claim with us in your email today. For a TL;DR version, call us at 555-123-4567 between 9 am- 5 pm Mon-Fri.
  9. TYVM- Thank You Very Much
    TYVM for your purchase! See you at our next sale in the fall.
  10. WIP – Work in Progress
    If you’re having trouble exporting files, contact customer support at [email protected] Bug fixes are a WIP by the dev team.

Incorporating Texting Abbreviations in a Business Setting

Now that you’re an expert in business text abbreviations, your next step is to familiarize yourself with the do’s and don’ts of using them.

Our lists are a great way to keep on top of the must-know text speak for your professional and personal life.

  1. Don’t cram too many texting abbreviations in one text.
    What would it feel like if you receive a text from your insurance company saying: Sup! ICYMI, CYE for instrux on policy renewal. SSIA. Sounds rude, right?
  2. Be creative, but not unprofessional. When appropriate, add images and GIFs using MMS marketing.
    Your words and acronyms don’t have to do all of the talking. It’s easy to attach images and graphics to your messages as well. Use these to make your messages more engaging.
  3. Text like an adult. Don’t use shorthand like “2” for “to” or “U” for “you.”
    Texting like this does save precious characters—but it also looks unprofessional. Compare these two texts:

    “Go2 Meg’s 2day asap 4 a gr8 deal! 20% off ne slice wen u sho dis text.”

    “Visit Meg’s ASAP for a great deal! 20% off any slice when you show this text.”

    Which text looks like it’s from a respectable business?

  4. Only use text abbreviations your audience will understand.
    Knowing your audience helps you decide which abbreviations are appropriate and which ones aren’t.

    For instance, you wouldn’t want to text “Hello, this is Joe, tech support for X Cable. Responding to your query, FTFY!” to a 70-year old needing help with his cable. In this instance it would be better to write out, “Be seeing you.”

Text Abbreviation Mistakes to Avoid

There are hundreds of word abbreviations out there, so any fear of using slang abbreviations for texting is warranted. The best thing to do is play it safe. Nobody’s going to be on your case if you type out the full phrase. 

However, if you do want to start incorporating more abbreviation in your text messages these are two key things to avoid:

Avoid Using Dated Slang or Abbreviations When Texting

In a communication method that’s only a decade old, it’s hard to imagine text abbreviations going out of date. 

But meanings change, just as they do in our everyday language. Keep an eye out for what others around you are using. Not only to gauge appropriateness, but also to keep on top of what phrases are still commonly used.

Avoid Overusing Text Abbreviations to Communicate

Sure, most young people can understand text abbreviations just fine. But nobody wants to read a full message written in them. Avoid:

Hi, WUU2? LMK if u want to TLK TMRW!

As mentioned previously, when in doubt simply take your time to type out the full word. It’s the fail-safe way of making sure your text messaging is read in the correct context. 

Recognizing Your Audience

Just like addressing different people in day to day life, SMS requires you to adapt your speech based on who you’re talking to. Some of the popular SMS abbreviations you use on your friends might not be appropriate for your boss or a client.

Alfredo Salked

Alfredo Salked

Alfredo leads the marketing team at SimpleTexting. In addition to writing about SMS, he also talks about it—literally. Our how-to videos are narrated by him.

More Posts from Alfredo Salked

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