For the most part, any letter or number can be used phonetically when text messaging. Vowels can be removed to shorten words, and spaces can be removed to shorten phrases. A capitol letters is often used to denote that a letter is being used phonetically, but not always. It is also common to deliberately misspell a word for effect or to save a keystroke, such as ‘dis’ instead of ‘this’. Don’t get too uptight about it, though: there are some established conventions, but there’s no such thing as a spelling error in shorthand. Here are some examples of shortened words:
2nite – tonight B4 – before craZ – crazy l8r – later NE1 – anyone OIC – oh, I see resQme – rescue me RUOK? – are you ok? want2 – want to Y – why?
...you get the idea.
Fun With Text Messaging
Flash mobs are spontaneously organized crowds of people that congregate with an often absurd and always fleeting purpose in mind. This photo is a flash Mob in Düsseldorf
Workplace Messaging
Shorthand and acronyms have long been in the workplace vocabulary. Jargon such as ASAP, EOD and FYI predate messaging, and recent entrants like IM (instant message/ing), LOL (laugh/ing out loud) and BRB (be right back) have made it all the way to the board room. The ubiquity of Blackberries has accelerated the use of workplace shorthand, but the Blackberry’s QWERTY keyboard provides refuge for those who miss their typewriters.
Here are a few more expressions that may come in handy when you are clawing your way to the top:
BAK – back at keyboard DRIB – don’t read if busy HIOOC – help I’m out of coffee NRN – no reply necessary OTP – on the phone QQ – quick question TIA – thanks in advance WIIFM – what’s in it for me? WTTM – without thinking too much YW – you’re welcome
However tempting, don’t break up with your girlfriend via text message.
More Common Jargon, Shorthand and Acronyms
Below is just a tiny sampling, check the links at the bottom of the page for more.
B4N – Bye for now BBS – be back soon COZ – Because CUL8R – See you later GL – good luck GTG – Got to go HUB – head up butt IDK – I don’t know ILY or ILU – I love you IMHO – In my humble opinion JK – just kidding PLZ – Please POS – Parent over shoulder ROTFL – Rolling on the floor laughing TMI – Too much information TTFN – Ta ta for now Y – Why?
And perhaps the most useful of all…
IHA – I hate acronyms
More Fun With Text Messaging
There’s actually a literary magazine dedicated to SMS, appropriately called onesixty *. (SMS messages are typically limited to 160 characters.) The journal is mostly poetry and bad poetry at that, but there are a few gems. Worth checking out.
1st ure msgs xited me</strong><br>by Paul Scott<br><br>a sudn stream of flrty txt<br>frm 1 I hrdly knw.<br>bt now as I attempt<br>2 decifr yet anotha<br>all I can thnk is<br>'I bet shes shit scrabble’
This site offers a SMS jargon translator if you get really stuck, or just to get the hang of it. You can also irritate your language-purist friends by bastardizing their favorite writers. For example, here is Kant translated into SMS lingo:
“aL thawt must, diRctlE o indirectly, by way of certan caractRs, relate ultim8lE 2 intuitions, & ther4, w us, 2 sensibility, cuz n n othR way cn an objct b given 2 us.”
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