Business text messaging shorthand jargon and code has become a kind of "foreign language" that many business people today need to know in order to keep up to date at work, understand instant messages from co-workers, get the meaning of office emails, and keep up during online workplace chats.
According to Netlingo online, more than 79 million people are phone text messaging regularly. "Commonly used wherever people get online -- including IM'ing, SMS'ing, cell phones, Blackberries, PDAs, Web sites, games, newsgroup postings, in chat rooms, on blogs -- these abbreviations are used by people to communicate with each other"
Here is a guide to some of the most common business text message shorthand, acronyms, lingo terminology, and shorthand terms and letter codes. These are used in business situations for cell phone (IM) instant text messages, in Internet chat rooms, in e-mails, and on online office discussion boards.
Common Phone Text Messaging Shorthand Used in Business IMs and Text Messages
- AFAIC - As Far As I'm Concerned
- ASAP - As Soon As Possible
- BRB - Be Right Back
- BSUS - Business
- BTW - By The Way
- CLM - Career Limiting Move
- DD - Due Diligence
- DQYDJ - Don't Quit Your Day Job
- DRIB - Don't Read If Busy
- EOD - End Of Day
- EOM - End Of Message
- EOT - End Of Thread
- FYI - For Your Information
- GMTA - Great Minds Think Alike
- HIOOC - Help, I'm Out Of Coffee
- IAITS - It's All In The Subject
- IANAL - I Am Not A Lawyer
- IM – Instant Message
- KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid
- LOPSOD - Long On Promises; Short On Delivery
- MOTD - Message Of The Day
- MTFBWY - May The Force Be With You
- MYOB - Mind Your Own Business
- NRN - No Reply Necessary
- NWR - Not Work Related
- OTP - On The Phone
- P&C - Private & Confidential
- PEBCAK - Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard
- QQ - Quick Question
- RFD - Request For Discussion
- RFP - Request For Proposal
- SME - Subject Matter Expert
- STD - Seal The Deal
- TBA - To Be Announced
- TBD - To Be Determined
- TWIMC - To Whom It May Concern
- TIA - Thanks In Advance
- WIIFM - What's In It For Me
- WOMBAT - Waste Of Money, Brains And Time
- WTG - Way To Go
- YW - You're Welcome
Acronyms vs. Shorthand in Text Messaging
According to Netlingo online, many people use the term “acronym” incorrectly. They say: "The majority of the expressions you see above are not acronyms, but rather shorthand used while text messaging or IMing."
An acronym is generally a word formed from the first letter or letters of each word in a phrase (such as SCUBA, which stands for Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus). In texting and instant messaging, it is a sort of shorthand that is used.
For more information on business text messaging, also see Advanced Text Message Shorthand, Text Message & E-Mail Shorthand, and Get a Pay Raise or Job Promotion.
Resources:
Netlingo website
The Free Dictionary (online), Acronyms Page
