Business Text Messaging Shorthand

Workplace Texting - Office Email Meanings

Apr 2, 2008 Janienne Jennrich

Business instant message jargon in cell phone IMs, e-mails, and online chatting. A dictionary guide to office and workplace shorthand, acronyms, and text code meanings.

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

The copyright of the article Business Text Messaging Shorthand in Mobile Technology is owned by Janienne Jennrich. Permission to republish Business Text Messaging Shorthand in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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