Texting abbreviations can be helpful in shortening a text message while still getting the idea across to the recipient. However, if the recipient receives an unfamiliar text message in shorthand, they could be more confused than enlightened. Rather than use shorthand that is not familiar to most texters, choose to use text abbreviations that are recognizable to the majority of those who are texting. Learn the most common texting abbreviations to ensure you are heard loud and clear.
| Are you OK? | RUOK? |
| Are | R |
| Ate | 8 |
| Be | B |
| Before | B4 |
| Date | D8 |
| Easy | EZ |
| Great | GR8 |
| Late | L8 |
| Later | L8R |
| Lots of laughs | LOL |
| Please call me | PCM |
| See you later | CUL8R |
| See you tomorrow | CYT |
| Thanks | THX |
| To, too, two | 2 |
| Today | 2DAY |
| Why | Y |
| You | U |
Emoticons are combinations of characters that are meant to express emotions. Because text messages are brief, it's often hard to interpret the emotions of the sender. Emoticons allow the sender to quickly summarize the way they feel while sending the text.
| Happy | :-) |
| Sad | :-( |
| Laughing | :-D |
| Surprised | :-O |
| Kiss | :-* |
| Confused | % - ) |
| Wink | ;-) |
Some common texting abbreviations are longer, but once you understand the meaning, they will make just as much sense to you as the shorter ones do.
| As a matter of fact | AAMOF |
| At the moment | ATM |
| Be back later | BBL |
| Continued in my next post | CNP |
| Complete waste of time | CWOT |
| Do you remember | DUR |
| Falling on the floor laughing | FOTFL |
| For your eyes only | FYEO |
| Have a good night/day | HAGN/HAGD |
| How you doing? | HUD |
| Love you lots | LYL |
| Member of the opposite sex | MOOS |
| More will be revealed later | MWBRL |
| Parents are watching | PAW or PRW |
| Too much information | TMI |
| Ta Ta for now | TTFN |
| Work | WRK |
| What are you doing? | WUD |
| Where were you? | WWY? |
 | Text messaging is a way to communicate with others quickly and efficiently, but, just as rules and etiquette have emerged concerning e-mail, texting etiquette is important to follow. |
 | Get acquainted with texting basics and learn how to text message others if you are interested in joining the popular trend of texting friends and family members. |
 | Learn some basic texting tips to help you communicate with family, friends and loved ones. |
Consult this texting dictionary to get up to speed on the most recent texting shorthand words and phrases. |
Reading and writing texting shorthand is like learning a new language. At first, the meanings may be lost on you. When it comes to using texting shorthand, use these tips to make the most of this instant method of communication. |
