How to Shorten Words in Text Messages

Since the dawn of texting, there has been "text speak." These shortened phrases and abbreviations can help you get your message across more efficiently without having to type out full words (and they're just fun to use sometimes!). If you're not sure what all of the different abbreviations mean or how to use them, don't worry. We've put together a list of the most common texting abbreviations plus some tips on how to use them.

Section 1 of 6:

Why do people shorten words in text messages?

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    To save time when texting. If you have a lot on your plate at work or are busy running errands, you likely don't have a lot of time to stop and text. Shortening words can help you save time but still get your message across.[1]
    • In the early days of texting, people were also texting without keypads. Having to double-click each button to get the right letter took a lot of time and effort, so users would abbreviate words so that they didn't have to do that.[2]
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    To work around character limits in messages. SMS messages have a strict 160-character limit. It can be hard to stick to this limit if you type everything out. Abbreviating your words helps you include all the information you need while keeping your message within the limit.[3]
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Section 2 of 6:

Popular Text Abbreviations

  1. 1
    BRB - Be right back. Use this phrase anytime you are about to head out for only a little while.
    • ”I’m going to the store BRB!”
  2. 2
    BTW - By the way. You might use this phrase to introduce a new topic or add some more information that you hadn't thought to share earlier.
    • "You did a great job on the new website BTW!"
  3. 3
    DM - Direct message. This refers to messages sent on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
    • "I still haven't responded to Rob's DM..."
  4. 4
    HMU - Hit me up. This is a casual way to ask someone to get back to you or reach out, usually with the intention of hanging out later.
    • "I'm free tonight HMU if you want to hang out."
  5. 5
    IDK - I don't know. Opt to use this abbreviation if you're unsure about something.
    • "I'm trying to find the answer online, but IDK."
  6. 6
    IMO - In my opinion. Add this abbreviation if you're sharing your subjective view on a topic.
    • "That band gave a pretty mediocre performance IMO."
  7. 7
    IRL - In real life. If you want to refer to life offline, you can use this phrase.
    • "I'm very outgoing on social media, but I'm pretty shy IRL."
  8. 8
    JK - Just kidding. Add this to the end of your message to make it clear that you're joking.
    • "I just spilled my coffee on the bus and now I can never go out in public again. JK 🤣"
  9. 9
    LMK - Let me know. If you want someone to give you more information, you can use this phrase.
    • "Does anyone have any restaurant recommendations in the area? LMK!"
  10. 10
    LOL - Laughing out loud. This is a common way to let someone know that what they said was hilarious.
    • “LOL you are so funny.”
  11. 11
    NSFW - Not safe for work. If you've sent your friend an image or video that's a little risque, add this abbreviation so that they have some warning.
    • "This is a clip from that new movie I was talking about. Heads up, it's NSFW."
  12. 12
    NVM - Nevermind. Try this out if you want to drop a conversation topic.
    • "I figured it out NVM."
  13. 13
    OMG - Oh my god. This is a good phrase to use anytime you're left dumbfounded or shocked.
    • “OMG you’ll never guess what Stacey just told me!”
  14. 14
    OMW - On my way. This is a way to let someone know that you're headed over to your destination.
    • "I'm running 5 minutes late but I'm OMW."
  15. 15
    RN - Right now. This is a casual way to update someone on your present moment.
    • "I'm feeling pretty good RN, but I was super tired this morning."
  16. 16
    TBH - To be honest. Try this abbreviation out if you're sharing your true thoughts on something.
    • "I wasn't a fan of that movie TBH."
  17. 17
    YOLO - You only live once. A phrase you can use when you're feeling up for taking a risk.
    • "I'm getting a tattoo tomorrow. YOLO!"
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Section 3 of 6:

Common Business Text Abbreviations

  1. 1
    AKA - Also known as. Try this one if you're referring to something or someone that has 2 common meanings, identities, or associations.
    • "I'm writing a piece on Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman."
  2. 2
    ASAP - As soon as possible. This is a common way to let someone know that you're working on getting an urgent task completed quickly.
    • "I can get back to you on that ASAP!"
  3. 3
    ATM - At the moment. If you want to let someone know what you are up to presently, opt for this abbreviation.
    • "Things at the office are going pretty well ATM."
  4. 4
    CTA - Call to action. This is a phrase in the marketing sphere to encourage people to get involved in your company or buy something from you.
    • "We've got to include a CTA in our campaign message. That way, people will be motivated to sign up."
  5. 5
    DIY - Do it yourself. This is a phrase used to describe something that's been done without the help of other professionals, companies, or corporations.
    • "I wrote and released my own DIY cookbook because no one was interested in publishing it."
  6. 6
    EOD - End of the day. If you'd like to request that someone get an assignment back to you by the end of the workday, try this abbreviation.
    • "I'll need that outline by the EOD."
  7. 7
    ETA - Estimated time of arrival. This is a common way to let someone know when you expect to get a task completed.
    • "Can I get an ETA for when you can get this project back to me?"
  8. 8
    FAQ - Frequently asked questions. Opt for this one if you're referring to a list of questions that people often ask about your company.
    • "Check out the FAQ page for more information."
  9. 9
    FYI - For your information. This is a way to let someone know some extra information that could be helpful to them.
    • "FYI, we stopped using that strategy last week."
  10. 10
    MMS - Multi-media message. This is a messaging service that allows you to send additional attachments like photos, videos, and music.
    • "We should opt for an MMS marketing campaign so we can share photos, too."
  11. 11
    N/A - Not applicable or no answer. This common abbreviation works for when you don't have an answer to something, usually when filling out paperwork, spreadsheets, or other data entry tools.
    • "If nothing works for that category, just write N/A."
  12. 12
    NP - No problem. Add this to your message if someone has thanked you for your help or services.
    • "NP happy to help."
  13. 13
    SEO - Search engine optimization. This is a common business strategy that refers to getting your business's website, social media sites, or other pages on the top search results.
    • "Our company takes our SEO strategy very seriously."
  14. 14
    SMS - Short message service. This is a messaging system often used for text marketing campaigns. It is a text-only service (no photos, music, or additional attachments).
    • "I think we should start an SMS marketing campaign to appeal to our younger customers."
  15. 15
    TGIF - Thank God it's Friday. After a long work week, you may want to say this.
    • "I'm so ready for the weekend. TGIF!"
  16. 16
    TIA - Thanks in advance. Try this abbreviation if you're asking someone to do something for you and want to express gratitude for their hard work.
    • "Would you mind proofreading the caption before we post this on Instagram? TIA!"
  17. 17
    TY - Thank you. Go for this abbreviation if you're in a hurry but want to thank someone for their help or advice.
    • "You're the best for doing this. TY!"
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Section 4 of 6:

Popular Romantic Text Abbreviations

  1. 1
    BF - Boyfriend. Text this abbreviation if you're referring to your boyfriend or someone else's boyfriend.
    • "I can't wait for you to finally meet my BF. I think you'll like him!"
  2. 2
    DTR - Define the relationship. This acronym refers to when you put a label on your relationship or bring up the subject.
    • "I really like him, but we're not officially dating. We haven't had the DTR talk yet..."
  3. 3
    GF - Girlfriend. If you're talking about your girlfriend or another person's girlfriend, opt for this abbreviation.
    • "Yeah, that's my GF. She's awesome."
  4. 4
    ILY - I love you. This one may seem rather self-explanatory, but use this phrase if you'd like to share how much you care about someone.
    • "You're seriously the best ILY 🥰"
  5. 5
    ILSM - I love you so much. If you really want to show your love, opt for this abbreviation. It'll capture just how much you care about them!
    • "I'm so lucky to have you in my life ILSM. ❤️"
  6. 6
    LDR - Long-distance relationship. Use this abbreviation if your partner lives far away or you're talking about a friend in a long-distance relationship.
    • "It's tough being in an LDR, but my girlfriend makes it worth it."
  7. 7
    MCM - Man crush Monday. This acronym (which can also be used as a hashtag) refers to a popular social media trend. If you want to participate, post a hot picture of a guy you like (usually your husband, boyfriend, or a celebrity).
    • "My boyfriend is a total hunk. My MCM till the end!"
  8. 8
    WCW - Woman crush Wednesday. If you want to flaunt how proud you are of your girlfriend, wife, or partner (or want to reveal a celebrity crush), try out this abbreviation. It has a similar origin on social media and can also be used as a hashtag.
    • "My #WCW is my beautiful girlfriend. So happy to have her in my life! 💗"
  9. 9
    SO - Significant Other. This acronym describes someone's romantic partner, whether that be a boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, or a long-term partner.
    • "I'm surprising my SO with a beach getaway for his birthday."
  10. 10
    TLC - Tender loving care. When someone you care about has been having a hard time, they may need some extra love. TLC describes giving someone that special attention to help them feel better.
    • "My partner has been pretty bummed lately, but I think she just needs some TLC."
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Section 5 of 6:

Text Abbreviation Etiquitte

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    Use text abbreviations in moderation. Using a bunch of abbreviations at once might make your message come off as unprofessional or informal. If you'd like to save time but want to make sure the person you're texting knows you respect them, stick to 1-2 abbreviations per message tops.[4]
    • Even if you're texting with your friends or potential love interests, it might be best to use abbreviations in moderation (1-2 per text). Otherwise, it might make the person feel like you're not putting in much effort to talk to them.
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    Keep your abbreviations PG in most business settings. If you're using texting abbreviations with a client or a colleague you don't know well, it's best to stick to ones that don't contain any profanities. Even if you're not using the real word, they'll likely know what you mean and could get offended.[5]
    • For example, if your client did something that made you laugh, "LOL" is probably a better choice than "LMAO."
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    Stick with common abbreviations to avoid misunderstandings. Obscure text abbreviations, or acronyms that you've recently made up yourself, might lead to confusion. If you're ever unsure whether a person will know the abbreviation or not, type out the whole word just to be safe.[6]
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Section 6 of 6:

How to Keep Your Texts Brief

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    Cut unnecessary words. If your text is running long, see if there's anything you can leave out while keeping the text's original meaning. Cutting unnecessary descriptors and adjectives may be helpful, for example.
    • Change "Me and Sarah are going to this beautiful park tomorrow evening to watch the sunset. It's going to be an awesome day and you should come!" to "Me and Sarah are going to the park tomorrow evening. You should come! 😊"
    • If your text doesn't sound quite as friendly after the edits you made, add an emoji. Emojis can give your texts a more playful, upbeat vibe.[7]
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    Supplement your text with a link. If you're describing something to someone and the text is getting pretty long, link to an article, website, or video that refers to what you're talking about instead. Providing an example will help you avoid spending so much time explaining yourself, and it'll definitely shorten your text.
    • If you're talking about a recent news story, link to an article that explains what happened instead of giving a full summary over text. Add a brief caption like, "Did you hear about this? I really want to know your thoughts!"
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    Save longer conversations for a phone call or in-person discussion. If you need to have a serious talk with someone, it's likely you've got a lot to say. To avoid sending long paragraphs over text, ask the person you're messaging if they would like to talk on the phone or meet up in person.[8]
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.dictionary.com/e/shortening-english/
  2. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/02/text-messaging-turns-20
  3. ↑ https://www.inc.com/john-boitnott/15-tactics-that-will-ignite-your-sms-marketing-success.html
  4. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/pro/exhausted-woman/2017/11/the-art-of-good-communication-texting-etiquette
  5. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/277610
  6. ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/277610
  7. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/19/magazine/how-to-use-emojis.html
  8. ↑ https://www.wired.com/story/4-tips-to-send-and-receive-better-texts/

About This Article

John Keegan
Co-authored by:
John Keegan
Dating Coach
This article was co-authored by John Keegan. John Keegan is a dating coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. He runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health. This article has been viewed 6,791 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: July 11, 2022
Views: 6,791
Categories: Texting
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