Chat Guide
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Chatting online can sometimes feel like you're stepping into another world, complete with its own unique language. Part of this is because online chats actually do use their own type of language.
Over time, "chatspeak" has left chat rooms and entered instant messaging, text messaging, personal email, and even work accounts. Not knowing what some abbreviations or emoticons mean could make you seem outdated.
There are different emoticons or faces used to display emotions and there are abbreviations that aren't used in regular conversation. These emoticons are created through typing simple characters on your computer's keyboard.
The first things to look at are some of the common abbreviations used in online chat. Understanding them and using them can significantly reduce the amount of confusion experienced in a chat.
AFAIK - As Far As I Know
AFK - Away From Keyboard
BBL - Be Back Later
BEG - Big Evil Grin
BF - Boyfriend
BRB - Be Right Back
BTW - By the Way
BWL - Bursting With Laughter
CID - Crying In Disgrace
CNP - Continued in Next Post
CYA - See You
EG - Evil Grin
FC - Fingers Crossed
FYI - For Your Information
FWIW - For What It's Worth
GF - Girlfriend
HAGN - Have A Good Night
IAE - In Any Event
IMO - In My Opinion
IMHO - In My Honest Opinion
JMO - Just My Opinion
JTLYK - Just To Let You Know
KOC - Kiss on Cheeks
KOL - Kiss on Lips
L8R - Later
LHO - Laughing Head Off
LMAO - Laughing My Ass Off
PM - Private Message
ROFL - Rolling On the Floor Laughing
SO - Significant Other
SWL - Screaming With Laughter
SYS - See You Soon
TGIF - Thank God it's Friday
TOY - Thinking Of You
TTFN - Ta Ta for Now
TTYL - Talk to You Later
WTG - Way to Go
WTH - What the Heck
These abbreviations and phrases are often used by gamers, especially during online game play. They pick some of the above words and phrases because they're easier and faster to write while playing.
Here are some more guides to internet acronyms and emoticons:
A Quick Reference Guide to the Gaming Lexicon