If English speakers from the 1800s could hear a conversation today, they might not recognize the language. We know, of course, that inventions like social media and text messaging have trained us to become super-efficient speakers and writers. But some abbreviations meant only for the typed word have seeped into our conversations — so much so that many people don’t even remember what the real term is! Here’s 10 abbreviations so overused, we forgot the real words.
Your mom visits, takes one look at your garden and says your plants need a little TLC. One of the most popular music groups in the 90s took the name. Service companies that fix things also like to take names like TLC Plumbing or TLC Hardware. What they’re really offering is some tender loving care for your toilet or roof.
Even grown women introduce close friends as their “BFF” and the term’s gotten so popular it has sprung baby terms such as BFFF and BFF2 (second-best friend forever.) It does sound a little too hopeful when you remember it means best friend forever. Remember the playground besties you promised to have in your wedding? Where are they now?
Your friends email you, subject line, “Pic attached.” Your friend calls you to tell you you’ve been tagged in a “pic.” And when you and your friend are done getting ready to go out you say, “Let’s take a quick pic before we leave.” If saying the full word “picture” is out then the word “Photo” must sound like a real relic.
Ever have your friend put up her hand towards you and say, “TMI” in the middle of your story about food poisoning? Or read a tabloid report that some celebrity is tweeting “TMI” in her newsfeed? That’s too much information, and apparently it’s too many words to say.
For a long time, only science fiction had an abbreviation — sci fi — and now romantic comedy has jumped on board. Even in regular speech, your friend may invite you over to watch a rom com and drink a bottle of wine.
Ever notice that when someone wants to prove you wrong or be particularly sassy, they end their point with, “BTW!” But when it’s “by the way,” it’s at the beginning of the sentence.
People use “DM” to refer to just about any type of communication that isn’t verbal speech. They’ll ask you to “DM” them on gmail, or “DM” them on Facebook, or “DM” them on Twitter. The term, which stands for direct message, originated on Twitter though, and is the one way to privately communicate with another user.
Hardly anyone says “Just kidding” anymore. It started with just teenagers using “JK” off the cyber world, but now adults will use it, even just to say that they made a mistake like telling you to turn right but then saying, “JK. It’s a left.” No, you weren’t just kidding: you were just wrong.
“OMG” has become so popular, it’s found its way into movie titles like the documentary, “GMO OMG.” Nearly every tabloid or celebrity gossip magazine has a headline that reads, “OMG! (Fill in celeb here) and (here) are engaged!” or “OMG! (Fill in celeb here) is preggers!” Urban Dictionary describes it as “Possibly the most irritating piece of chatroom vernacular in existence,” but we love it!
“FYI” and “BTW” are almost interchangeable. If someone says either one to you, you can bet they just proved you wrong, or shocked you with some information. When FYI is in play, it’s rarely to kindly give you information and usually to make you feel like an airhead.
