What do BTW, FAQ, FYI, IMHO, RTFM, and other acronyms mean? (2024)

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These are all abbreviations for specific phrases commonly used ininformal written computer correspondence, online forums and boards,and online gaming. Following are some common acronyms and theirmeanings:

AFAIC As far as I'm concerned
AFAIK As far as I know
AFK Away from keyboard
BRB Be right back
BTDT Been there, done that
BTW By the way
BUAG Butt-ugly ASCII graphic
C/C Comments and criticism
EOM End of message
FAQ

Frequently Asked Question(s). When people say "the FAQ", they are generally referring to a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

FTFY

Fixed that for you; often accompanied by a correction

FTW For the win
FWIW For what it's worth
FYI For your information
HTH Hope this helps
IANAL I am not a lawyer
IIRC If I recall correctly
IMHO In my humble opinion
IMNSHO In my not so humble opinion
IMO In my opinion
IOW In other words
l33t or 1337

From "elite". This has become a term used to describe the informal communication of Internet gaming. L33t speak is easily identified by the substitution of number and other characters for regular letters; e.g., hackers becomes h4XX0rz.

LFG

Looking for group, usually used in MMORPGs

LMAO Laughing my butt off
LMGTFYLet me Google that for you
LOL Laughing out loud
MMORPG

Massive multiplayer online role-playing game (e.g., World of Warcraft or Star Wars Galaxies); sometimes shortened to MMO

MOTAS Member of the appropriate sex
MOTOS Member of the opposite sex
MOTSS Member of the same sex
NG Newsgroup
n00b

From "newbie", meaning a newcomer not yet familiar with the rules

NT

No text; usually in the subject line of a message with no body

OMG Oh my God
OTOH On the other hand
PWN

Usage of the term "own", as in "I PWNed you!"

QQ

Cry more, noob (representation of eyes crying, often found in MMORPGs)

RL

Real life, as opposed to the Internet

ROFL Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAO

Rolling on the floor laughing my butt off

RTFM

Read the fine manual. This may be interpreted as: "You have asked a question which would best be answered by consulting the manual (or FAQ, or other help files), a copy of which should be in your possession. The question you have asked is clearly answered in the manual and you are wasting time asking people to read it to you." It's good netiquette to mail this type of answer to another user rather than post it in public messages.

SO

Significant other; used to refer to someone's romantic partner

TBH To be honest
TLA Three letter acronym
TTFN Ta ta for now
TTYL Talk to you later
W/E Whatever
w00t An expression of joy
WFN Wrong forum, noob
WTF What the heck
WYSIWYG

ARCHIVED: What you see is what you get, pronounced as "wizzywig".

YMMH You might mean here
YMMV Your mileage may vary
{g} Grin
{BG} Big grin

This is document adkc in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-09-22 17:53:42.

What do BTW, FAQ, FYI, IMHO, RTFM, and other acronyms mean? (2024)

FAQs

What does the acronym IMHO stand for? ›

Here, in the spelled-out dictionary, IMHO is defined thusly: This little acronym, IMHO, stands for in my humble opinion. It's often used as a typing shortcut in online communication. When it is capitalized, you are shouting. You might also see the term imnsho, which stands for in my not-so-humble opinion.

What does RTFM mean in texting? ›

abbreviation for

, Slang. read the f*cking manual (a euphemistic acronym used sarcastically in response to, or in reference to, someone asking for technical help): He won't RTFM and then complains that he can't get through to tech support.

What does FYI or FYI mean? ›

The Meaning of Fyi

Fyi is an abbreviation for the phrase “for your information.” The term can be traced back to the 1930s, when it was used by journalists to indicate that the messages they sent by wire—or parts of the messages—were for the eyes of the person receiving the message, not for further publication.

What does FAQ stand for in texting? ›

End of message. FAQ. Frequently Asked Question(s). When people say "the FAQ", they are generally referring to a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions. FTFY.

What does btw stand for? ›

written abbreviation for by the way: used, for example in emails, when you are writing something that relates to the subject you are discussing, but is not the main point of the discussion: I hope you enjoyed your vacation in Florida - btw, can you recommend a good hotel?

What does DTF mean? ›

slang. abbreviation for. the taboo expression 'down to f*ck': used esp in social media, text messages, etc to indicate willingness for a sexual encounter. Collins English Dictionary.

What is OTG in texting? ›

Popular Ways to Use OTG

OTG means “on the go” or “on the game” in most scenarios. “On the go” means you're busy, while “on the game” means you're trying to hook up with someone. In gaming, OTG also stands for “on the game.” In this case, it means you're busy playing a video game (typically an online multiplayer game).

What does TLDR stand for in texting? ›

TL;DR or tl;dr, short for "too long; didn't read", is internet slang often used to introduce a summary of an online post or news article. It is also used as an informal interjection commenting that a block of text has been ignored due to its length.

What does LTS stand for? ›

Long-term support - Wikipedia.

What does 46 mean in texting? ›

CU46 means see you for sex. CU46 is an internet slang code that conveys plans to have sexual relations.

What does WTV mean from a girl? ›

What does 'WTV' mean? "WTV" is an abbreviation for "whatever," according to Dictionary.com. It is used the same way as its equivalent, to express indifference, distaste or boredom.

What does FML stand for? ›

FML meaning: "f*ck my life."

Kids often use this acronym when they're upset about something.

What does skl mean in texting? ›

skl – School. sksksk – Representing laughter. slaps – Describing something as good (e.g. This song slaps)

What does imho mean? ›

imho. written abbreviation for in my humble opinion: used when you tell someone your opinion, for example in an email. Compare. imo.

What does afk mean in text? ›

Afk means away from keyboard, a phrase that lets others know that you won't be at your computer for a while. It's commonly used with another abbreviation—brb (be right back)—to indicate that you're taking a short break.

Is Imho passive aggressive? ›

Examples and Usage of IMHO

However, it can also be passive-aggressive and convey a similar meaning to “I'm just saying.” You can place IMHO at the beginning, end or in the middle of a sentence. Some ways you can use IMHO in context include: IMHO, I don't think you should do that.

What is the difference between IMHO and IMO? ›

People often use this phrase on social media platforms, in text conversations, and in online forums. You can use this acronym in either lowercase letters or uppercase letters, depending on your personal preference. A common variant of IMO is IMHO, which can stand for in my honest opinion or in my humble opinion.

Is Imho polite? ›

IMO is simply a way of expressing an opinion. "This is what I think about the topic". IMHO normally has some sincerity in the humility: "This is what I think about the topic, but I am not an expert". It is often used also to mean "This is what I think, please don't flame me if you disagree".

What is the opposite of IMHO? ›

imho (in my honest/humble opinion) or imo (in my opinion) are more common in informal text/written communication and is internet slang. imao is the opposite of imho (arrogant is the opposite of humble) be used to express your opinion arrogantly (when you believe you are more important than others).

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