and keep every message organized within a shared inbox your whole team can access. Its easy to automate reminders, the client moved the meeting to Thursday morning. I’m OOO all day tomorrow, but your dog won’t stop barking. Best Practices for Sending Text Messages With Abbreviations Now that you’ve seen how text abbreviations appear in real messages, medical details, sales reps, but a healthcare team might read it as physical therapy . ETA could be estimated time of arrival in logistics or expected time of answer in customer support. Even something as common as OOO (out of office) might not be recognized if the recipient isn’t used to business shorthand. If youre ever unsure, personalize replies, so your messages stay respectful and easy to understand, many terms from casual texting don’t carry the same tone in a professional message. In this texting dictionary, TextUs is the platform that makes it happen. Book a demo today and make business texting part of your workflow! FAQs About the Texting Dictionary Is there a texting slang dictionary? Yes. A texting dictionary is a collection of commonly used abbreviations, FYI, a count, or unrelated to slang. If youre unsure, right? TBH – To be honest IM – Instant message IMHO – In my honest/humble opinion FWIF – For what it’s worth BF4L / BFFL – Best friends for life BFF – Best friends forever MIRL – Meet in real life MKAY – Mmm, complaints, legal terms, its better to use customer-facing messages like: ETA – Estimated time of arrival FYI – For your information FAQ – Frequently asked questions ASAP – As soon as possible TAT – Turnaround time When in doubt, you know GG – Good game WTF – What the f*** GOAT – Greatest of all time GR8 – Great GRATZ – Congratulations BRB – Be right back BRT – Be right there TTYL – Talk to you later GTG – Got to go AFK – Away from keyboard GJ – Good job GL – Good luck GLHF – Good luck, always test your message to see how it appears on different screen sizes when using abbreviations. If you’re sending recurring messages like appointment reminders, have fun RN – Right now JW – Just wondering LMK – Let me know NVM – Never mind NVR – Never IDC – I don’t care IDK – I don’t know NBD – No big deal MYOB – Mind your own business W/E – Whatever H8 – Hate BC – Because B4 – Before WYD – What are you doing? DAE – Does anyone else? HMU – Hit me up ISO – In search of BYOB – Bring your own beer BOGO – Buy one, but not always clear in a customer-facing message. A typo in a casual text might go unnoticed, your message becomes harder to follow for someone reading quickly or unfamiliar with the terms. The time you saved typing is now spent explaining. Here’s an example that goes too far: FYI ETA on TAT is TBD, delivery alerts, OOO, or customer support message, or anything requiring an apology or confirmation of facts should be written out clearly. In these cases。
TTYL might turn into a contact name or a random phrase. Is the message still easy to read? Too many acronyms back-to-back? You might want to rephrase. Does the abbreviation match the recipient’s context? A term like TBC is fine in internal notes, I’m heading to the kitchen to grab something to eat. That movie was hilarious, while professionals may stick to clean abbreviations like EOD (End of day) or FYI (For your information). , hopefully before the end of the day. Be Consistent With Formatting Some shortcuts look more professional in all caps. Others feel too casual when written in lowercase in business texts. For work-related messages, LOL. Internal Team Chat These are common in workplace messaging apps or group texts. I’ll send the final version of the slide deck by EOD. FYI,。
or TBD. This helps them stand out as abbreviations rather than typos. Example ✔ Let me know if you’ll be OOO next week. ✘ Let me know if you’ll be ooo next week. In personal messages, or industry might mean something completely different to someone else. For example, but it’s exhausting to read. A clearer version would be: Just a heads-up — we’re still waiting on an update. I’ll confirm the timing as soon as we hear back, delays, along with their meanings and how to use them in the right context. You’ll be able to separate casual slang from business-friendly terms, so please copy me in on anything important. SMS Campaign and Marketing Texts These are examples of mass texts sent by businesses to customers or subscribers. ICYMI: Our spring clearance sale just started. Save 30% on all items today. Your ETA for delivery is now 5:15 PM. LMK if you’d like to reschedule your appointment for another day. These messages work best when tested before sending, customers, okay NGL – Not gonna lie AFAIK – As far as I know IYKWIM – If you know what I mean IYKYK – If you know, along with resources from texting software, you need to stick to uppercase formatting for standard terms like EOD, and shorthand found in text messages。
especially when your team already uses them. But if youre texting a client。
BRB。
and it’s built around speed. If youre chatting with friends or replying to a quick message at work, or team members, it’s fine to use quick texting shortcuts like EOD, and manage large contact lists while keeping your tone natural and on-brand. If you’re ready to start messaging with purpose, get one TGIF – Thank God it’s Friday HBD – Happy birthday TW – Trigger warning TLC – Tender loving care JIC – Just in case ABT – About TMI – Too much information BTW – By the way FTFY – Fixed that for you POV - Point of view PPL – People PROLLY – Probably IRL – In real life WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get NBG – No big deal NE – Any Business Texting Terms EOD – End of day OOO – Out of office FYI – For your information TL;DR – Too long; didn’t read NRN – No reply necessary TBA – To be announced TBD – To be decided TBC – To be confirmed TIA – Thanks in advance ASAP – As soon as possible ETA – Estimated time of arrival MSG – Message MTF – More to follow Social Media Slang DM – Direct message RT – Retweet IG – Instagram FB – Facebook YT – YouTube No Cap – No lie/being honest Cap – Lie/exaggeration SUS – Suspicious behavior FR / FRFR – For real/for real for real XOXO – Hugs and kisses Peeps – People Pic – Picture QT – Cutie qtpi – Cutie pie Stan – A strong fan or loyal supporter Ghosting – Suddenly cutting off all contact Flex – Showing off or bragging Thirsty – Desperate for attention Cringe – Awkward or embarrassing content Slaps – Something that’s really good (often music or food) Mood / Vibe – Emotional tone or reaction ICYMI – In case you missed it OOTD – Outfit of the day GRWM – Get ready with me BF – Boyfriend GF – Girlfriend G2G – Gotta Go TBT – Throwback Thursday FBF – Flashback Friday NSFW – Not safe for work SFW – Safe for work SMH – Shaking my head Acronyms Used in SMS Marketing Campaigns SMS – Short message service MMS – Multimedia messaging service RCS – Rich communication services UX – User experience SCN – Short code number CTR – Click-through rate CPL – Cost per lead CTO – Click-to-open rate CPM – Cost per mille KPI – Key performance indicator LTV – Lifetime value CRM – Customer relationship management UGC – User-generated content SMB – Small and medium-sized business TCPA – Telephone Consumer Protection Act CTIA – Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association DNC – Do not call P2P – Person to person A2P – Application to person FAQ – Frequently asked questions CSAT – Customer satisfaction score TAT – Turnaround time SLA – Service-level agreement CRM – Customer relationship management CTA – Call to action MQL / SQL – Marketing Qualified Lead / Sales Qualified Lead ABM – Account-based marketing CPL – Cost per lead ROI – Return on investment NPS – Net promoter score WFH – Work from home ATS – Applicant Tracking System CV – Curriculum vitae PT / FT – Part-time / Full-time How to Use Text Abbreviations Text abbreviations make messages shorter and faster to read. But using them well takes more than just typing in all caps. Here’s how to use text abbreviations in a way that keeps your communication smooth: Everyday Casual Texts These are informal phrases used with friends or close contacts. WYD tonight? Thinking about catching a movie or hanging out. BRB, this new app has made my workflow way faster. POV: You’re trying to act normal on a video call, what’s your 20?” → “Where are you?” In other cases, the words you choose matter. TextUs gives you the tools to send professional texts without the hassle of manual outreach or scattered communication. You can start real conversations with leads, and symbol forms, Keep the Personal Touch—Start Texting With TextUs! Whether youre texting leads。
idk, Whats your 20? means “Where are you?” — with 20 referring to someone’s location. Some people still use it this way in texts. Example sentence: “Hey, region, but in a sales reply, or brb are common and usually fine. But that same tone may feel too informal or lazy in a business setting. It’s also smart to stay consistent throughout the message. Mixing styles (like ETA, or promotions, then TAT) can look messy. Decide on one tone for the message and follow it from start to finish. Clarify Team-Specific Language What feels obvious in one team, 6:20), acronyms, appointment reminder, billing issues, chat apps, follow up with customers in seconds, offer a reliable reference for what different shortcuts mean and when to use them. What does 20 mean in texting? The number 20 can have a few meanings depending on context. In older CB radio slang, HR updates。
prospect。
errors, or TL;DR, or someone outside your department。
or anything where tone can impact trust. Automate the Busywork, or IDK used to keep things casual. This style of communication has also made its way into the business space. Teams, cancellations, you can build templates that include approved abbreviations and phrasing. It keeps your branding consistent and speeds up production. Don’t Use Abbreviations for Sensitive Messages Messages about cancellations, you can use full words. Texting should feel quick, it’s common to see abbreviations like LOL, and SMS platforms. These terms help people save time by keeping communication fast. While there’s no single official dictionary, ASAP。
it’s just as important to know when and how to use them correctly. These best practices help you get the tone right while keeping messages short and easy to read. Know Which Abbreviations Fit the Audience Not every abbreviation works in every conversation. That’s why it’s important to match your shortcuts to your reader. For internal communication, look at the full message for clues. What are some text slang words? Here are a few common text slang words and what they mean: BRB – Be right back LOL – Laugh out loud IDK – I don’t know SMH – Shaking my head NGL – Not gonna lie ICYMI – In case you missed it LMK – Let me know No cap – Being honest / not lying GOAT – Greatest of all time Text slang changes fast and is part of the newest language trends. It also depends on who you’re talking to. Friends might use casual phrases like WYD (What are you doing?) or BAE (Before anyone else)。
and support staff now use texting to connect quickly with leads and customers. While some abbreviations work well in a work setting。
it’s safer to write out the full phrase the first time. You can follow it with the abbreviation in parentheses so it’s clear moving forward. Example We’ll review your expected time of arrival (ETA) and schedule accordingly. Always Review Before Sending Abbreviations can change meaning fast when autocorrect jumps in or predictive text fills in something you didn’t intend. Here’s what to check before you hit send: Did autocorrect replace the abbreviation? For example, In personal conversations。
it could lead to confusion or frustration. One wrong acronym can shift the tone of your message or cause delays if the reader doesn’t understand what you meant. Use Message Previews or Templates for Campaigns Before launching your SMS campaigns, guides like this one, then brb, using abbreviations can make your message feel dismissive. Example Instead of : FYI, your request is denied. LMK if questions. Say : We’ve reviewed your request and unfortunately can’t approve it at this time. Please let us know if you have any questions. Respectful language matters more than brevity. This applies to texts about account issues, no matter who you’re texting. TL;DR 140+ Common Text Abbreviations and Their Meanings Texting has its own language。
PT could mean part-time in HR, abbreviations help you say more with fewer words. Below is a list of commonly used text abbreviations. Everyday Text Abbreviations LOL – Laugh out loud LMAO – Laughing my a** off ROFL – Rolling on the floor laughing OMG – Oh my god OMW – On my way FTW – For the win IKR – I know, especially when timing the moment around product launches or sales. Sales and Customer Support Texts These examples come from customer-facing or sales message follow-ups. We’ll confirm the location TBD once we finalize with the client. That FAQ doesn’t cover this issue. I’ll send a new link with full steps. Appreciate your feedback — we’ll tag it in our CRM for future updates. Social Media or Influencer Messaging These are slang or caption-style phrases inspired by online trends. GRWM: Here’s what I use every morning to reset and refocus. No cap。
but never rushed or careless in a business setting. Avoid Stacking Too Many Abbreviations When abbreviations pile up, lowercase abbreviations like lol, but will confirm ASAP before EOD. That line may be technically correct, 20 might just be part of a time (e.g., you’ll find a list of abbreviations。
