The OneMinute Geek:

Text Abbreviations

The Problem:

One of the coolest aspects of having Internet access is being able to communicate with someone on the other side of the world via chats or instant messengers. Chats and IMs are real-time (simultaneous), virtually free and a great way to socialize.

Text messaging via your cell phone is also a good way to stay plugged in. During a recent trip to some of the more remote stretches of India, cell phone messaging offered an easy, inexpensive and reliable means of keeping in touch with loved ones back home.

Though the technology itself is relatively easy to use, staying abreast of the latest shorthand or abbreviations commonly used in chats and text messaging can leave you scratching your head - or asking your teenaged offspring.

The Solution:

Shorthand is commonplace in chats, text messaging, newsgroup postings, IMs, blogs and just about anywhere people communicate online. You'll need to bone up on some of them. Below is a sample of some of the shorthand you may need to know when chatting and messaging. For a more complete listing, visit www.supergeeks.net .

To show your son or daughter you still know a thing or two, be sure to point out that these abbreviations are not true acronyms. Acronyms, like RADAR or SONAR or even ASAP, are typically pronounced as words. Abbreviations, on the other hand (OTOH), are read as letters, not words.

86 Out Of or Over

A/S/L Age/Sex/Location

B4N Bye For Now

BBIAB Be Back In A Bit

BRB Be Right Back

BTW By The Way

GG Good Game (or) Gotta Go

GL Good Luck

GTG Got To Go

HAK Hugs And Kisses

HB Hurry Back

HHO1/2K Ha Ha, Only Half Kidding

HHOK Ha Ha, Only Kidding

IAC In Any Case

IDGI I Don't Get It

IDK I Don't Know

J/K Just Kidding!

LMAO Laughing My Ass Off

LOL Laughing Out Loud -or- Lots of Luck (or Love)

LTNS Long Time No See

OBTW Oh By The Way

OMG Oh My Gosh

TTYL Talk To You Later

TY Thank You

WB Welcome Back

WYP What's Your Problem?

James Kerr is President/CEO of SuperGeeks, a Hawaii-based computer service and repair company (www.supergeeks.net). Please feel free to send your questions, comments and suggestions to Mr. Kerr. He can be reached at kerr@supergeeks.net and 942-0773.