# A colleague just signed off an email to me with "more anon." What does that mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 23, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635 "2006-03-23T20:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/1 "2006-03-23T20:37:13Z")
To be exact, his email signed off as follows: \*more anon, best, joe \* What does that mean? FWIW, it was a short, choppy email with several typical email-style truncations and shorthand words. Maybe “more anon” is one of those, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/2 "2006-03-23T20:39:46Z")
Anon means soon or shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/3 "2006-03-23T20:39:53Z")
“More another time” perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/4 "2006-03-23T20:40:15Z")
anon = ‘soon’ or ‘later’. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/5 "2006-03-23T20:41:31Z")
In that context, “anon” means in a short time or soon. It has no relation to the Latin/Greek-derived word anonymous – it comes from Old English. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/6 "2006-03-23T20:49:04Z")
[QUOTE=Giles] In that context, “anon” means in a short time or soon. It has no relation to the Latin/Greek-derived word anonymous – it comes from Old English. [/QUOTE] More info: O.E., _on an_ “into one, straightway (in one course), at once”; by gradual misuse, “soon, in a little while” (1526). Per Online Etymology Dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/7 "2006-03-23T20:51:54Z")
[QUOTE=Daithi Lacha] More info: O.E., _on an_ “into one, straightway (in one course), at once”; by gradual misuse, “soon, in a little while” (1526). Per Online Etymology Dictionary. [/QUOTE] Right. And “I’ll be with you in a second.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/8 "2006-03-23T20:53:28Z")
This thread needs more Anon. – Anon ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/9 "2006-03-23T20:54:51Z")
Your buddy has been attending too many Shakespeare performances lately. ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/10 "2006-03-23T20:54:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ludovic] This thread needs more Anon. – Anon [/QUOTE] OK, Al. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/11 "2006-03-23T22:15:38Z")
> [@stuyguy](#): > > What does that mean? It means your colleague is way smarter than you and you should treat him with due respect. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/12 "2006-03-23T22:24:15Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] It means your colleague is way smarter than you and you should treat him with due respect. 😃 [/QUOTE] Don’t I know it. And his Pulitzer Prize reminds me in case I forget! Thanks all, for the informative responses. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/13 "2006-03-23T23:44:36Z")
[QUOTE=Finagle] Your buddy has been attending too many Shakespeare performances lately. [/QUOTE] Either that, or doing too many crossword puzzles. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/14 "2006-03-24T03:09:53Z")
So if somebody is going to Alanon, are they going to soon be drunk? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/15 "2006-03-24T03:16:31Z")
Read [Henry IV, Part 1, Act II, Scene iv](http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/henryIV1/8/) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/16 "2006-03-24T14:54:30Z")
[QUOTE=Thudlow Boink] Either that, or doing too many crossword puzzles. [/QUOTE] No such thing! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-colleague-just-signed-off-an-email-to-me-with-more-anon-what-does-that-mean/349635/17 "2006-03-24T15:12:51Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] So if somebody is going to Alanon, are they going to soon be drunk? [/QUOTE] That, or they’re going to talk to a wizard (sorry: “druid”) in a really bad and derivative piece of fantasy hackwork.