# List of online acronyms, abbreviations, etc.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [February 9, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125 "2005-02-09T03:22:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/1 "2005-02-09T03:22:19Z")
Let’s try to compile as complete a list as possible of acronyms, abbreviations, etc., used on English-speaking chatrooms, blogs and message boards! 🙂 Just, you know, to help newbies acclimate more quickly. I’ll start, using mostly ones I’ve encountered on the SDMB:
BTW – by the way
FYI – for your information
IANA? – I am not a (L for lawyer, D for doctor, etc.)
IMHO – in my humble opinion
IMNSHO – in my not-so-humble opinion
IMO – in my opinion
IRL – in real life (as opposed to fiction; also, as opposed to online presence – e.g., “LMIRL” – let’s meet in real life (would never have seen that one if I hadn’t caught a scary commerical warning parents about the dangers to their children of sexual predators trolling online)
LMAO – laughing my ass off
OTOH – on the other hand
ROTFLMAO – rolling on the floor laughing my ass off
SO – significant other
WTF? – what the fuck?
YMMV – your mileage may vary (i.e., you may have a different opinion or impression regarding these facts than the one I have just stated)
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### Author:  [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/2 "2005-02-09T04:17:23Z")
Not to spoil the fun, but someone’s [already done the work](http://webenet.com/internetglossary.htm).
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### Author:  [@Nunavut\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunavut_Boy)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/3 "2005-02-09T04:33:30Z")
Ok…but what’s TMI?
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### Author:  [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/4 "2005-02-09T05:16:12Z")
> [@Nunavut Boy](#):
>
> Ok…but what’s TMI?
Too Much Information.
Perhaps I spoke too soon: SiL/BiL didn’t appear in the link and those damn things confused me quite a bit before I asked what they meant.
Sister/Brother in law for those of you who may also be confused…
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### Author:  [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/5 "2005-02-09T05:19:42Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#):
>
> Not to spoil the fun, but someone’s [already done the work](http://webenet.com/internetglossary.htm).
True, but few have done it better than [Acronym Finder](http://www.acronymfinder.com/).
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### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/6 "2005-02-09T05:37:51Z")
[SDMB’s own](http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm) suggested. See the Sticky in ATMB under technical FAQs
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/7 "2005-02-09T20:05:41Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#):
>
> Not to spoil the fun, but someone’s [already done the work](http://webenet.com/internetglossary.htm).
Didn’t know that but should have expected it. Thanks! 🙂
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### Author:  [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/8 "2005-02-09T22:22:12Z")
Check also the first thread in GQ, which contains many references, including acronym finders.
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### Author:  [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/9 "2005-02-09T23:15:44Z")
There doesn’t seem to be an actual question here, so I’ll move this thread to MPSIMS.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
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### Author:  [@bob\_loblaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_loblaw)
#### Post date: [February 9, 2005, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/10 "2005-02-09T23:59:51Z")
stfu: shut the fuck up
ufia: unsolicited finger in the anus
hftrw: hiding from the real world
omg: oh my god
oyg: oh your god
isyn: i shit you not
sfw: safe for work
nsfw: not safe for work
otr: off topic rant
gbtw: get back to work
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2005, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/list-of-online-acronyms-abbreviations-etc/289125/11 "2005-02-10T03:39:52Z")
And, of course, [Acronyms (abbreviations?)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=2528) in **ATMB**.