Regular SMS, Facebook or chat users will recognize some of the Twitter abbreviations as those used on other online platforms. Others, however, are unique to Twitter and form their own Twitter lingo. The Twitter terminology below is mainly comprised of those abbreviations unique to the program but also those that every Twitter user should know.
The Twitter Abbreviation RT
First things first – by far the most common abbreviation on Twitter is the term RT for retweet. That means forwarding someone else’s tweet or message. This can be done just with the prefix RT @username or with a personal comment regarding the content of the tweet, for example “Cool stuff! RT @TwitterUser Check out this green website: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com”.
According to Twitter etiquette, it is best to retweet the source rather than various Twitter users who have already forwarded a tweet. The chain RT @username RT @username or even longer, for example, should be avoided. It is also possible to forward a tweet without using the RT tag - one can simply resend the message and credit the sender at the end using "via", for example: "[message] (via @TwitterUser)".
Common Twitter Terms
Compared to users of other online applications, Twitter users seem to use fewer abbreviations and acronyms and prefer to keep their messages to the point while spelling out most words. There are, however, a few crucial Twitter-related abbreviations, listed below. For more, visit the Twitter dictionary.
- DM – direct message, direct messaging; for example D @username
- FF – Follow Friday, usually preceded by a hashtag: #FF
- RTHX – RT thanks
- TMB – tweet me back
Useful Abbreviations and Acronyms for Daily Twitter Use
Frequent senders of SMSes and users of chat rooms and other online platforms will have an advantage when using Twitter as many of the abbreviations are the same. But even those new to Twitter and social media will soon talk like a Twitter pro with the following list of the most useful Twitter abbreviations:
- AFAIK – as far as I know
- b/c, bcz or cuz – because
- BFN – bye for now
- EM – email
- fav/fave – favorite
- FB – Facebook
- FML - … my life (the first word most often interpreted as a four-letter one)
- FTF or F2F – face to face
- FWD – forward
- GN – good night
- HT – hat tip
- HTH – hope that helps
- IIRC – if I remember correctly
- IRL – in real life
- J/K – just kidding
- LI – LinkedIn
- NP – no problem
- OH – overheard
- TY – thank you
- TYVM – thank you very much
- YW – you’re welcome
Regardless if one uses Twitter to promote a product, stay in touch with friends, follow a certain topic or just for fun, keeping it short is key when twittering or tweeting. Common Twitter abbreviations and acronyms help do just that and it really takes no time to master Twitter lingo.
Attwicted yet? Here’s more about Twitter’s beginnings and a basic Twitter vocabulary. Or how about Decoding Text Messaging Lingo or essential keyboard shortcuts?
Simone Preuss - Simone is a freelance writer, editor and translator who decided to go solo after a successful career in publishing. That was more than ...
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