What do BTW, FAQ, FYI, IMHO, RTFM, and other acronyms mean? (2024)

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These are all abbreviations for specific phrases commonly used ininformal written computer correspondence, online forums and boards,and online gaming. Following are some common acronyms and theirmeanings:

AFAIC As far as I'm concerned
AFAIK As far as I know
AFK Away from keyboard
BRB Be right back
BTDT Been there, done that
BTW By the way
BUAG Butt-ugly ASCII graphic
C/C Comments and criticism
EOM End of message
FAQ

Frequently Asked Question(s). When people say "the FAQ", they are generally referring to a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

FTFY

Fixed that for you; often accompanied by a correction

FTW For the win
FWIW For what it's worth
FYI For your information
HTH Hope this helps
IANAL I am not a lawyer
IIRC If I recall correctly
IMHO In my humble opinion
IMNSHO In my not so humble opinion
IMO In my opinion
IOW In other words
l33t or 1337

From "elite". This has become a term used to describe the informal communication of Internet gaming. L33t speak is easily identified by the substitution of number and other characters for regular letters; e.g., hackers becomes h4XX0rz.

LFG

Looking for group, usually used in MMORPGs

LMAO Laughing my butt off
LMGTFYLet me Google that for you
LOL Laughing out loud
MMORPG

Massive multiplayer online role-playing game (e.g., World of Warcraft or Star Wars Galaxies); sometimes shortened to MMO

MOTAS Member of the appropriate sex
MOTOS Member of the opposite sex
MOTSS Member of the same sex
NG Newsgroup
n00b

From "newbie", meaning a newcomer not yet familiar with the rules

NT

No text; usually in the subject line of a message with no body

OMG Oh my God
OTOH On the other hand
PWN

Usage of the term "own", as in "I PWNed you!"

QQ

Cry more, noob (representation of eyes crying, often found in MMORPGs)

RL

Real life, as opposed to the Internet

ROFL Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAO

Rolling on the floor laughing my butt off

RTFM

Read the fine manual. This may be interpreted as: "You have asked a question which would best be answered by consulting the manual (or FAQ, or other help files), a copy of which should be in your possession. The question you have asked is clearly answered in the manual and you are wasting time asking people to read it to you." It's good netiquette to mail this type of answer to another user rather than post it in public messages.

SO

Significant other; used to refer to someone's romantic partner

TBH To be honest
TLA Three letter acronym
TTFN Ta ta for now
TTYL Talk to you later
W/E Whatever
w00t An expression of joy
WFN Wrong forum, noob
WTF What the heck
WYSIWYG

ARCHIVED: What you see is what you get, pronounced as "wizzywig".

YMMH You might mean here
YMMV Your mileage may vary
{g} Grin
{BG} Big grin

This is document adkc in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-09-22 17:53:42.

What do BTW, FAQ, FYI, IMHO, RTFM, and other acronyms mean? (2024)

FAQs

What does the acronym BTW stand for? ›

abbreviation for

by the way: used esp in e-mails, text messages, etc.

What does imho mean? ›

imho. written abbreviation for in my humble opinion: used when you tell someone your opinion, for example in an email.

What does btw mean in a text message? ›

• BTW = by the way. BTW is a commonly used abbreviation used before someone reveals new. information.

What does FYI or FYI mean? ›

In both chat acronyms and in IT acronyms, FYI is the abbreviation for "for your information." It is often used in both personal and business correspondence to show that information is simply being shared and that no immediate action is required or expected.

What does rtf mean? ›

Rich Text Format (RTF) is a file Format that lets you exchange text files between different word processors in different operating systems (OSes). For example, you can create a file in Microsoft Word and then open it in another word processor, such as Apple Pages or Google Docs.

What does IDC mean? ›

"I don't care", in Internet/chat slang.

What does FAQ mean in text? ›

Frequently Asked Question(s). When people say "the FAQ", they are generally referring to a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

What does FTW mean? ›

FTW is an abbreviation of the phrase for the win. For the win is a slang expression that enthusiastically conveys something is excellent or will succeed—it's awesome, the greatest, the best ever.

What does FF's mean in texting? ›

In an email, FF is used to mean friends forever when sending a friendly email to your bosom friend. It's an internet slang you both use to communicate. On Facebook, people use FF to mean “Flashback Friday”, follow Friday just like in the Twitter case, or friends forever.

What does Rizz actually mean? ›

What does it mean? Rizz is short for “charisma,” and it simply means an ability to charm and woo a person. It's pronounced, well, rizz, just like it's spelled. The term found its way into teen slang through TikTok and other social media.

What does OTP mean in texting? ›

"OTP" means "one true pair/pairing," according to Merriam-Webster. The term comes from "shipping" within fandom culture.

What does OGs mean? ›

plural OGs also OG's or O.G.s or O.G.'s. slang. : someone or something that is an original or originator and especially one that is highly respected or regarded.

What does 46 mean in texting? ›

CU46 means see you for sex. CU46 is an internet slang code that conveys plans to have sexual relations.

What does "ofc" mean in text? ›

In texting and internet slang, OFC means “of course.” Sometimes, the F stands for a particularly offensive epithet: of f* * *ing course.

What does WTV mean in text? ›

WTV is short for whatever, and it is used in texting and chat to imply not caring, being bored, or just being uninspired.

What does BWT mean in texting? ›

BWT = but why tho.

What does btwn mean? ›

'btwn' is an abbreviation for the word 'between', meaning in the middle of (as 'between two stitches' or 'between two markers').

What is BT dubs mean? ›

A spoken slang for BTW, meaning "by the way", which. originated on the internet. Rather than say "bee-tee- double-u" out loud, people began saying "bee-tee-dubs", which became "btdubs" when translated back to the.

What does BTS mean in text? ›

In texting, BTS usually stands for be there soon. If you are texting BTS, it means that you are on your way to the specified location and will reach there shortly. In texting, BTS can also be used for slang such as better than sex, back to school, born to sing, born to scheme, between the sheets, and before the storm.

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