I’m a long-winded SOB…..so twitter frequently doesn’t give me enough elbow room to do my wordsmithing (or add comments to a RT, etc.). So, I butcher English instead and abbreviate the heck out of everything I can. @PRDude is also a frequent violator, perhaps even more extreme in his abbrs than me.
This, as you might imagine, frequently causes confusion and apparently a productivity loss with some (sorry Arik!). It has also inspired some fun mockery & an odd flrry o disc. on whthr this pst itslf shld be wrttn in Cog-esse.
& So, w/o further butchering, the “Basic Guide” (post may be updated as I’m reminded of other abbrvs. Advanced guide e-book available for $19.95, with a mini book light included with your credit card order 😉
Basic Rules
Go with accepted abbreviations:
- WSJ (Wall Street Journal);
- NYT (NY Times);
- State abbreviations (remember, Missouri is MO, not MI; MI is Michigan; not Mississippi; which is actually MS — not Missouri);
- w/ (with);
- w/o (without);
- PRC (PR Cog) [that is an accepted abbreviation, yes?)
- WTF
- WTH
- Eff (tho writing this one out can feel better)
Write it like it sounds, or should/would sound:
- Tho (Though)
- 2 (To/Too/Two–context helps)
- Thru (Through/Threw)
- NE1 (Anyone/any one)
- U (You)
- U’r (You’re)
- Ur (Your)
- L8 (Late)
- c8r (cater)
- Caveats – Abbreviations that make it look like you have a 3rd grade education are NOT acceptable — e.g., never use “Rite” for Write or Right. “Rt” is acceptable for Right. Wood for Would is a no-go, but Wld for would is fine (see below); Abbreviating names w/ phonics is frowned upon, go with initials if necessary. [UPDATE: As @tjdietderich points out RT maybe can be confused for a Retweet. Context is important]
The Apostrophe is your friend — when your meaning is clear
- G’Morning (Good Morning) [It does help if they’re southern expressions]
- G’day (Good Day)
- M’dear (My dear)
- M’Goodness (you see where this is going…)
Drop your vowels — at least 1 language I know of doesn’t use vowels (above school grade writing). Sound/Meaning is derived from context and the approximate sound
- Mrkt (market)
- twttr (Twitter)
- Dsk (desk or disk depending on context)
- Abt (About)
- Trn (turn)
- Arnd (around)
- The lst is endlss
- Caveat(s) — Do not drop a vowel when it will make a different word – “they” cannot become “thy.”
That covers the basics for ‘Butchering English to fit in 140 chars or less’ during ur lnch hrs — more &/or updts l8r as they bcome req’d or cm 2 my attn. 😛
Funny, sad, true…Oh my….
Rt = right? Wouldn't people think you meant retweet?
IMNVSFU.
(I am envious of you.)
haha, awesome 🙂
Congrats on this being in PR Daily btw!
I hve strted 2 spk in tweet & write emails w ur butcherin style #sadday. If I cld only fnd way to use hashtag in daily convo, I’d b goldn.
@jeannevb
Hmmm Just saw #3 above: IMNVSFU… cld be acronym of smthg else ha