Don't let those strange text message and email acronyms scare you. Here is a list of the most common jargon terms and text abbreviations for 2011:
Image Source / Getty Images"AFK" is "Away from Keyboard". AFK is used in live chatting to advise people that you will not be responding for the few minutes as you will be away from the computer. AFK is commonly used with a descriptor like "afk bio" (you are going to the washroom), or "afk phone" (you are answering a phone call)
Stockbyte / Getty Images"HMU" is "Hit Me Up". This acronym is used to say "contact me", "text me", "phone me" or otherwise "reach me to follow up on this". It is a modern shorthand way to invite a person to communicate with you further.
IcanHazcheezburger.comWTF stands for 'What the F*ck', a phrase to express dismay or shock. WTF is regularly used to curse publicly without actually uttering profanities. In modern Internet messaging, 'WTF' will often start a statement around something that is unbelievable. It is also used to end a statement where the user wants to express dismay, surprise, or confusion.
Photodisc / Getty ImagesBe right back. This is used by people in text messaging, chat, and online gaming to say that they are leaving their keyboard for a minute. It is very similar to saying 'AFK'.
PhotoAlto Agency / Getty Images"TTYL" is "Talk to You Later". This is internet shorthand for saying "goodbye for now" or "we'll talk again soon". Like most internet acronyms, the expression is not suitable for initial business dealings. Instead, TTYL is best used in personal email and personal online chatting, or in those special circumstances where your business acquaintance has become a friend.
Photodisc / Getty Images"W/E" is "whatever". You will see the same expression spelled as "w/e", "WE", "whutever" and "wutever". It is used a dismissive response to a statement that is disagreeable, but not worth arguing over. W/E indicates that the person is not interested in debating the topic any further.
Photographer's Choice / Getty Images"ROFL" is the common acronym jargon expression for laughter. It stands for
Rolling on Floor, Laughing. You will also see variations like LOL (Laughing Out Loud), and ROFLMAO (Rolling on Floor, Laughing My Ass Off).
Photographer's Choice / Getty ImagesIn my humble opinion
. This expression is used to demonstrate humility while making a suggestion or posing an argument online. IMHO is also spelled in all lowercase as imho. It is identical to the expression JMHO/jmho (just my humble opinion).
Flickr / Getty ImagesOh my god!. This is a common expression of dismay and surprise. It is a more-polite way of saying WTF (what the f*ck).
"RL" and "IRL" are the slang acronyms for "Real Life" / "In Real Life". It is used to reference "my other responsibilities" or "what I do when I am not on the computer". RL is a common expression amongst groups of people who spend significant online time together: IM chat buddies, online gamers, people who work on virtual teams.
