Acronyms are abbreviations, usually in capitals, which have been used on email, mailing lists, echomail and other Internet communication methods since the early 1990s. While there are individual abbreviations relating to specific topics, developed by particular mailing lists, the following is a broad list of some of the most commonly used acronyms, including those in British home education circles.
For a dictionary of 'smilies' (those sideways faces which are created mainly from punctuation symbols) see my smilie page.
| AAMOF | as a matter of fact |
| ADN | any day now |
| AFAIK | as far as I know |
| ATB | all the best |
| ATSL | along the same lines |
| AWGTHTGTTA? | are we going to have to go through this again? |
| BBS | bulletin board system/ be back soon |
| BCNU | be seeing you |
| BFN | bye for now |
| BIL | brother-in-law |
| BTDTGTTS | been there, done that, got the tee-shirt |
| BTW | by the way |
| BWs | best wishes |
| CU | see you.. |
| CUL8R | see you later |
| DD | dear/darling daughter |
| DH | dear/darling husband |
| DIIK | dogged if I know |
| DS | dear/darling son |
| DW | dear/darling wife |
| EMFBI | excuse me for butting in.. |
| FFATS | friends forever and then some! |
| FIL | father-in-law |
| FITB | fill in the blank |
| FWIW | for what it's worth |
| FYI | for your information |
| G or g | grin |
| GD&R | grinning, ducking & running |
| GIWIST | gee, I wish I'd said that |
| GWTIE | grin with twinkle in eye |
| HE | home education |
| HS | home-school |
| HTB | hug that bear! |
| HTH | hope that helps (or have to hurry) |
| IC | I see |
| IHS | in His service |
| IITYWISWYBMAD | If I tell you what it says, will you buy me a drink? |
| IMCO | In ny considered opinion |
| IMEAO | In my entirely arrogant opinion |
| IMHO | in my humble opinion |
| IMNSHO | in my not so humble opinion |
| IMO | in my opinion |
| IOW | in other words |
| ISHBAB | I should have bought a book |
| ITSFWI | If the shoe fits, wear it |
| IYKWIM | if you know what I mean |
| IYSWIM | if you see what I mean |
| JOOC | just out of curiosity |
| KHYF | know how you feel |
| KWIM? | know what I mean? |
| L8R | later |
| LEA | Local Education Authority (UK) |
| LOL | lots of laughter, laughing out loud, or lots of love |
| LTNT | long time no talk |
| MD | middle daughter |
| MIL | mother-in-law |
| MS | middle son (or multiple sclerosis) |
| MPOV | my point of view |
| NTYMI | now that you mention it |
| OD | older/oldest daughter |
| OIC | oh, I see |
| OOTQ | out of the question |
| OS | older/oldest son |
| OT | off topic |
| OTOH | on the other hand |
| OTTOMH | off the top of my head |
| PMFJI | pardon me for jumping in |
| PMJI | pardon my jumping in |
| POV | point of view |
| PPTSPAHS | please pass the salt, pepper, and hot sauce |
| ROTFL | rolling on the floor laughing |
| ROTFLANSC | rolling on the floor laughing and nearly squashing the cat |
| ROTFLBT | rolling on the floor laughing big time |
| ROTFLMHO | rolling on the floor laughing my heart out (or my head off) |
| RSN | really soon now |
| RTFP | read the fine print |
| SIL | sister-in-law |
| SOW | speaking of which |
| TANJ | there ain't no justice |
| TANSTAAFL | there ain't no such thing as a free lunch |
| TANSTAASQ | there ain't no such thing as a stupid question |
| TCS | taking children seriously |
| TFTHAOT | thanks for the help ahead of time |
| TIA | thanks in advance |
| TOBAL | there oughta be a law |
| TOBG | this oughta be good |
| TPTB | the powers that be |
| TTBOMK | to the best of my knowledge |
| TTFN | ta-ta for now |
| TTYL | talk to you later |