IYKYK:
Deciphering the code of acronyms
In a world of messengers and chats, communication has become increasingly condensed. Acronyms are combinations of letters that convey meanings in just a few keystrokes. They’re meant to save time, but having to crack the code of what seems like alphabet soup can end up wasting more time than it could potentially save. We surveyed the nation to find out what the most recognisable acronyms are, along with how they figure in their daily lives. We also enlisted the help of social media listening tools Meltwater and Google Search to find out which acronyms Brits use the most frequently, and which they struggle to decode the most.
No FOMO here, easily understood acronyms
Some acronyms are universal. These are the ones that everyone and their granny can decipher without breaking a sweat. Unsurprisingly, “LOL” (laugh out loud) leads the pack, known by well over half of Brits (64%). Following closely behind this happy sentiment is ATM (at the moment) which 59% of the nation can understand. And in third place is WTF (what the f***) with 56%. The recognisability of these acronyms can be attributed to the fact that they’ve been around a long time, leaking into social media use, text use and online game forums as a result. Even offline conversations. This massively helps with the ability to recognise them at the drop of a hat.
Want to know what the top ten most recognisable acronyms are?
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Acronyms that make you go “WTH”
There are plenty of acronyms that have been on the tips of people’s fingers and tongues for years, and there are also a few that you can kind of work out if you put some brainpower behind it. But there are others that are total head-scratchers. Leading the charge of the least recognisable is TNTL (trying not to laugh) with only 3% of Brits stating they know what it means. Other acronyms that stump the nation are LBR (let’s be real) and SNM (say no more) with recognition rates of 4% and 7% respectively. Their lack of recognition is most likely down to the fact that they are relatively new and have had limited exposure and potentially ambiguous meanings. When you’re not in the know, these abbreviations can feel like trying to understand a different language.
Want to know what the top ten most recognisable acronyms are?
hover over the buttons to find out
Hold on, let me Google that
The English language is ever-evolving and acronyms are no exception to that rule. These confusing mix of letters can pop up in work conversations, chats with friends and scrolling social media. But when the power of deduction fails you, there’s always the trusty internet that has your back. We used Google search data to find out which abbreviations puzzle us the most.
It turns out that SMH (shaking my head) is the winner with around 207,300 monthly searches. This common expression of disapproval or disbelief can be used as a response to annoying or frustrating situations. This versatility means that it can be used on various online platforms and conversations, resulting in wider exposure to the general public. In turn, more and more people then search for clarity on it. Other acronyms that require confirmation are ISTG (I swear to God) and ICL (I can’t lie) with 97,200 and 95,700 monthly searches respectively.
There are a few surprising mentions on the list that have been around for a while. For example, in fourth place is “what does LMAO mean?” with a whopping 81,600 monthly searches. Ironically, it came joint-sixth on the list of most recognisable acronyms with nearly half of the respondents saying they would be able to confidently decipher what it means. But it appears that not everyone got the memo about LMAO (laughing my a*** off).
Rank
Search Phrase
UK Google searches
over 12 months
NRN: when and where to use them
What started as a way to condense online interactions into bite-sized shorthand to save time, can actually have the reverse effect. When you’re not in the know (or able to quickly search for the meaning online) it can be pretty isolating. In fact, a whopping 58% of Brits confess to having misunderstood an acronym at some point. It doesn’t stop at just feeling a little bit silly at not being able to decipher a bunch of strung-together letters – 37% stated that they have felt excluded from a conversation as a result of unfamiliar acronyms. This sense of exclusion extends to the workplace, as only a mere 20% of respondents stated that they feel comfortable using acronyms at work. So, while they have a time and a place (mainly in social media and online conversations), they’re not always welcome in other areas of our lives.
TTFN: what’s hot and what’s not
Like all things, some acronyms have their time in the sun before fading into the background. To find out which acronyms people use the most, we used a social media listening tool. This helped us to see which ones people are using, and which ones are slipping out of daily use. Surprisingly, a common yet vintage abbreviation that is used a lot is TTYL (talk to you later). This concise ending to a conversation has seen a 57% uptick in use over the last 90 days, suggesting that people are keen for others to know that they will be speaking again soon.
On the other hand, one acronym that has seen a decrease in usage is the common greeting HRU (how are you) with a decrease of 32% over the last 90 days. Whether people are skipping this acronym to ask people how they are with full sentences, which can come across as more sincere, or have more time on their hands, it’s not good news for this somewhat confusing abbreviation. It also appears that Brits don’t seem to be thankful that it’s Friday anymore as TGIF (thank God it’s Friday) has also seen a 14% decrease in usage.
Outdated jargon – making way for the new
Like overly padded shoulders in blazers and flared trousers, there are some things that just scream old and outdated, and the English language is not exempt from that. What was once popular in the heyday of SMS texting (where acronyms were used instead of pressing the same button over and over to get to a certain letter and while saving money on texting charges) is now a way to show your age. But what is the biggest red flag? Well, that would be the oh-so classic LOL according to a quarter of Brits. This is flanked by another laughing expression LMAO and the modern version of ‘carpe diem’, YOLO (you only live once) in joint-second place with 20%.
These tied-second place abbreviations are especially noticeable for people who fall into Gen-Z (12-27-years old) as 49% and 35% of them said YOLO and LMAO respectively are considered ‘vintage’ acronyms. Other popular acronyms that made the ‘old list’ include ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing) (31%) and FOMO (fear of missing out) (26%). While there are some acronyms that are outdated, it can feel like it’s impossible to keep up with how quickly new abbreviations pop up, so it’s important to use the ones that you feel comfortable using.
Glossary: use this, not that
If you want to keep up with the kids and stay in the know when it comes to the latest and greatest acronyms, we’re here to help. We took the most results from Gen-Z for the most outdated acronyms and paired them up with a newer, more hip version to use so you can speak their language.
If you’d use this
Why not use this instead
YOLO
(you only live once)
DIFTP
(Do it for the plot)
KK
Bet
LMAO
(laughing my a*** off)
IJBOL
(I just burst out laughing)
ROFL
(rolling on the floor laughing)
Skull emoji
GR8 (Great)
That slaps
Diss
Clapback
Fire
Lit
Gross
Ick
OMG (oh my God)
High 5 emoji
411
Tea
Cray
Delulu
