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Common Instant Messaging Abbreviations

If you are going to use an instant messaging tool, no matter at home or at work, you need to know the lingo. Sure, you will write in “normal English” most of the time but there are also many abbreviations that you can use. And of course, even if you don’t use them you need to know what they are so that you can understand others.

Here are some of the more commonly used instant messaging abbreviations:

? – I have a question
LOL – Laugh out loud
NE1 – Anyone
NP – No problem
NVM – Never mind
OMW – On my way
OP – On Phone
OTW – Off to work
PLS/PLZ – Please
CU – See you

Of course, these are only some of the commonly used instant messaging abbreviations. There are hundreds that are used from time to time, but the ones above are those that you are most likely to run into in a work environment. For instance, if you receive an IM but are on the phone with a client, you can quickly type “OP” to let the other person know what you are doing. This is much easier than writing out “I am on the phone.”

You may or may not want to use these abbreviations when communicating with coworkers. Some of them will know what they mean, but others may have no clue. Use your best judgment when deciding whether or not to use these common abbreviations.

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