Mobile Phone Texting Abbreviations

If you want to chat rooms and instant messenger programs, chances are you're already familiar with the abbreviations SMS, perhaps without knowing it! There is not much difference between the two, although some people text abbreviations more "acceptable" if you have a full keyboard and more space than a text message can be at your fingertips. There are several ways to shorten individual words, phrases an acronym isolated, and even show some emotions with symbols.

Common Texting Abbreviations
You can feasibly string whole sentences together with texting abbreviations. You can substitute letter/number combinations for words or use a few symbols to say you're sorry, you're smiling, or you're afraid or shocked.
 

Words
Even with a one word answer, you can still shorten your message to make your reply more quickly, especially if you're trying to text at a red light before it changes to green or you're standing in line at the check-out counter.

411: Information

2: To/too

4: For

2MOR/TMR: Tomorrow
6Y: Sexy
PPL: People
BF/GF: Boyfriend/Girlfriend
B4: Before
BC or B/C: Because
L8R: Later
L8: Late
Y: Why/Yes
PLS: Please
UR: Your/You're
U: You
W/O: Without
TY/TNX: Thank you/Thanks
I: Eye
C: See/sea
BZ: Busy
SRY: Sorry
 

Phrases
An abbreviation can be worth a thousand words. Okay, maybe not quite a thousand, but more than you'd think! Here are a few examples:

•     ?: The question mark can mean that you have a question or that you don't understand the last text from that individual. Another way to express the "I have a question" line is "?4U."

•     If you spend any time online, you've probably seen <3 or <33. This is a sideways heart, which means love or friendship. More threes mean more love.

•     2GTBT: Too good to be true

•     TMI: Too much information

•     ^^: Read the earlier message/message above

•     .02: My two cents

•     ILY: I love you

•     ^5: High five

•     4EAE: Forever and ever

•     AAMOF: As a matter of fact

•     WTH?: What the heck?

•     ADAD: Another day, another dollar

•     AYS: Are you serious?

•     BIF: Before I forget

•     BHL8: Be home late

•     RU/RUOK?: Are you/Are you okay?

•     BOL: Best of luck

•     OMG: Oh my goodness

•     LOL: Laughing out loud

•     TTYL: Talk to you later

•     BTW: By the way

•     @TEOTD: At the end of the day

•     4COL: For crying out loud

•     CYE: Check your email

•     TAU: Thinking about you

•     TAM: Tomorrow a.m.

•     DQMOT: Don't quote me on this

•     DTS: Don't think so

•     TCOY: Take care of yourself

•     TBL: Text back later

•     TMOT: Trust me on this

•     THT: Think happy thoughts

Emoticons

Sometimes words just aren't enough, and texting abbreviations for words definitely won't get the message across. That's when emoticons come in. They're pictures or facial expressions done in symbols to convey feelings and emotions you're feeling when you're at a loss for words. Some cell phones have menus that include a few emoticons. If not, you can text your own anyway.

    :) / :-) / :-D Smile variations (tilt your head sideways)

    :| Mad, grim

    :-X Kiss

    @}->->--- Rose (there are other similar variations of this one)

    =8-0 Frightened

    <<…>> or (((…))) Hug, but replace the ellipsis with the person's name