Abbreviations

[Nightmare85]

Hi my friends,
I would like to discuss that topic with you.

Nowadays it's pretty common to use abbreviations.
Instead of "In my opinion" people just write "IMO".
To be honest: I really dislike this kind of writing.
When we write letters, articles, etc., we won't use such abbreviations.
(At least I wouldn't.)

Anyway, I saw that the forum automatically underlines such "words" as IMO.
It's a good idea and I was thinking:
Would it be possible that the forum automatically rewrites the words?
You type IMO in your reply box and when you preview or create the post, it gets converted.
Somehow like a word filter that converts insults into ****.
(Not available here as far as I know [AFAIK ].)

What do you think?

Cheers!

[Route21]

Hi Nightmare85

If you hover with your mouse over IMO, the system generates a question mark and the full version (in my opinion) appears alongside on the screen.

I believe that is a reasonable response.

Regards
R21

[Nightmare85]

Hi Route21,

Thank you for your answer.
However, I was aware of that.
I just thought it would be even better to replace the whole word, not just to underline it.

P.S. With "Anyway, I saw that the forum automatically underlines such "words" as IMO." I already meant that what you said.

Cheers!

[Barb_D]

I don't object to things like IMO or FWIW the way I detest (and that's not too strong a word) people who write "now datz da trut! m nt gonna do sumptin like dat 4 ne1!" or even the more innocent "wazzup h r u?"

[Red5]

AFWIW, how would you deal with questions about the abbreviated forms? It would be impossible to write a post asking about the meaning of 'BTW'...?

[Route21]

I don't object to things like IMO or FWIW the way I detest (and that's not too strong a word) people who write "now datz da trut! m nt gonna do sumptin like dat 4 ne1!" or even the more innocent "wazzup h r u?"

I wouldn't (normally) use such urban English in the context of this forum.

I do, however, send almost daily international SMS's (sometimes even more frequently). As a result, I need to squeeze as much information into a single message as possible and will always use abbreviations such as 2, 4, 2day, 2mrw, RU OK, gr8 etc. in SMS's.

My favourite one, as SMS doesn't do real "smileys" is "555" (the Thai word for 5 is "Ha")!

Regards
R21

PS Nightmare - it doesn't just underline it, it gives you the full version in an adjacent balloon - which should be enough for anyone who doesn't recognise the abbreviation.

[freezeframe]

I wouldn't (normally) use such urban English in the context of this forum.

I do, however, send almost daily international SMS's (sometimes even more frequently). As a result, I need to squeeze as much information into a single message as possible and will always use abbreviations such as 2, 4, 2day, 2mrw, RU OK, gr8 etc. in SMS's.

Since they're used widely on the Internet and in other forms of electronic communication, the abbreviations could actually be useful to know for learners. They are on the Internet, after all.

[Route21]

Hi freezeframe

Do you have an appropriate link?

Thanks
R21

[Red5]

How's this one: http://www.usingenglish.com/members/...Chatlish&ltr=A

[Route21]

Very many thanks, Red, for the great link.
I've also made a few suggestions for additions.
Regards
R21

PS I've just noticed that not all of the abbreviations included in Chatlish are underlined in posts (even harmless ones such as FWIW in Barb_D's post). Should more of the Chatlish items be linked in?