Filed under Just For Kids on October 15th, 2008:

Everything You Need to Know about Texting

Do you hate the abbreviations that people use in their text messages because you have no idea what they mean? While you’re trying to respond to a message, does your friend text you within seconds asking why you haven’t responded yet? Not everyone is accustomed to texting, and that’s ok because below are ways to improve your texting skills.

a picture of a person texting on their phone

Photo by: Tim Caynes

Text Abbreviations

If you want to be able to text your friends without feeling clueless, you should check out some of the common text message abbreviations below:

LOL – Laugh out loud or lots of love
Tom or 2morro – tomorrow
BTW – By the Way
ILY – I love you
IRL – In real life
NP – No problem
L8R – Later
PLS – Please
THX – Thanks
IDK – I don’t know
ROTFL – Rolling on the floor laughing
STBY – Sucks to be you
WTH – What the heck

Single Letters and Numbers

Sometimes you’ll find a single letter or number that stands for a whole word like the following:

2 – Two, to, or too
R – Are
4 – Four or for
U – You
y – why
? – why or question
C – see
B – be

a picture of a phone with a new message

Photo by: Michael Negus

For Parents

A lot of parents are clueless about the whole instant messaging phenomena. Most kids spend a good deal of time texting and instant messaging on the internet or their phones. And, they’re using abbreviations in their texts that you aren’t familiar with. Check out the top text abbreviations that parents should know when reviewing their child’s texts or instant messages.

And, if you’re really worried about it, you can disable texts on their phones. Just check with your service provider to block text usage for their numbers and they won’t be able to receive or send texts. Also, keep your family computer in a common space in your Fayetteville home so you can monitor their online chating.

How to Text Faster

If you can’t text fast enough to keep up with your friend’s messages, try the following things to increase your texting speed

Use the predictive text function on your phone.
Learn how to use abbreviations so you don’t have to tap so many keys.
Your phone will allow you to store common phrases you use as templates for fast responses.
If you can’t handle the 9 keypad texting, get a phone with a full keypad.

To learn more about texting and common text abbreviations and phrases, check out the Webopedia page on text messaging.