We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. In most cases, though, its just a witty acknowledgment that a small chunk of text is easier to digest than a large wall of text. ), itsnot often used kindly and carries an air of condescension. Given that this abbreviation is here to stay, you might as well add it to your list of quick-witted, snarky responses to use when someone is totally dragging you down with their boring internet content. If you know someone well and it is a personal and informal communication, then absolutely use abbreviations. If you are looking for something to use in a bulleted list, words like takeaway and overview will do the trick as well. NSFW stands for Not Safe For Work. It translates to that feel/feeling when, and its most commonly used in association with visual images that represent how someone is feeling, like these work-from-home memes. But like any abbreviation, theres a time and a place for it; there are different etiquette rules for formal and less formal situations. FOMO means fear of missing out. FOMO is what you feel when you see your BFFs (thats best friends forever, or so you thought, apparently) out partying, and you werent invited (or simply couldnt make it). What does S/U mean? Wikipedia. Use it as a summary for people who have scrolled to the bottom of a piece without taking in the relevant. Most people know to check the bottom of a post for a TLDR summary, so it's usually best to do this. Commonly found over on Reddit, TL;DR is abbreviation of 'too long; didn't read' and is often used to introduce the main points For example, if someone posts a long, detailed description of a problem they're having and someone else responds with "TLDR," they're saying that the original person's writing is too long and they didn't read it. You can use it earnestly, as in Dont worry about being a few minutes late, its NBD!or not so earnestly. It isnt an accusation that you didnt read; its a helpful summary meant to improve communication. The meaning is quite close to 'executive summary'. Its a little argumentative, but useful when you need to say things like, IIRC, you promised me so much more. TLDR can be used to express that a text is too long, identify a short summary of a long text, or ask for a summary of a long text. Lisa Mildon is a Lifewire writer and an IT professional with 30 years of experience. It is also used as a signifier for a summary of an online post or news article. Its based off the Internet slang tl;dr, which stands for too long; didnt read. The expression is often used for short summaries of long posts. TLDR is far from the only acronym you should know. Today, you can find TL;DR posts and comments all over social media, computer help forums, texts, and emails. Its likely the word first originated in forums and chat rooms that ruled the internet in the early 2000s. This is perhaps the most ubiquitous texting acronym. TLDR stands for too long; didn't read. Next time your co-worker uploads a six-paragraph status about the condition of her daily reports, try commenting TLDR, but I hope you get it all done! Writers also often try to get ahead of TLDR, too. Today, youll see it used in sentences like, OMG, can you believe how hot it is today? Its older and most proper form is TL;DR, which includes a semicolon between the L and D. Summary of Key Points Too Long; Didnt Read is the most common definition for TLDR on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. summarily. In other words, TL;DR says if the text was too long and you didnt read it all, this is what it was about. Its great if you are scanning a long post and just want the main points. The pager would light up and/or make noise to indicate that youd been hit up. The phrase was all over the 90s hip-hop sphere, and it stuck around when texting abbreviations began to dominate: HMU became the prevailing way to say it in the late 2000s. TLDR is an acronym that stands for Too Long Didnt Read. TLDR is commonly used to summarize lengthy content and can signal a sort of executive summary at the start of news articles or emails. It probably has no paragraph separation and contains loads of run-on sentences. If you see someone posting a funny image of a cat lounging with sunglasses captioned something like TFW youre off of work for a long weekend, know that its one of the funny text abbreviations that people are using these days. Whens the last time you heard someone say all three words, too much information? Alice Kelly is a senior news and entertainment editor for YourTango. You can certainly use this one innocuously in pop culture debates: IMO, Thanoss plan was better in Infinity Warthan in Endgame. IMHO is a variation meaning in my humble opinion. With the addition of almost-always-sarcastic humility, IMHO is usually a little edgier, as it were. Merriam-Websters dictionary, which accepted the word in 2018, says the term began in 2002 but has no evidence to support this claim. Who has time to text out estimated time of arrival?! An acronym is an abbreviation made up of initials that you can pronounce, like NATO. Along this same line, writers sometimes include a TLDR at the top or bottom of their web article, email, or text message. It has its origins in internet and email slang, where it is used to indicate parts of a text were skipped as too lengthy to read. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Take a look at our list of internet slang and abbreviations to study up on more, like what TBH means. If youve seen this in the comments section of a social media post or worse, had someone send this to you after you DMed them a heartfelt, personal message youve probably found yourself wondering what the heck TLDR means. Not to mention, beforekeyboard phones, you had to press the number corresponding with the letter you wantedenough times for that letter to appear. This could look like, TL;DR: Kids made a huge mess, and Im going to be late.. All Rights Reserved. GOAT, almost always preceded by the, means greatest of all time. An acronym thats been all over social media, GOAT can be used to praise a friend (Did you see Michelles fitness routine? How do you respond? No, it isnt rude. Learn a new word every day. Hit me up is an expression that might even need further explanation once you know what the letters stand for. TLDR is mainly used in internet forums, such as Reddit. After earning a degree in Computer Information Systems, Ben left his IT job to write full-time in 2016 and has never looked back. TLDR means: Too Long; Didn't Read You open a lengthy social media post, an article, or a text message and see a separate section titled TLDR (or TL;DR), along with a summary of the post. Sarah Vincent is an assistant editor for Readers Digest, covering digital lifestyle stories. When someone doesn't want to or can't take the time to read a post, an article, a book, or something else, they might ask someone else for a TLDR. Try using it with a smiling selfie like TFW dinner came out even better than I imagined., Have you heard someone say they were sliding into someones DMs and thought, Sliding into their what now? DM is short for direct message. More directly related to social media than to texting, DMs refer to the private messaging option on apps like Twitter and Instagram. What Does 'TLDR' Mean? It isnt a condemnationits a friendly summary to help you follow along with what was said. What Is a PEM File and How Do You Use It? What Does SMH Mean and How to Use It in Texting, Cool story, bro (indicates a story was boring or pointless). How do you use TLDR in a sentence? TL;DR stands for "Too Long; Didn't Read". It is much smarter to err on the side of being too professional at first, and then relax your communication over time organically. If it doesn't work for you, Chrome has other options, such as TL;DR. Ordering a pizza when you should be ordering a salad? Download: TLDR This for Chrome | Firefox (Free). TL;DR is best used in personal texting, email, online chatting, or if a business acquaintance has become a friend. TL;DR (also sometimes seen without the semicolon as TLDR) means too long; didnt read. Its an abbreviation that youll frequently find at the end of internet communications, usually ones with a lot of text. Initially it was used as a snarky reply to someone who'd posted a wall of text; then it became a way of signposting the summary of a long post, provided for the purposes of people who would otherwise say tldr and skip it. Of course, you lose out on some of the finer details by only checking the TLDR. Suggest. But if you're not in the know, they end up being more confusing than anything. Plus, typing just with thumbs isnt quite the speedy process that typing on a traditional keyboard is. For example, youll find it at the end of a Reddit post in which somebody is telling a story that goes on for longer than a few lines. You can replace TL;DR with any terms that signify a summary or final overview. Paul Gil is a tech expert, writer, and educator known for his dynamic internet and database courses and articles. Its for people who have such an aversion to words that they have come up with an abbreviation that prevents them from having to interact with their own vocabulary. Several of them are outdated, and none are wildly popular, but they're worth a look if you love summaries. When using TLDR as a commenter, your job is very simple. Abbreviation to define. Most of the time, the OP includes the TLDR summary either at the end or beginning of the post. YOLO! is too long to be worth reading. Emilie Dunphy / Lifewire Examples of TL;DR Usage It's a kinder way of . It's commonly used online to indicate that a piece of writing is too long and people aren't interested in reading it. If your friend of a friend shares every last detail of their bout of food poisoning on the socials, the simple three-letter response TMI! says it all. In fact, the Oxford English Dictionary tracked its earliest recorded use to a letter written in 1917! Why do people say TLDR? I havent been able to keep up with this thread (TLDR). TLDR Dates Back to the Early 2000s As of right now, the earliest recorded use of TLDR (then spelled TL;DR) dates back to January of 2003, when it was added to Urban Dictionary. But what does TLDR mean, how do you use it, and where did it come from? condensation. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. Take Screenshot by Tapping Back of iPhone, Pair Two Sets of AirPods With the Same iPhone, Download Files Using Safari on Your iPhone, Turn Your Computer Into a DLNA Media Server, Control All Your Smart Home Devices in One App. TL;DR (also sometimes seen without the semicolon as TLDR) means "too long; didn't read." It's an abbreviation that you'll frequently find at the end of internet communications, usually ones with. This internet slang term is often used on forum sites like Reddit at the end of a long post. TL;DR (also sometimes seen without the semicolon as TLDR) means too long; didnt read. Its an abbreviation that youll frequently find at the end of internet communications, usually ones with a lot of text. GetReaders DigestsRead Up newsletterfor more humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long. Now that you know what TLDR stands for, let's look at the meaning of TLDR. Now that you know these text abbreviations, make sure to brush up on proper texting etiquettetoo. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), This Hydrating Hand Sanitizer Sells Every 6 SecondsHeres Why, Word Power Vocabulary Quiz: Words with Accent Marks, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. (It is, admittedly, used less courteously, but we prefer when authors use it as a way to summarize longer posts.). Rather than referring to physical violence, hit me up simply means contact me or call me. It dates back to the days of pagers in the 1990s, when people would send phone numbers to each other via one-way message. TL;DR!". So TL;DR, it's used tp sum up long posts. The PoshCode tldr module is a collection of simplified and community-driven example pages to help you quickly the the gist of commands.. What does tldr mean? Printer friendly. BTW, while most of these are textingabbreviationsor initialisms, GOAT is a texting acronymwhats the difference between abbreviation vs. acronym vs. initialism? ! Its a pretty catch-all exclamation or reaction. FTFY: This is a cute acronym that pays homage to the community mindset on Reddit. TBH, tuna casserole is not my fave. Still, we cant guarantee that text abbreviations will soften the blow. Lucky for you, here are a few slightly less passive-aggressive ways to use the term. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. The primary function of TLDR is to provide a summary of a longer post that people can read instead of the entire content. Our best guess is that the phrase originated from discussion boards like the Something Awful Forums and 4Chan during the early 2000s. Even if it can sound a little brusque, thats not really what TL;DR means! In text, TLDR means the same thing: that the wall of text messages was too long and you didn't read it. Jack Kelly You can see that use of the word TLDR has far exceeded TL;DR since 2004, which is why weve dropped the semi-colon for most of this article. The meaning of RELATIONSHIP is the state of being related or interrelated. What Does IANAD Mean, and How Do I Use It? To summarize, TLDR lets you provide a small summary of a post online or request one from the original poster. 2 informal : a briefly expressed main point or key message that summarizes a longer discussion or explanation The TL;DR of all this, of course, is that you can't actually "disappear" from the Internet, even if you're a famous band. This shorthand term is one of many internet slang terms that you might see on social media platforms or discussion forums like Reddit. Unlike most internet acronyms, TLDR (or TL;DR) has found its way into news articles, professional emails, and evenMerriam-Websters Dictionary. You can replace TL;DR with any terms that signify a summary or final overview. The original post isn't particularly long, though it is poorly formatted. Where is the Savannah River nuclear plant? People use it to indicate that the text is simply too long for them to consider, so they're not going to read it. The logical response to ty, YW or yw means youre welcome. In a similar vein, NP or np means no problem. NP, though, can respond to an apology just as well as thanks: Im going to be a few minutes late tonight! NP.. Break up your paragraphs so there's not too much in any of them. It is commonly used online to indicate that someone has not read a long message or article. Meghan graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2017; her creative nonfiction piece Anticipation was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Angles literary magazine. As of right now, the earliest recorded use of TLDR (then spelled TL;DR) dates back to January of 2003, when it was added to Urban Dictionary. It looks fancier than the basic TLDR, and its accepted as a word by Websters Dictionary. It's fine to use when chatting with coworkers privately, but you probably don't want to use it in a department-wide email. too long; didnt read One is TL;DC. TLDR Meaning. (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20&cid=877050e7-52c9-4c33-a20b-d8301a08f96d'; cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: "38cf8a01-c7b4-4a61-a61b-8c0be6528f20" }).render("6ea159e3e44940909b49c98e320201e2"); }); The abbreviation is usually used two different ways: with a long section of text, to sum up what comes before or after it, or insteadof a long section of text, to convey the main takeaways of what a larger text would express. TLDR Meaning . If what you wrote doesn't really need a summary, then don't include it. SMH means shaking my head, which is what were all doing at least half the time we scroll through our Facebook newsfeeds and see crazy political rants from long-lost relatives. In cases where you can't avoid a large amount of text, you can still format it to make it easy to read. But like any abbreviation, theres a time and a place for it; there are different etiquette rules for formal and less formal situations. TLDR is an acronym that stands for "too long, didn't read." In a professional setting, you dont want to be the person who has to ask what does FWIW mean? Likewise, you dont want to embarrass others by forcing them to ask what does TL;DR mean?Even though TL;DR isnt rude, its better email etiquette to avoid it in formal settings. You've likely seen her work across a variety of women's lifestyle and parenting outlets and on TV shows. In a professional setting, you dont want to be the person who has to ask what does FWIW mean? Likewise, you dont want to embarrass others by forcing them to ask what does TL;DR mean?Even though TL;DR isnt rude, its better email etiquette to avoid it in formal settings. Which means that the best way to avoid unwanted digital traces may be simply to never make them. It means in real life (as opposed to online or over the phone), and is great for saying things like Would love to see you soon IRL! Were probably sending a lot of texts like this lately as things start to open up post-lockdown! AndrewHeinzman writes for How-To Geek and Review Geek. TL;DW, meanwhile, stands for too long; didn't watch. That's certainly the case with the TLDR acronym, as many have wondered what TLDR is. One moose, two moose. What is SSH Agent Forwarding and How Do You Use It? A wall of text does not (or should not) simply mean a long post. While #FOMO can be a facetious comment on a post like that, its also recognized as a genuine mental health issue in our social media-driven age. It was 70 years ago that poet W.H. What does S/U mean? There's nothing wrong with a lot of well-formatted text that isn't overly wordy. 2023 LifeSavvy Media. (TLDR) Additionally, TLDR has grown to be a noun and not just an abbreviation. Browse our full collection of internet abbreviations! How TLDR Is Used If someone types TL;DR, they might be requesting a summary of . It's based off the Internet slang "tl;dr," which stands for "too long; didn't read." The expression is often used for short summaries of long posts. Youve definitely seen this one all over the Internet and via text, but what does it even mean? But words and phrases can change depending on their context, and TLDR is no exception. Its older and most proper form is TL;DR, which includes a semicolon between the L and D. You might also see the TLDR acronym written as TL/DR or TL/DNR, which stands for did not read. What Does FOMO Mean, and How Do You Use It? Add exclamation points and laugh/crying face emojis as you please. If messaging in a professional context with someone at work, or with a customer or vendor outside your company, avoid abbreviations altogether. The abbreviation OMG, for oh my God (or gosh, or goodness, or your expression of choice) vastly predates texting. Sarah Vincent is an assistant editor for Readers Digest, covering digital lifestyle stories. Internet acronyms help you save effort by not having to type out common phrases all the time. TL;DR is best used in personal texting, email, online chatting, or if a business acquaintance has become a friend. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! While people overuse this term, its proper meaning is a long and rambling block of text with little to no formatting. Sometimes just having a TLDR can signal that you know you've written too much and it could have been shortened. Next time you see your cousin upload a muffin-baking video that ruins Grandmas recipe, you can definitely comment Youre not supposed to put that much baking powder in the bowlSMH if your cuz is the type to take it in stride. TLDR is the shortest way of telling a long story. Google Analytics history shows searches for the terms TL;DR and TLDR on a slow rise since 2004, but since there's no data available prior to that year, we have no way of truly knowing when this word first emerged. How to use relationship in a sentence. But this slang term is all about being clear and concise, and getting straight to the good stuff without all the extra padding. Here's how to always use the term correctly, What does DM mean? This one translates to let me know, and is useful in all sorts of situations for nudging or putting the ball in someones court. That's where TLDR comes from. As mentioned earlier, coming up with a clever or sarcastic TLDR as a commenter is often a crowd-pleaser. Consider FWIW one of the most snarky-but-still-polite text abbreviations out there, because its a great opener, translating to for what its worth. Its a kinder way of preambling a strong opinion and can be used in situations like, FWIW, I never liked your boyfriend anyway. Heres more about how to use FWIW.