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In my early years teaching, I collected student notes. One student had written: “IMHO 2 much info 4 the test, omg I h8 this.” I laughed — she’d crammed more slang into three sentences than most people use in a day. But then I realized: for her, these abbreviations were how she naturally wrote. The question wasn’t “Why is she writing like this?” but “Does she know when NOT to write like this?” For more, see our understanding English accents. For more, see our business English guide.
Texting abbreviations and note-taking shorthand serve two different purposes. Texting abbreviations (LOL, TBH, FOMO) belong in casual messages — they’re social, playful, and fast. Academic and professional shorthand (e.g., cf., ibid., vs.) belongs in formal writing and scholarly notes — they save space while staying professional. The mistake most learners make is mixing them up or using casual slang where it doesn’t belong. I’ll teach you both streams: when to use “LOL” with friends, when to write “cf.” in an essay, and most importantly, when to avoid abbreviations altogether.
Key Takeaways
- Texting abbreviations are casual (LOL, TBH, IMO) — use only in texts, social media, and informal chats with friends.
- Academic abbreviations are formal (e.g., i.e., cf., et al.) — appropriate in essays, research papers, and formal notes.
- Register is everything — never mix LOL into an email to your professor, and never use “cf.” in a text message.
- Symbols (2 for “to”, & for “and”) are quick but look unprofessional — avoid them in formal writing.
- Learn the distinction: note-taking for study (abbreviate for speed) vs. final writing (write full forms).
Casual Texting Abbreviations: When to Use (and When NOT to)
These abbreviations thrive in informal communication — texting friends, tweeting, commenting on social media, messaging in group chats. They’re fast, casual, and convey emotion. They should never appear in emails to your professor, job applications, professional emails, or academic writing.
| Abbreviation | Full Form / Meaning | Context | Example | ✗ NOT for: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOL | Laugh Out Loud | Response to something funny | “That joke was hilarious lol 😂” | Professional emails, school papers |
| LMAO | Laughing My Ass Off | Strong laughter response | “OMG that meme lmao” | Anything formal (too crude) |
| SMH | Shaking My Head | Disappointment, disbelief | “He said that? SMH.” | Professional writing |
| OMG | Oh My God / Oh My Goodness | Surprise or shock | “OMG did you see that?!” | Academic papers |
| TBH | To Be Honest | Being frank or direct | “TBH I didn’t like it” | Professional contexts |
| IMO | In My Opinion | Stating your personal view | “IMO that movie was boring” | Formal reports (use “In my opinion”) |
| IMHO | In My Humble Opinion | Being polite about your opinion (ironic) | “IMHO we should try this approach” | Formal writing |
| BTW | By The Way | Adding a side comment | “BTW did you finish the project?” | Professional emails (use “By the way” instead) |
| IDK | I Don’t Know | Expressing uncertainty | “IDK, what do you think?” | School or work (too casual) |
| NGL | Not Gonna Lie | Being honest about something | “NGL that pizza looked good” | Formal communication |
| FOMO | Fear Of Missing Out | Anxiety about missing an event | “I have FOMO about that party” | Academic writing (too slangy) |
| IRL | In Real Life | Contrasting online vs. offline | “She’s nice online but different IRL” | Formal writing |
Critical register warning: Many learners use LOL, TBH, and IMO in academic emails or job applications. This is a major mistake. Your professor and future employer will see you as unprofessional or lazy. Casual abbreviations belong only in personal texts and informal social media.
Academic and Formal Note-Taking Abbreviations
Universities and professional writing use formal shorthand to save space and time. These abbreviations are appropriate in footnotes, citations, research papers, and careful note-taking. They look professional and are expected in academic contexts.
| Abbreviation | Full Form / Meaning | When to Use | Example in Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| e.g. | exempli gratia (for example) | Introducing examples | “Some vowels (e.g., a, e, i) are open sounds.” |
| i.e. | id est (that is / in other words) | Clarifying or restating | “The main stress (i.e., loudest syllable) falls here.” |
| etc. | et cetera (and the rest) | Ending a list | “Students need pens, pencils, notebooks, etc.” |
| et al. | et alii (and others) | In citations with multiple authors | “Smith et al. (2020) found that language learning…” |
| cf. | confer (compare) | Directing reader to compare sources | “This finding conflicts with earlier studies (cf. Johnson 2018).” |
| ibid. | ibidem (in the same place) | Citing the same source twice in a row | “(Smith 2020, p. 45). Ibid., p. 47 supports this.” |
| viz. | videlicet (namely) | Introducing a specific list or clarification | “The main causes are economic—viz., inflation and unemployment.” |
| vs. | versus (against / in contrast with) | Comparing two things | “British English vs. American English” |
| approx. | approximately | Rounding numbers in formal text | “The survey involved approx. 500 participants.” |
| NB | nota bene (note well / important) | Flagging something important in notes | “NB: This exception is critical for the exam.” |
| no. / nos. | number / numbers | Referring to numbered items | “See figure nos. 1–3 on page 5.” |
| p. / pp. | page / pages | Citations and references | “(Smith 2020, pp. 34–36)” |
Real academic example:
Smith et al. (2018) documented the effects of sleep deprivation on student performance (p. 23). However, cf. Johnson (2019), who argues that motivation plays a larger role. Note that Johnson’s sample was smaller (approx. 100 students vs. Smith’s 1,200), which could explain the discrepancy. Viz., smaller studies often show different results than large-scale research.
Note-Taking Shorthand: Speed and Clarity
When taking notes by hand or in a lecture, you want to capture information fast. These informal abbreviations are fine in your notes, but you must expand them when writing your final paper.
| Shorthand | Stands For | In Notes (OK) | In Final Essay (✗ NO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| b/c | because | ✓ “The war happened b/c of trade disputes.” | ✗ “The war happened b/c of trade.” |
| w/ | with | ✓ “Study effect of stress w/ children.” | ✗ “The study w/ children showed…” |
| w/o | without | ✓ “Results w/o intervention: 30%.” | ✗ “Results w/o intervention were strong.” |
| ↑ | increase / rise | ✓ “Temperature ↑ during 1980–2000.” | ✗ Use “increased” in final text |
| ↓ | decrease / fall | ✓ “Sales ↓ by 15% last quarter.” | ✗ Use “decreased” in final text |
| → | leads to / causes | ✓ “Poverty → Lower education access.” | ✗ Use “leads to” in final text |
| def. | definition | ✓ “Def. of photosynthesis: …” | ✗ “Def. of the term is…” |
| esp. | especially | ✓ “Impact esp. strong in cities.” | ✗ Use “especially” in essay |
Study strategy: Use shorthand liberally in your notes to keep up with the lecture. But when you write your final essay or assignment, always write out full words. Your professor expects formal language in submitted work, not b/c, w/, or ↑.
Symbol and Number Shorthand: Use Sparingly
Numbers and symbols can save space but look informal in formal writing. Here are the common ones and when they’re acceptable:
| Symbol/Number | Meaning | Acceptable in… | ✗ NOT in… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | to / too | Texting, notes (“2morrow = tomorrow”) | Formal emails, academic papers |
| 4 | for | Quick texting only (“thx 4 the help”) | Any professional or academic writing |
| & | and | Business lists, informal contexts | Academic essays (spell out “and”) |
| @ | at | Casual texts, social media (“c u @8”) | Formal documents |
| # | number / hashtag | Social media (“#EnglishClass”) | Academic papers (write “number”) |
| % | percent | Data, statistics (no space: “25%”) | Formal writing (use “percent” or “%”) |
Professional rule: Avoid “2” for “to”, “4” for “for”, and “u” for “you” in any formal context. These belong only in casual texts. A manager or professor who sees “thx 4 ur help” will assume you’re careless.
Common Mistakes with Texting and Note-Taking Abbreviations
✗ Mistake 1: Using casual slang in academic writing.
✗ Incorrect: “The study found that exercise improves health, ngl. IMO everyone should do it lol.”
✓ Correct: “The study found that regular exercise improves overall health. In my opinion, this finding should inform public health policy.”
Why: NGL, IMO, and LOL are internet slang. Essays require formal English, even when expressing your own ideas.
✗ Mistake 2: Confusing note-taking abbreviations with formal academic abbreviations.
✗ Incorrect: “See the research of Smith w/ Johnson (2020) on this topic.”
✓ Correct: “See the research by Smith and Johnson (2020) on this topic.” or “See research (cf. Smith & Johnson 2020).”
Why: “w/” is note-taking shorthand, not academic abbreviation. In formal writing, use “and” or the proper citation style.
✗ Mistake 3: Forgetting to expand abbreviations from notes into final drafts.
✗ Incorrect: “Population ↑ b/c of immigration. Stress ↓ w/o treatment.”
✓ Correct: “The population increased because of immigration. Stress decreased without treatment.”
Why: Symbols and shorthand were fine for quick notes, but your final essay needs full words and proper grammar.
✗ Mistake 4: Using “e.g.” and “i.e.” incorrectly.
✗ Incorrect: “Many languages use articles, e.g., they modify nouns.”
✓ Correct: “Many languages use articles (i.e., words that modify nouns like ‘the’ or ‘a’).”
Why: “e.g.” introduces examples; “i.e.” clarifies or restates. Here you’re clarifying what articles are, so use “i.e.”
Dialogue: Texting vs. Academic Writing
Student texting a friend:
Maya: omg did u finish the essay?? due 2morrow lol
Tom: nah not yet tbh… its so boring😅 how long is it supposed 2 be?
Maya: like 1500 words… i got 800 so far lmao
Same student emailing her professor about the assignment:
Subject: Question about essay requirements
Dear Professor Johnson,
I wanted to clarify the essay requirements before the deadline tomorrow. The assignment asks for approximately 1,500 words, and I currently have about 800 words written. Should I focus on expanding the analysis section, or would you recommend a different approach?
Thank you for your guidance.
Best regards,
Maya
Quick Quiz
Choose the correct option or identify the mistake:
- Which abbreviation belongs in an academic paper? (a) LOL (b) TBH (c) e.g. (d) IMO
- What does “i.e.” mean? (a) for example (b) that is / in other words
- Is “b/c” acceptable in a formal essay? (Yes / No)
- Rewrite this text message formally: “The experiment showed ↑ in results b/c of the new method.”
- Which is the correct use of “cf.”? (a) “cf., this study agrees” (b) “see opposing findings (cf. Smith 2019)”
Answers: 1. (c) e.g. — it’s a formal Latin abbreviation. LOL, TBH, and IMO are too casual. 2. (b) “that is” or “in other words” — used to clarify or restate. 3. No — “b/c” is note-taking shorthand. Write “because” in formal essays. 4. “The experiment showed an increase in results because of the new method.” 5. (b) “see opposing findings (cf. Smith 2019)” — cf. directs readers to compare sources.
Related Articles
- 50+ Essential Acronyms (Everyday, Internet, Academic)
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Abbreviations and Acronyms (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it OK to use “LOL” in a school email to my teacher?
No. LOL is internet slang and inappropriate for formal communication with your teacher, professor, or boss. Stick to full English in any academic or professional email. Save LOL for texts with friends.
What’s the difference between “e.g.” and “i.e.”?
E.g. (exempli gratia) means “for example” — you’re giving one or more cases. I.e. (id est) means “that is” — you’re clarifying or restating something. Example: “Many animals eat plants (e.g., deer, rabbits).” vs. “Herbivores (i.e., plant-eaters) need grasslands.”
Should I use abbreviations in my final essay?
Use formal abbreviations like “e.g.”, “i.e.”, and “et al.” when appropriate to your field. Avoid casual abbreviations like “LOL”, “TBH”, “b/c”, and “w/”. Always expand shorthand from your notes into full words when writing your final draft.
Can I use “&” instead of “and” in academic writing?
In citations and reference lists, “&” is acceptable: “Smith & Johnson (2020)”. In the body of an essay, spell out “and” in formal writing. The “&” symbol is more casual and informal.
What does “NB” mean, and when should I use it?
NB (nota bene) means “note well” — it flags something important. You might see it in notes or instructions: “NB: This section is critical for the exam.” It’s too informal for formal essays but fine in informal notes and study guides.
Is there a rule about when to use periods in abbreviations?
Modern English is moving toward fewer periods. Most acronyms don’t use periods (CEO, FBI, LOL). Formal Latin abbreviations often keep periods in academic writing (e.g., i.e., etc., cf.). When in doubt, check your style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago) or ask your professor.
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