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Internet Abbreviations Added To Oxford Dictionary

Posted by Soulskill on from the stop-making-it-harder-for-me-to-criticize-my-mom's-emails dept.

f1vlad writes "Philologists have added popular internet abbreviations to the one hundred twenty-six year-old Oxford English Dictionary. Among these are the popular OMG, LOL, and FYI. 'Dictionary compilers said that although the terms are associated with modern electronic communications, some are surprisingly old. The first confirmed use of "OMG" was in a letter in 1917. "Things people think are new words normally have a longer history," Graeme Diamond, the dictionary's principal editor for new words, said Friday.'"

19 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. On this day in internet slang history by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Informative

    March 25, 1952: Upon receiving a humorous letter from a friend, Wellesley College student Lucy Michaels wishes to write back and express how much the letter amused her. Unfortunately, having hurt her wrist the day before in a tragic lacrosse incident, Lucy is forced to abbreviate her feelings by simply scratching out the simple abbreviation "LOL" on a postcard with her off-hand, hoping to explain the abbreviation in a phone call later. History was made.

    It is to pioneers like Lucy Michaels and many others like her that we today owe our modern internet vernacular. Kudos to you, Lucy, and may you RIP.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:On this day in internet slang history by elrous0 · · Score: 2

      Hang on, let me turn around and I'll show it to you.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. WTF! by davidc · · Score: 3, Insightful

    No WTF?

    1. Re:WTF! by Em+Adespoton · · Score: 2

      http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0994289#m_en_gb0994289

      It also has FUBAR, although misses out on the interesting history of that acronym.

    2. Re:WTF! by _0xd0ad · · Score: 2

      You posted the wrong link. And what is this interesting history of which you speak?

      http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1249363#m_en_us1249363

      Origin:
      1940s: acronym from fucked up beyond all recognition (or repair)

  3. Re:WTF by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    LOL WUT

  4. tinfoil hat also added by vroom · · Score: 5, Informative
    tinfoil hat's new entry.

    noun
    humorous
    used in allusion to the belief that wearing a hat made from tinfoil will protect one against government surveillance or mind control by extraterrestrial beings:you don't need to be wearing a tinfoil hat to understand that your privacy might not be as private as you would think
    [as modifier] :the tinfoil hat brigade

  5. FYI by tverbeek · · Score: 5, Interesting

    FYI, FYI is hardly an "internet abbreviation". I remember hearing it back in the early 1970s (when I was very, very young, FYI).

    Possibly of more interest to the /. crowd is the fact that hentai is being added to the book.

    --
    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
  6. GTFO. by RussellSHarris · · Score: 3, Informative

    (link is goatse)

  7. WRONG by MrEricSir · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's just what the GOVERNMENT wants you to THINK! The REAL reason I wear my tinfoil HAT is to stop the RADIATION from leaving my BRAIN, which happens because of the THOUGHT-SCATTERING computer implanted into my cerebellum by Renee ZELLWEGER.

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
    1. Re:WRONG by snspdaarf · · Score: 2

      Cool! A new member of the Sheen family has been found!

      --
      Why, without your clothes, you're naked, Miss Dudley!
  8. In other news by nebaz · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Oxford Management Group, Lloyds Of London, and Finnish Yodeling Institute are very upset.

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
  9. WTF added? by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 4, Funny

    When the first english dictionary was compiled by Samuel Johnson a London high society lady is said to have thanked him, "Thank you Dr Johnson, for leaving out certain words". Dr Johnson apparently replied, " I'm shocked, m'lady. You were looking for them?"

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    1. Re:WTF added? by laejoh · · Score: 3, Funny

      Allow me, sir, to extent my most sincere contrafubularities for making this reference possible!

  10. Re:OMFG? by Homr+Zodyssey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    STFU n00b.

  11. Oh Great... by Haedrian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now when I shout at someone for chatting to me using a ton of abbreviations ... they can point out that its in the dictionary now...

  12. TFS -- tl;dr by by+(1706743) · · Score: 2

    EOM

  13. A Real women of genius version by killmenow · · Score: 3, Funny

    Singer: Real women of geeeEeeniuuus...
    Narrator: Today we salute you, Miss LOL inventor woman.
    Singer: Miss LOL inventer woman...
    Narrator: In March of 1952, upon receiving a humorous letter from a friend, you wished to write back and express your amusement.
    Singer: I'm laughing out loud!
    Narrator: Unfortunately, having hurt your wrist the day before in a tragic lacrosse incident, you were forced to simply scratch out "LOL" on a postcard with your off-hand
    Singer: But I'm not rolling on the floor!
    Narrator: Hoping to explain the abbreviation in a phone call later, you made history by inventing the acronym most often mistook for "Lot's of Love"
    Singer: OMGWTFBBQ!
    Narrator: It is to pioneers like you that we owe our modern internet vernacular. So, kudos to you, Miss LOL inventer woman...may you RIP.
    Singer: Miss LOL Inventer woman...

  14. Things like this... by Grapplebeam · · Score: 2

    Make me REALLY hate time travellers.

    --
    There is no -1 Disagree.