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#1740313 - 09/12/12 07:27 PM Text Abbreviations in Work Communications
Beagles22 Offline
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Ok, maybe I am just old fashioned (or maybe I am just old) but I have to ask, is anyone else shocked and not overly happy about the sudden text abbreviations I see in so many business communications?

A reply to a meeting invitation with "IDK - I'll let you know"...or an e-mail with a complaint from a customer being forwarded with a "WT (you know what)" prefix from a bank associate...or even "TTYL" from a vendor you are meeting later in the day. I just don't believe that this is acceptable and common in our field? We are not running a hot dog stand, we are running a bank!

Ok, rant over, someone let me know please if this is just me being too traditional or if others agree with me?
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#1740315 - 09/12/12 07:32 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Queen Mum Offline
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OK
Half of them I don't even know what they mean. WT? I would never have thought it was "you know what."

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#1740323 - 09/12/12 07:42 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Beagles22 Offline
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Funny! but there is another letter in the e-mail I got after the WT....but it is the first letter of the big bad F word so it wouldn't let me put that on here. What The ..... now you can really see why it is not appropriate for a work E-mail!!

Additionally I had to ask one of my tellers what IDK means...apparently it is a common abbreviation for I don't know...common to them, not to me!
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#1740325 - 09/12/12 07:43 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
edAudit Offline
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idk
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#1740327 - 09/12/12 07:45 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Loralie Offline
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I admit to being guilty of this a little. An "lol, btw, or wth" to a co worker or vendor I'm particularly friendly with, but never to a customer and rarely to co workers.

And MUM, she was saying WTH (What The H3ll, trying not to say H3ll.)
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#1740328 - 09/12/12 07:45 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Skittles Offline
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I think that is way over the top. Similar to our dress code here. I'm still quite bothered by some of the attire at our employee meeting last night. Several people went home and changed into shorts and flip flops - and we had two police officer's here as guest speakers.
Last edited by Duchess Skittles; 09/12/12 07:46 PM.
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#1740329 - 09/12/12 07:47 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Loralie Offline
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Duchess- I will change into Jeans for our quarterly staff meetings, but never shorts, and it's always a conservative top. But then, our quarterly staff meetings tend to be at places with a bar.... smile
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#1740332 - 09/12/12 07:49 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Matt_B Offline
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I don't like them in texts, let alone anything more professional, and I'm of the age range where it's standard practice. I will use an occasional "lol" but it's not something I'd type out either. Anything beyond that gets full words. I like my vowels and don't think they deserve to be thrown aside! smile
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#1740338 - 09/12/12 07:53 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Skittles
grmasterb Offline
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Originally Posted By: Duchess Skittles
Several people went home and changed into shorts and flip flops - and we had two police officer's here as guest speakers.


omg smh

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#1740347 - 09/12/12 07:59 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Loralie
Beagles22 Offline
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Originally Posted By: Loralie
I admit to being guilty of this a little. An "lol, btw, or wth" to a co worker or vendor I'm particularly friendly with, but never to a customer and rarely to co workers.

And MUM, she was saying WTH (What The H3ll, trying not to say H3ll.)


I wish it had ended with an H - in the message he ended it with an F...

As far as dress code, don't even get me started. We agree to allow NFL shirts one day - and 2 people showed up in JEAN SHORTS - even though it said 'keep it professional' - guess the 20 somethings in our office have a different description of professional in lots of ways...
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#1740353 - 09/12/12 08:06 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
manimal Offline
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kthxbai!


^^ not appropriate? laugh
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#1740355 - 09/12/12 08:09 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications grmasterb
Beagles22 Offline
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Originally Posted By: grmasterb
Originally Posted By: Duchess Skittles
Several people went home and changed into shorts and flip flops - and we had two police officer's here as guest speakers.


omg smh


OK, what does smh mean?

And I am so glad that you guys find it inappropriate as well! I am not nearly old enough to be the old grumpy lady around here!!
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#1740358 - 09/12/12 08:14 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
GuitarDude Offline
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IMHO ( wink ), I think some abbreviations are OK with certain co-workers with whom you interact with frequently and in certain contexts. For interdepartmental communication and certainly with vendors and customers, it should be strictly professional.

I wouldn't ask a loan officer to clarify a potential Reg B issue with an email containing OMG!
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#1740360 - 09/12/12 08:24 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Bobby Boucher Offline
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Originally Posted By: Beagle Queen
Additionally I had to ask one of my tellers what IDK means

laugh

Did it go like this?

BQ: "What does IDK mean?"

Teller 1: "I don't know."

BQ: "What does IDK mean?"

Teller 2: "I don't know."

BQ: "What does IDK mean?"

Teller 3: "I don't know."

BQ: "Glad I'm not the only one!"

laugh
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#1740361 - 09/12/12 08:26 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Beagles22 Offline
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That is REMARKABLY what the conversation sounded like!!
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#1740363 - 09/12/12 08:28 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications manimal
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Originally Posted By: manimal
kthxbai!


^^ not appropriate? laugh


luv that one!

kthxbai! smile

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#1740373 - 09/12/12 08:37 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Dani York, CRCM Offline
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http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php

Here ya go Mum. A translator!
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#1740374 - 09/12/12 08:38 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
MyBrainHurts Offline
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On a similar note, I worked with a lender who was very careless with spelling, punctuation, and grammar in his emails. He sent one to a board member, who then stormed into the bank and chewed the guy out for his lack of professionalism. He learned to use spellcheck after that.
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#1740378 - 09/12/12 08:42 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
E.E.G.B Offline
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SMH = Shaking my head.

IDK. I think email communications are inherently more casual than other written forms of communication. In that respect I think some commonly known abbreviations are OK (and hey, there's one of them!) LOL, BTW, FYI, all OK in my book. But I would NOT be happy about anybody forwarding an email prefaced by WT.F or WTH. That is NOT appropriate. Just imagine if it got inadvertently 'Rely to All'-ed and the customer saw that.

How to explain what is and what isn't appropriate to people who are used to text speak though, that's tricky.
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#1740384 - 09/12/12 08:51 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Beagles22 Offline
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Dani - thanks for the translator - I guess I may need it!

I think spelling and grammar has gone so far to the dogs in the next generation they won't know how to write at all without spell and grammar check. Sad :-(

EGB - after reading all this I think I am SMH...guess I better get up on the times so I know what people are saying!! as far as either of the WT - I think next time I will explain that those abbreviations are the same as swearing and won't be tolerated.
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#1740398 - 09/12/12 09:27 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
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I do not like text abbreviations in work communications at all. I don't even like the breezy familiarity with which some of the younger generation phrase their business communications. I also do not agree with anything other than business dress for people who will be dealing with customers or business partners.

Call me a curmudgeon, but I believe in standards, and I believe they should be upheld. If you want to be treated as and perceived as a professional, then dress, talk, and act like a professional.

Careless or casual communication, coiffure, or clothing lend themselves to careless or casual cogitation.
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#1740399 - 09/12/12 09:28 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
Peepers Offline
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I think you better learn to accept the abbreviations or you will be SOL
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#1740415 - 09/12/12 09:58 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Peepers
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hctc...
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#1740428 - 09/12/12 10:56 PM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Bobby Boucher
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Who's on first?
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#1740441 - 09/13/12 01:20 AM Re: Text Abbreviations in Work Communications Beagles22
#Just Jay Offline
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hmu...
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