I’ve never been a big fan of acronyms. At times they seem like a secret language, one known only to those in the inner circle of a given industry. They can be dangerous – seemingly commonplace to you, completely meaningless to others.
For example, in looking for some marketing tips the other day, I searched a few sites and came up stumped by a number of acronyms that were all Greek to me. Tip – if you’re using your website to showcase your services, don’t use a bunch of acronyms to describe the services you provide. You’re talking over your potential customers’ heads and losing their interest in a hurry.
So when are acronyms useful? Even I’ll admit they come in handy in our busy, fast-paced world. In business emails, if they’re frequently used enough, and understood by your colleagues and clients, even I’ll admit – they are time saving.
Here’s a list of 10 that I like. You might like them, too.
- EOD – End of day
- EOW – End of week
- LMK – Let me know
- IMO – In my opinion
- BTW – By the way
- FYI – For your information
- IDK – I don’t know
- TYT – Take your time
- PRB – Please reply by
- NRN – No reply necessary (Perfect for when you’re trying to stop that train!)