LMAO etc

[DuzyEverwork]

Whats the recognised name for abbreviations used in Messenger chats? ie. 'lol' laughing out loud, I know there is a name but for the life of me I cant remember what it is - Thanks

[edhesketh]

Netlingo features the biggest listing of "cyberterms" I know of. It refers to these kind of acronyms as "chat acronyms" or "e-mail shorthand" (http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm). Anything close to the term you are thinking of?

[shybearuk]

fixed linky here:
http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm

[DuzyEverwork]

Thanks for the above but thinking on perhaps it was only on AOL that they were called whatever it was that I can't remember! I am a refugee from AOL cos the only way to get it here is to piggy back over another ISP...so what do AOL call them please?

[shybearuk]

I'm wondering if you're thinking of emoticons/smileys, Trudi. If so, these are actually the little collections of symbols used to convey emotion:
:) - Happy
:( - Sad
etc.

I'm not sure about the acronyms having any other name, but I've never used AOL, so I can't be sure.

[starman700]

as an aol member i can tell you they are called emoticons hope that helps :)