OMG and LOL Added to the OED

OMG! We can't accuse our BFF Oxford English Dictionary with being behind the times anymore. The OED has finally managed to get with the program (LOL!):

For the March 2011 release of OED Online, we have selected for publication a number of noteworthy initialisms—abbreviations consisting of the initial letters of a name or expression. Some of these—such as OMG [OMG int. (and n.) and adj.]: ‘Oh my God’ (or sometimes ‘gosh’, ‘goodness’, etc.) and LOL [LOL int. and n./2]: ‘laughing out loud’—are strongly associated with the language of electronic communications (email, texting, social networks, blogs, and so on). They join other entries of this sort: IMHO (‘in my humble opinion’) [IMHO at I n./1], TMI (‘too much information’) [TMI at T n.], and BFF (‘best friends forever’) [BFF at B n.], among others.

Link - via Digital Life (Photo: Shutterstock)


Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

Hmm, I wonder if they will add "Normativity" this year. None of the major dictionaries recognize it. Yet it is used all the time in philosophy.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
What's the problem? These abbreviations have become extremely common usage; so why not put them in a dictionary?

Language is not a reflection of what's in the dictionary; it's the other way around. Like it or not.

I spot two emoticons in the four previous comments btw. ;)
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"OMG and LOL Added to the OED"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More