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A study says people who abbreviate text messages might seem insincere. They might be less likely to get a reply. Researchers asked test participants to rate 5,000 text messages (with and without abbreviations) for their sincerity. They also assessed the likelihood of replying. The researchers said: "Abbreviations make senders seem less sincere and recipients less likely to write back." They said abbreviations show lower levels of effort.
Abbreviations in texts and on social media are now a distinct genre of writing. A system of abbreviated text has developed. This is largely understood and widely used. Shortened terms like "fyi," "cul8r," and "imho" are commonplace. These mean "for your information," "see you later," and "in my humble opinion". A researcher believed abbreviations "convey an informal sense of closeness". He was surprised they elicited negative views.
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