Oxford Dictionary adds 'LOL,' 'BFF,' other slang

The Oxford English Dictionary has added a number of popular Internet slang terms to its pages this week.

LOL, BFF, IMHO, and OMG (that's laugh out loud, best friends forever, in my humble opinion and oh my God) are now included in the Dictionary, legitimizing the terms used by millions in texts, emails and instant messages.

Additionally, the Dictionary added its first ever symbol, <3, which represents a heart or love.

The terms were among 900 words added to the OED during a quarterly update.

Says Graeme Diamond, OED's principal editor for new words (via MM):

Things people think are new words normally have a longer history. The OED is quite cautious about which words make the cut.

Among other terms that were added are "muffin top" and "WAG." "Muffin top" is the slang for a fat stomach which hangs over the side of the waist of pants, and "wag" is a tabloid term for the wives and girlfriends of famous athletes.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 29 Mar 2011 2:21

hikaricor

idkmybffjill

29.3.2011 02:37 #1

KillerBug

STFU...WTF are they thinking...these are not words, they are acronyms.

29.3.2011 04:04 #2

ps3lvanub

Looks like they are running out of things to put in the big ol' book of words. :)

OMG! COD6 TENTH HACK WITHOUT JTAG!

29.3.2011 04:25 #3

TR (unverified)

Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated.

29.3.2011 08:31 #4

ps3lvanub

Not that I'm proud of it, but the Oxford English Dictionary is a British publication, not an American one. Now I could say that it's America's culture that is dumbing down UK culture, however this would be a fabrication.

OMG! COD6 TENTH HACK WITHOUT JTAG!

29.3.2011 10:51 #5

shortybob

Oxford is going to hell. LOL

29.3.2011 12:40 #6

POGK

Are dictionary's still relevant in the digital age? I agree with TR though, are there other acronyms in the dictionary?

29.3.2011 18:32 #7

GryphB

Can't remember the last time I actually looked at a real dictionary. Last I used was google. :D

29.3.2011 18:55 #8

Yemi Yolsar (unverified)

i want to download this dictionary on my system

30.3.2011 07:17 #9

KaylaBaylapuddinNpie (unverified)

Originally posted by TR: Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated. *Yes, I agree; acronyms, not words.
*idiocracy
*cautious

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check your spelling and grammar.

30.3.2011 14:32 #10

davidacord

I agree with the comments about idiocracy and America and the dumbing down of society. For the most-part acronyms do not belong in the dictionary especially the Oxford.

However, there are exceptions... RADAR- Radio Detection And Ranging, SCUBA- Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, or LASER- Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, which have been used for so long that people have forgotten that they are acronyms. However I do not say Ohmg, Lahl, or Bufff, I say O-M-G and L-O-L which means they are neither acronyms nor words.

30.3.2011 15:41 #11

Deadrum33

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadband

30.3.2011 15:44 #12

t_dump

Originally posted by KaylaBaylapuddinNpie: Originally posted by TR: Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated. *Yes, I agree; acronyms, not words.
*idiocracy
*cautious

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check your spelling and grammar. Moron. Idiocracy is a film and therefore a proper noun.

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check that you're not an idiot.

6.4.2011 05:12 #13

LAWLLLLL (unverified)

Originally posted by t_dump: Originally posted by KaylaBaylapuddinNpie: Originally posted by TR: Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated. *Yes, I agree; acronyms, not words.
*idiocracy
*cautious

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check your spelling and grammar. Moron. Idiocracy is a film and therefore a proper noun.

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check that you're not an idiot. You fool... Just because it's a film name doesn't make it a noun - is Shrek a noun, for example. Yeah, thought not mate.

Before you try to tell somebody not to call someone an idiot if they're an idiot, please first check that you have at least a mediocre understanding of the english language and the rules governing nouns. And by the way, i'm 13 and I just out-argued, so up yours.

7.4.2011 18:56 #14

Deadrum33

1. Shrek is the name of the ogre, so it would be a personal noun.
2. The word movie is a noun. Shrek is a specific movie, therefore a personal noun. Look at it from 2 different angles and Shrek is still a noun.
3. That said, just cause it's a movie doesnt mean it is automatically capitalized. Traditionally movie titles have been underlined OR italicized.
Now, as amusing as watching other people act like this may be, I suggest taking time to use Google or Wiki or anything to make sure you can back up your points. Now you both look silly.

http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadband

7.4.2011 20:37 #15

Jontius (unverified)

Originally posted by KillerBug: STFU...WTF are they thinking...these are not words, they are acronyms. So are Radar, Laser, Scuba and countless others. Should they be removed?

8.4.2011 10:33 #16

KB (unverified)

Originally posted by LAWLLLLL: Originally posted by t_dump: Originally posted by KaylaBaylapuddinNpie: Originally posted by TR: Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated. *Yes, I agree; acronyms, not words.
*idiocracy
*cautious

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check your spelling and grammar. Moron. Idiocracy is a film and therefore a proper noun.

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check that you're not an idiot. You fool... Just because it's a film name doesn't make it a noun - is Shrek a noun, for example. Yeah, thought not mate.

Before you try to tell somebody not to call someone an idiot if they're an idiot, please first check that you have at least a mediocre understanding of the english language and the rules governing nouns. And by the way, i'm 13 and I just out-argued, so up yours. Shrek is a noun. Nice try though. You out-argued nobody so why don't you go back to listening to Justin Beiber, or whatever it is that 13 year olds do, and stop trying to argue with people who are smarter than you.

3.6.2011 11:14 #17

Deadrum33

Originally posted by KB: Originally posted by LAWLLLLL: Originally posted by t_dump: Originally posted by KaylaBaylapuddinNpie: Originally posted by TR: Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated. *Yes, I agree; acronyms, not words.
*idiocracy
*cautious

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check your spelling and grammar. Moron. Idiocracy is a film and therefore a proper noun.

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check that you're not an idiot. You fool... Just because it's a film name doesn't make it a noun - is Shrek a noun, for example. Yeah, thought not mate.

Before you try to tell somebody not to call someone an idiot if they're an idiot, please first check that you have at least a mediocre understanding of the english language and the rules governing nouns. And by the way, i'm 13 and I just out-argued, so up yours. Shrek is a noun. Nice try though. You out-argued nobody so why don't you go back to listening to Justin Beiber, or whatever it is that 13 year olds do, and stop trying to argue with people who are smarter than you. Feel better now that you got that out of your system by opening a thread thats been dead for 2 months?

http://www.myspace.com/livingdeadband

3.6.2011 13:09 #18

drchrisdjones

1) I agree with the original purpose of this message, that these text-language words are not suitable for the OED.

2) Idiocracy is NOT a propper noun, and if it can be considered a noun when referring to the film, it is NOT a noun in this context.
I disagree that a "title" can be considered a noun, but it is definitely NOT a propper noun. However, Shrek IS a propper noun because it is the name of a character, not a place or object.

3) I hate to have to point this out, but LOL is the only Acronym mentioned here, since the initials of the words spell another pronounceable word. If it is just a series of letters (E.G. "WTF"), it is an INITIALISM, not an acronym.

4) I agree with Jontius that "Laser", "Radar", and such are in fact propper Acronyms (and also for that matter nouns but not propper nouns) and should be kept in, but things like STFU are INITIALISMS and so do not belong. Can you say the word "STFU" and not sound like your mouth is full of marbles?

5) I am English, born and raised in England, still living in England, with a degree in Modern English language. I also enjoy these debates, so feel free to comment and discuss if you disagree.
You are, of course, wrong if you disagree, but feel free to.

9.9.2011 10:38 #19

Roshni (unverified)

Originally posted by LAWLLLLL: Originally posted by t_dump: Originally posted by KaylaBaylapuddinNpie: Originally posted by TR: Yes I agree acronyms not words. My worst fear of Idiocracy coming true, is coming true. You're cautions about what you put in your book, yeah f'n right! Please tell me why America is becoming dumber as the rest of the world is becoming smarter? Thanks a bunch... had these stupid words come out before I took an Oath as an American Citizen maybe I would have reconsidered. It's pathetic that we're attempting to make uneducated people seem educated. *Yes, I agree; acronyms, not words.
*idiocracy
*cautious

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check your spelling and grammar. Moron. Idiocracy is a film and therefore a proper noun.

Before you try to tell someone else they're an idiot, make sure to check that you're not an idiot. You fool... Just because it's a film name doesn't make it a noun - is Shrek a noun, for example. Yeah, thought not mate.

Before you try to tell somebody not to call someone an idiot if they're an idiot, please first check that you have at least a mediocre understanding of the english language and the rules governing nouns. And by the way, i'm 13 and I just out-argued, so up yours. Shrek IS a noun- it's a NAME, which is a proper noun. Has it ever in the history of its use been used as anything but a noun, albeit for a fictional character? It wasn't a word before the film, either. Bad example.

25.2.2012 10:16 #20

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