Buzz
Ever wondered about the meanings of tone indicators such as /j, /srs, and /s?
Perhaps you’re scrolling through a Twitter post or messaging a friend when you encounter a tag at the message's end, like /pos, /lh, or /nm. Commonly referred to as tone indicators, these tags are increasingly prevalent in the digital sphere—but what do they signify exactly? Let's delve into it. Keep reading to explore everything about tone indicators, including an extensive list of the most prevalent tone tags.
Key Points to Remember
- The /j denotes joking, /s indicates sarcastic, and /gen represents genuine.
- The /pos tone indicator signifies positive connotation, /lh implies light-hearted, and /nm means not mad.
- Include tone indicators in any social media posts or texts that might be misconstrued by the recipient or reader.
- Respect others' choices to utilize tone indicators, and limit your own post additions to 1-2 tags at most.
Procedures
Understanding Tone Indicators
Tone indicators serve as labels describing the tone of written text or online posts. They are typically denoted by a backslash (/) followed by an acronym or abbreviation (e.g., /nm for not mad or /j for joking). Many individuals utilize them online to provide additional clarity in their messages and responses.
- While tone indicators are relatively modern, the concept of tone tags has historical roots. In the late 1500s, British printer Henry Denham experimented with the percontation symbol (⸮) to indicate whether a question was open-ended or required a concise answer.
Tone indicators play a crucial role in averting misunderstandings in digital environments. Given that body language significantly influences how we interpret others' words, online communication can be challenging to navigate. Tone indicators offer a clear, tangible method to discern someone else's tone in digital interactions, whether through text messages or social media platforms.
- Tone indicators are particularly beneficial for individuals within the neurodivergent community, as they appreciate the additional context provided by these tags.
Popular Tone Indicators
/j and /hj: joking and half-jokingThese tone indicators signify that the text or post is intended humorously and should not be taken seriously. The /hj tag is commonly used when a statement is partially serious and partially humorous.
- “You look like you haven't slept in a week /j”
- “That's it. I'm quitting Twitter for life. /j”
- “Remove that White Sox hat immediately!!!! /hj”
- /ij can also be employed to reference an inside joke with a friend.
/g or /gen: genuine The /g or /gen tag indicates sincere and genuine expression, devoid of sarcasm or jest. Some individuals employ more precise tags like /genq or gens when posing a genuine question or suggestion, respectively.
-
Person A: “It irks me when people excessively use exclamation points”
Person B: “Why do you feel that way? /genq” - “I adore your Led Zeppelin shirt! /g”
-
Person A: “I struggle to wake up in the morning.”
Person B: “Have you tried setting multiple alarms? /gens”
/s: sarcasm The /s tag denotes complete sarcasm in a post or message, not to be taken seriously. Some may opt for /sar or /sarc instead of /s to avoid misinterpretation of seriousness.
- “You always meet the nicest people on Twitter /s”
- “Ah, yes… Now I understand completely /sar”
- “Did you know that typing in caps makes your sentence louder? /sarc”
/lh: light-hearted The /lh tag is appended to posts and comments meant to be playful and jovial, though they may carry a potential for offense.
-
Person A: “I pour milk into my cereal bowl first”
Person B: “We're no longer friends /lh” -
Person A: “What if dogs only lick us because they sense our bones?”
Person B: “What’s wrong with you?? /lh”
/srs and /nsrs: serious and not serious The /srs tone indicator denotes complete seriousness, contrasting with sarcasm or jest. Conversely, /nsrs indicates posts neither meant to be serious nor humorous.
- “I’ve never watched a single Star Wars movie in my life /srs”
- “I can’t handle my sister anymore lmao /nsrs”
/nm: not mad The /nm tag is often attached to posts or messages appearing aggressive or irate at first glance. It may follow a message sent in all caps or one perceived as annoyed or angry.
- “NOOO I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS!! /nm”
- “Please refrain from DMing me on Twitter if we aren’t mutuals /nm”
- “What was the purpose of sending that reply? /nm”
/rt or /rh: rhetorical Individuals employ the /rt or /rh tag for rhetorical questions or statements intended without the expectation of a reply.
- “Why do people feel the need to jump onto all of these nasty Twitter trends? /rh”
- “When will people in the YouTube comments learn how to be decent human beings? /rh”
- “Why is my mom like this? /rt”
/pos: positive The /pos tag indicates that the original post should be interpreted positively and kindly rather than neutrally or negatively. It’s commonly used for messages that might otherwise be construed negatively.
- “I’m crying real tears rn /pos”
- “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me!!! /pos”
- “I’ve never felt this way before /pos”
/neg: negative Similar to the /pos tag, /neg informs readers that a message should be viewed negatively rather than positively or neutrally.
- “I have no idea what to do /neg”
- “Why would you say that?? /neg”
- “Apparently it’s supposed to thunder tonight? /neg”
/neu: neutral The /neu tag is attached to posts that are neither positive nor negative in tone.
- “When did you hear about this? /neu”
- “I had no idea that he was both a singer and an actor /neu”
/c: copypasta The /c tag is used when reposting copypasta, indicating that the poster is not the original author and the post should not be taken seriously.
- “I like to creep around my home and act like a goblin. I don’t know why but I just enjoy doing this. Maybe it’s my way of dealing with stress or something but I just do it about once every week. /c”
- “don’t care + didn’t ask + cry about it + who asked + stay mad + get real + L /c”
/p: platonic The p tag adds a platonic touch to messages and comments that could potentially be interpreted as romantic, such as complimenting someone’s cute selfie.
- “I love you so much!! /p”
- “You look AMAZING in that dress! /p”
- “Thank you so much dude… I could marry you rn /p”
- Some people might use the “not flirting” or /nfl to convey the same meaning.
/r: romantic The opposite of the /p tag, /r is used to add romantic context to a message or post. People will likely use it when talking with (or about) their partners and significant others.
- “Blowing you a kiss!! /r”
- “Sending you many smooches /r”
/l, /ly, or /lyr: lyrics The /ly or /l tag lets readers know that their post consists of song lyrics rather than original thoughts.
- “I don’t wanna die, I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all /ly”
- “Well, is it hard understanding, I’m incomplete? /lyr”
- “And will I ever know what it’s like to be fine without pretending /l”
/nav or /av: not a vent or a vent The /nav tag indicates that the original post or message isn’t meant to be a vent (a post where someone is “venting” their feelings). The /av tag, on the other hand, indicates that the post or message is a vent.
- “LOL I went to Starbucks today and the barista spelled my name wrong /nav”
- “My mom is backseat driving on the roadtrip. Some things never change lol /nav”
- “I wish more places offered dahlia piercings. Why is so hard to schedule an appointment?? /av”
/t: teasing Individuals add the /t tag to messages, posts, and replies when they’re trying to appear light-hearted and playful. It carries a similar energy to the /lh (light-hearted) tag.
- “You would know a lot about that, wouldn’t you… /t”
- “I thought you said you were giving up chocolate for the rest of the month! /t”
- “Wow, some Giants fan you are… /t”
/npa: not passive aggressive The /npa tag indicates that the original message or post is not intended to be passive-aggressive. It's particularly useful for ambiguous posts that could be misinterpreted.
- “If that’s what you want to do, that’s fine. /npa”
- “Sorry! I was just kidding /npa”
How to Utilize Tone Indicators
Use tone indicators after texts or posts to ensure clarity of meaning. Tone indicators are a useful method to remove ambiguity from digital conversations and avoid misunderstandings. For instance, when replying to a Twitter thread with a sarcastic remark or posting a joke that might be misinterpreted, appending a tone indicator of your choice at the end of your message can help convey your intentions clearly.
- “I’ve never heard that one before! /sar”
- “TIL that door hinge rhymes with orange /j”
Effective Strategies for Tone Indicators
Respect others' choices to use tone indicators, even if you don't. While not everyone prefers tone indicators, many individuals, particularly those in the neurodivergent community, find them invaluable for navigating online interactions. Even if you opt not to use tone indicators yourself, it's important to respect others' decisions to utilize them in digital conversations.
- If someone requests that you incorporate tone tags in your future interactions, consider doing so. Tone indicators can significantly enhance someone's online experience.
Avoid using tone indicators as the punchline of a joke. While tone tags might not be your preference, it's essential to refrain from using them in jest or to mock those who rely on them for effective digital communication. Everyone deserves to feel safe and understood online, irrespective of their use of tone indicators.
Limit the use of tone indicators to 1-2 instead of employing multiple at once. Overusing tone tags can come across as condescending, so it's preferable to keep it simple. Opt for 1 or 2 tone indicators that accurately convey the tone of your message rather than adding 3 or 4 tags at the end.
- What to avoid: “OMG you look gorgeous!! /gen /p /nfl”
- What to do: “OMG you look gorgeous!! /p”
