F.Y.I.

  • Thread starter Thread starter paulb203
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The abbreviation FYI, commonly understood as "For your information," predates the internet, as evidenced by its use in early media like The Twilight Zone. Similarly, the acronym "lol," often associated with online communication, has historical roots, including its use in medical shorthand to refer to "little old lady" in "no apparent distress." Additionally, the practice of using abbreviations has a long history, dating back to 19th-century Morse code telegraphy, which utilized contractions for efficiency. This trend continues today with airport recognition symbols and stock market tickers that feature corporate abbreviations.
paulb203
Messages
194
Reaction score
75
I thought, until just now, that the FYI abbreviation for 'For your information', was an internet creation, but I just heard it on episode 2 of the first series of The Twilight Zone.
 
Science news on Phys.org
paulb203 said:
I thought, until just now, that the FYI abbreviation for 'For your information', was an internet creation, but I just heard it on episode 2 of the first series of The Twilight Zone.
Many TLA's have been around for some time.
 
PeroK said:
Many TLA's have been around for some time.
Yeah. Turns out 'lol' might even be pre-internet.
 
paulb203 said:
Yeah. Turns out 'lol' might even be pre-internet.
Correct. In medical shorthand a lol in nad signifies a "little old lady" in "no apparent distress".

Morse code telegraphy from 19th Century abbreviated and contracted every possible word. Remnants persist such as Morse radio beacons broadcasting airport recognition symbols (DEN for Denver) and stock market chirons displaying corporate abbreviations originally printed on paper ticker tapes (NBC on NYSE).
 
  • Like
Likes paulb203, BillTre and PeroK
Historian seeks recognition for first English king https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d07w50e15o Somewhere I have a list of Anglo-Saxon, Wessex and English kings. Well there is nothing new there. Parts of Britain experienced tribal rivalries/conflicts as well as invasions by the Romans, Vikings/Norsemen, Angles, Saxons and Jutes, then Normans, and various monarchs/emperors declared war on other monarchs/emperors. Seems that behavior has not ceased.

Similar threads

Back
Top