The initialism1 IMHO stands for "in my humble opinion". It's commonly used in text-based communication (chat clients, forums, popular Q&A platforms). Here's an example:
Person A: What do you think about implementing this new feature request?
Person B: The cost for that change outweighs the relatively minor benefit IMHO.
I feel that:
- On one hand, mentioning one's own humility seems a bit...ironic (or possibly even sarcastic), which is rude.
- On the other hand, it's possible that, for most people, this reads the same as "IMO" (in my opinion) - which sounds more neutral, and thus is not rude.
Is "IMHO" a rude thing to say (or type)? Why or why not?
I'd appreciate answers with facts, references, or significant personal experiences if possible (as opposed to just opinions), as I realize this is somewhat subjective.
1: I just learned this word today!