Alphanumeric abbreviations in English

Question

I've been running across some interesting abbreviations on the internet. For example:

b4: before
w8: wait

I find it clever because you use just 2 letters to express a longer word. What's the origin of these abbreviations? Can you please provide a full list of them?

Answer 1

I would think most, if not all, of these diminutives have evolved with the texting/IM culture. Before the days of cellphones with full keyboards, users saved space and, perhaps, time using these abbreviations. The general rule is to replace a syllable with the figure of the number that sounds most like it.

Most of these abbreviations, however, consist of more than two characters e.g. "9ce" (nice), "gr8" (great), "2moro" (tomorrow), etc. You could also invent yours e.g. "d8" (date), "f8" (fate), but who uses these?!

Answer 2

Such abbreviations are older than the Internet, though they became popular through text messaging on mobile phones, before spreading to Internet-based chat and beyond.

The oldest instance that I know of is Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man. The original version serialized in the Galaxy magazine in 1952 featured such characters as T8 and $$son. The subsequent novel publication was edited to tone down the use of such abbreviations, but there are still characters called @kins and ¼maine. Randall Garrett wrote a review in verse whose beginning and ending I will quote here:

In the far & distant future — you can pick the d8 2 suit yourself …
… are the (ter of Reich.

(Pronounce ( as parenthesis; it's not an exact match.)

Answer 3

Well, they are a variety of shorthand, most notably on the rise because of text messaging (SMS - sending textual messages via mobile/cellular phones).

Essentially the concept is to type phonetically, using the numbers that are comprised of a standard syllable: 1,2,4,8. (3 tends not to be used.)

The spelling contractions, lack of punctuation and phonetic replacements are extensive and most words that can lose letters whilst still remaining loosely readable do so; a lot of acronyms are thrown in to the mix as well. Therefore you get a multitude of sins produced in this medium, usually blamed for the downfall of literacy in youth.

Some example uses: (apologies)

hi m8, u out 2nite? - "Hi mate, [are] you [coming] out tonight?"

we 1! - "We won!"

w8 4 me m8, no1 else 2come. - "Wait for me mate, no one else to come [after me]."

Fortunately some people do still use proper English in such messages, but it is surprisingly uncommon. Most people seem very happy to dispense with the rules of language.