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Nov 2, 2023 · One of the most ubiquitous uses of "J" online, especially in text-based mediums like messaging and social media, is to indicate a joke or sarcasm. Adding "/j" to the end of a statement became a way to convey the message should not be taken literally or seriously. This grew naturally out of the difficulties in discerning tone from plain text.
- Overview
- What are tone indicators?
- Common Tone Indicators
- How do I use tone indicators?
- Best Practices for Tone Indicators
What do tone indicators like /j, /srs, and /s mean?
How do I use tone indicators?
Maybe you’re reading through a Twitter post or texting a friend when you see a tag at the end of the message, like
, these tags are popping up more and more frequently in the digital world—but what exactly do they mean? We’ve got you covered. Read on to learn everything there is to know about tone indicators, including a full list of the most common tone tags out there.
Add tone indicators to any social media posts or texts that could be misinterpreted by the recipient or reader.
Respect other people’s decisions to use tone indicators, and only use 1-2 tags at a time if you’re adding them to your own posts.
Tone indicators are tags that describe the tone of a text or online post.
They’re written with a backslash (/) followed by an acronym or shortened version of a word (like /nm for not mad or /j for joking). Many people use them online to provide a little bit of extra clarity to their posts and replies.
Although tone indicators are fairly new, the concept of tone tags definitely isn’t. In the late 1500s, British printer Henry Denham tried using the percontation symbol (⸮) to show whether a question was open-ended, or whether it could be answered with one word.
Tone indicators help prevent miscommunication in digital spaces.
Body language plays a really big role in how we interpret what other people are saying, which makes online communication a bit difficult to navigate at times. Tone indicators provide an obvious, concrete way to understand someone else’s tone in the digital world, whether it’s over text or on social media.
Tone indicators are especially helpful for members of the neurodivergent community, who appreciate the extra context that tone tags offer.
/j and /hj: joking and half-joking
People use this tone indicator to show that their text/post is a joke and not meant to be taken seriously. The
tag is another common tone indicator used in situations where someone is partially serious as well as partially joking.
“Dude you look like you haven’t slept in a week /j”
“That’s it. I’m logging out of Twitter for the rest of my life. /j”
“Take that White Sox hat off right now!!!! /hj”
Add tone indicators after texts or posts to make the meaning extra clear.
Tone indicators are a a helpful way to make your digital conversations unambiguous, as well as prevent any unwanted miscommunication. Let’s say that you’re replying to a Twitter thread with a pretty sarcastic response, or you’re posting a joke that could potentially get lost in translation—adding a tone indicator of your choice to the end of your message can help make your intentions as clear as possible.
“I’ve never heard that one before! /sar”
“TIL that door hinge rhymes with orange /j”
Respect a person’s decision to use tone indicators even if you don’t use them.
Not everyone is a fan of tone indicators, but many people find them to be an invaluable way to navigate online spaces (especially members of the neurodivergent community). Even if you choose not use tone indicators yourself, be courteous of other people’s decisions to use them in online conversations.
If someone asks you to use tone tags in your future conversations/interactions, feel free to do so! Tone indicators can make a really big difference in a person’s online experience.
Never use tone indicators as the punchline of a joke.
Tone tags may not be your cup of tea—and that’s totally okay! What isn’t okay is using tone tags as a joke, or to make fun of someone who relies on tone indicators in their digital communication. Everyone has the right to feel safe and understood online, regardless of whether or not they use tone tags.
Stick to 1-2 tone indicators instead of using many at once.
Apr 8, 2024 · The symbol /J is a variation of the letter “J” and is commonly used in online communication to convey a specific meaning or emotion. It is often used as a shorthand way to express sarcasm or irony. The slash (/) before the letter “J” adds a visual element that enhances the intended message. #Ad.
Oct 14, 2020 · joking A tone indicator placed at the end of online messages to show that they are said in a joking manner, not to be taken seriously.
Jul 15, 2022 · Texting slang involves sending shortened messages between mobile devices. This texting slang dictionary helps you quickly find all the most common abbreviations.
- Michele Meleen
- Staff Editor
- admin@yourdictionary.com
Aug 1, 2021 · Tone tags/indicators are short text at the end of a message to let the reader know how the message is meant to be read, clear up any misunderstanding, or simply tell what the tone is.The tag is separated from the message it is indicating by a slash /. Tone tags are especially useful for neurodivergent folk, as they can have a harder time ...
Anywhere over text! Social media, texting, e-mails — anywhere that tone is ambiguous, and hard to pick up on. Using "/j" ruins the joke! To you, maybe, but think about how you can go into a sitcom, knowing full well that its genre is comedy and its intent is to make you laugh, and still find it funny.
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