TONE INDICATORS
what they are, why you should use them, where and when to use them and how to use them.
made by marquez gauvnchi
| indicator | meaning | example |
|---|---|---|
| /j | joking | i’m quitting rpw now. /j |
| /hj | half joking | college is scary. /hj |
| /srs | serious | making ic captions are hard. /srs |
| /s, /sarc | sarcasm | i love mathematics. /s |
| /nsrs | not serious | i failed a test, ig i’m okay. /nsrs |
| /g | genuine statement | i’m grateful to my friends. /g |
| /lh | light-hearted | [used when you are correcting someone in a calm and nice manner, this will indicate that you are doing it without any intention of making fun of them] |
| /nm | not mad/upset | [used when you have an opinion that can be misunderstood by others, this will indicate that you’re not really mad and just explaining] |
| /pos, /pc | positive connotation | [words that conjure a favorable emotional response] |
| /ly, /l | lyrics | [used to avoid confusion and misunderstanding if you’re going to post some lyrics] |
| /neg, /nc | negative connotation | [the bad feeling or emotion that is attached to a word] eg. may pasok na naman. /nc |
| /p | platonic | i wanna hug you. /p [showing affection with no sexual intent] |
| /gen | genuine question | saan ka naiinlove, port or op? /gen |
| /t | teasing | ang asim oh. /t |
| /ref | reference | [mentioning of something and describing it] |
| /nbh | nobody here | [you’re venting out to someone who’s not in the group or around] eg. pabago bago naman ng jowa. /nbh |
| /r | romantic | [if you’re saying something romantic-ish] |
| /sx, /x | sexual intent | [used for intimacy and sexual things] |
| /nsx, /nx | non-sexual intent | [used to clarify that your statement is not sexual] |
| /m | metaphorical | [used to indicate that a metaphor is present on a sentence/statement] |
| /li | literal | the rat is as big as my kitten. /li |
| /ij | inside joke | [joke that is shared exclusively by a small group of people but be careful of using them because it can be insensitive and offensive] |
| /rh, /rt | rhetorical | [to make a point rather a question] eg. sino nagtanong? /rh |
| /hyp | hyperbole | [used to indicate exaggerating sentences or statements] |
| /c | copypasta | [copy and pasted text] |
| /f | fake | - |
| /th | threat | [panakot, a statement intended to scare someone] |
| /cb | clickbait | [content whose main purpose is to attract attention] |
| /a | affectionate | [expressing a feeling or fondness] |
| /q | quote | [to indicate that your statement includes a quote] |
| /nf | not forced | want to be my date tonight? /nf |
| /pa | passive-aggressive | eg. backhanded compliments |
| /npa | not passive aggressive | eg. direct and can communicate well to solve an issue |
in an online world, how can we approach others without being misunderstood and misinterpreted? people, specially the youth are now becoming vocal with the presence of social media. these are some things you need to know about tone indicators.
Tone indicators are letters added to the end of written sentences to convey intention. they are shorthand for words used to convey tone, which the Cambridge Dictionary defines as "a quality in the voice that expresses the speaker's feelings or thoughts".
When people put tone indicators after every sentence, some neurodivergent individuals have pointed out that they feel like they’re being talked down to. One Twitter user said, “Tone indicators are very very helpful but whenever people overuse them I kinda get the feeling they r making fun of me.”point proven, we shouldn’t overuse tone indicators. they are made to put your intended feelings on your post, not to offend someone and escape while saying, if the shoe fits, wear it. we should still be careful, everyone’s feelings are valid.
Tone can be especially difficult to parse for neurodivergent people. This is not to say that neurotypical people never misunderstand tone through text, or even face-to-face, because they do — but that neurodivergent people may experience and interpret tone differently.
NOTES TO REMEMBER
Keep in mind that tone indicators, especially /srs, should NOT be used as a joke. Often, people love to joke about things and then say things such as, “I literally would!” or “I’m not kidding!” Although this may be how one feels in the moment, but it can be offensive and might be harmful to someone who will see it.Don't make fun of tone indicators. They serve a good purpose for people who really need them, and help avoid misunderstandings and conflict.Include tone indicators in the original post. Often, I will see people who forget to put indicators on their post appropriately, and will only comment "/nbh” or "/nsrs". doing this can lead to miscommunications.Usually just one or two indicator is enough. do not use multiple, it can cause misunderstandings.patience and understanding. not everyone can understand you. If you didn't use a tone indicator, people might ask for one, or misinterpret you. Just politely explain, move on, and keep in mind to use a tone indicator for clarity next time.The most common ones, in my personal experience, are "/j", "/s", "/srs", "/p", "/r", "/ly", "neg", "pos", "/gen" and "/c". This is by no means an exhaustive list or guide as to what you should be using, just the tone indicators that seem most prevalent, as well as pertinent!