Alright, let’s talk about them business letter thingies, you know, the short words they use. I heard some folks call ’em “abbreviations.” Sounds fancy, but it ain’t nothin’ but makin’ words shorter, like when you say “don’t” instead of “do not.” Same kinda deal, just in them letters for business.
Now, I ain’t no scholar, mind you. I just know what I see. And I seen a whole bunch of these short words in them letters my grandson gets from the city. He’s always doin’ some kinda business, buyin’ and sellin’, I guess. So, these letters, they got stuff like “ASAP” and “FYI.” Darned if I knew what they meant at first.
ASAP, that one means “as soon as possible.” Like, “get it done quick, ya hear?” And FYI, that’s “for your information.” Just tellin’ ya somethin’, not askin’ ya to do nothin’ about it, mostly.
Then there’s RSVP. That’s French, I think. Sounds all hoity-toity, but it just means “tell me if you’re comin’ or not.” Like for a weddin’ or a party. You gotta let folks know if you’re gonna be there, so they know how much food to make. Makes sense, right?
- Attn: Means “attention.” Like, who the letter’s for. You know, puttin’ their name on it.
- cc: Used to mean “carbon copy,” back when they used that thin paper to make copies. Now it just means you’re sendin’ the letter to more than one person.
- Encl: Means “enclosure.” Like, there’s somethin’ else in the envelope with the letter, maybe a check or a picture.
And don’t forget ETA. That ain’t about eatin’, no sir. It means “estimated time of arrival.” Like, when somethin’ or someone is gonna get there. You hear that a lot on the TV when they talk about airplanes.
There’s a whole bunch more of these abbreviations, too many to remember, if you ask me. But they use ’em all the time in them business letters. Makes things quicker, I guess, but it can be mighty confusin’ if you don’t know what they mean.
Sometimes, I see these things in them crossword puzzles, too. My grandaughter, she loves them puzzles. She’s always askin’ me, “Grandma, what’s a three-letter word for ‘as soon as possible’?” And I tell her, “It’s ASAP, honey. Now leave me be, I gotta watch my stories.”
It’s like a secret code, almost. But once you learn a few, you start to see ’em everywhere. It’s like learnin’ a new language, kinda. A language of short words, I reckon.
P.S. That means “postscript.” It’s somethin’ you add at the end of the letter, after you already signed it. Like, “Oh, and one more thing…” See? They even got a short word for that!
So, there you have it. A little bit about them business letter abbreviations. Nothin’ too fancy, just plain talk. Hope it helps ya understand them city folks and their short words a little better. And if you see one you don’t know, just ask. Ain’t no shame in not knowin’. We all gotta learn somehow.
FAQ, that’s another one! Means “frequently asked questions”. See, they just keep comin’! But don’t you worry none. You’ll get the hang of it. Just takes a little time, that’s all.
And remember, COB ain’t nothin’ about corn on the cob! It means “close of business”. That’s when the workday is done, you know. Time to go home and put your feet up.
Now, I gotta go make some supper. All this talk about letters and short words made me hungry. You take care now, ya hear?
Tags: Business letter, Abbreviation, Crossword, Business, Letters, Communication, Shortcuts, Abbreviations, Business communication, Business terms
