Almost all online dating sites use Instant messaging (IM) and chat technology. Just like talking on the phone, Instant Messaging allows instantaneous communication between two or more participants. That's why it's important to respond to your chat partner(s) in a timely fashion - take too long to reply and they may lose interest.

To help keep your online conversation flowing at a steady pace, we put together a list of the most common chat and IM shortcuts. Print out a copy and place it next to your computer.

• AFK - Away From Keyboard
• ADN: Any Day Now
• AKA: Also Known As
• ASAP - As Soon as Possible
• ASL: Age/Sex/Location
• AWYR: Awaiting Your Reply
• B4N:Bye for Now
• BAK: Back At Keyboard
• BBL: Be Back Later
• BCNU: Be Seeing You
• BEG: Big Evil Grin
• BF: Boyfriend
• BFFL: Best Friends For Life
• BTAIM: Be That as it May
• BTU: Back to You
• BS: Big Smile
• BTW: By The Way
• BWK: Big Wet Kiss
• CBL: Come Back Later
• CIO: Check It Out
• CU: See You
• CUL: Catch you Later
• CWYL: Chat With You Later
• DIKU : do I Know You?
• DLN: Don't Leave Now
• DTLM: Don't Lie To Me
• EG: Evil Grin
• F2F: Face To Face
• FOTCL: Falling Off the Chair Laughing
• FWIW: For What it's Worth
• FYI: For Your Information
• G2G : Got To Go
• GAL: Get a Life
• GFAK: Go Fly a Kite
• GL: Good Luck
• GMAB: Give Me A Break
• GOI: Get Over It
• GTSY: Glad to See You
• HB: Hurry Back
• H&K: Hug and Kiss
• HAK: Hug and Kisses
• HIG: How's it Going
• ICBW: I Could be Wrong
• IDC: I Don't Care
• IDK: I Don't Know
• IDST: I Didn't Say That
• IGP: I Gotta Pee
• IMO: In My Opinion
• IRL: In Real Life
• ISO: In Search OF
• J/K: Just Kidding
• JAM: Just a Minute
• JAS: Just a Second
• KIT: Keep In Touch
• L8R: Later
• LDR: Long Distance Relationship
• LOL: Laughing Out Loud
• LOLA: Laughing Out Loud Again
• LTR: Long Term Relationship
• MB: Mate
• M/F: Male or Female
• MRS:Meet Real Soon
• MWBRL: More Will be Revealed Later
• MYOB: Mind Your Own Business
• N1: Nice One
• N2S: Neddless to Say
• NOYB: None of Your Business
• NP: No Problem
• NRN: No Response Necessary
• NTTAWWT: Not That There's Anything Wrong With That
• NW: No Way
• OBTW: Oh, By the Way
• OIC: Oh I See
• OT: Off Topic
• PDA: Public Display Of Affection
• PLS: Please
• RBTL: Read Between the Lines
• ROFL: Rolling on the Floor Laughing
• RUOK: Are You Ok?
• SOL: Sooner or Later
• SOMY: Sick of me yet?
• TAFN: That's all for Now
• TAH: Take a Hike
• TBDL: To Be Discussed Later
• TIAIL: Think I am in Love
• TMI: Too Much Information
• TNTC: Too Numerous to Count
• TTFN: Ta ta for Now
• TTYL: Talk to you later
• TTYS: Talk to you Soon
• TYVM: Thank You Very Much
• TX: Thanks
• VM: Voice mail
• WGTG: Well, Got to Go
• WTGP: What to Go Private
• WUF: Where Are You From
• WRU: Who Are You
• WYS: Whatever you Say
• YNK: You Never Know
• YW: Your Welcome