TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read” in business documents and communications. A TL;DR is a summary of the main points for people who need the information but don’t have time to read the full text.
Business professionals sometimes include a TL;DR on the first page of a lengthy document or in the email that includes an attachment. Someone can also request a TL;DR of a document they received but don’t have time to read.
When you need to write a TL;DR of a business document, QuillBot’s free executive summary generator will instantly provide a concise summary.
Continue reading: What does TLDR mean in business?
TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read” in texting, where it can be a response to a text message or a summary of a long text message that you wrote.
When people respond to a long text message with TL;DR, it’s usually a form of criticism. A more polite response is, “I’m sorry. I don’t have time to read this. Could you tell me the short version?”
When you write a very long text message, you can end it with a TL;DR to acknowledge your own verbosity and/or show respect for your reader’s time (e.g., TL;DR I have tried that new ramen place, and it’s amazing but pricey).
In text messages, TL;DR has capital letters. The QuillBot app will automatically capitalize initialisms like TL;DR when you type them in lowercase.
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TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read” on Reddit, where it can be a response to a long post that someone else wrote or the writer’s summary of their own post.
When people respond TL;DR on Reddit, it’s usually impolite, dismissive, and unnecessary.
However, if you write a long post on Reddit, you can include a TL;DR (a 1–2 sentence summary of the main idea or key takeaway) at the end of your post as a courtesy (e.g., “TL;DR Kansas City has a lot to offer for young, single professionals”).
When you encounter posts that are too long for you to read, why not try QuillBot’s free Summarizer? It will automatically show you the main points.
Continue reading: What does TLDR mean on Reddit?
The abbreviation for “et cetera” is “etc.” (with one period after the “c”), not e.t.c. or etc (with two periods or no period). Use a period at the end of “etc.” whether it’s in the middle or end of a sentence, like these examples:
- The photographer put her camera, lenses, etc. in a black bag.
- Flora can bake anything: pies, cakes, breads, etc.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It can instantly show you how to write “etc.” and other common abbreviations.
Continue reading: Is it e.t.c. or etc?
Usually, etc. needs a period to show that it’s an abbreviation for “et cetera.” You need one period after the “c.” Use a period at the end of “etc.” whether it’s in the middle or end of a sentence, like these examples:
- Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, etc.
- We put the tent, sleeping bags, etc. in the back of the car and drove to a hotel.
People often drop the period for “etc.” in text messages, and that’s usually okay. The period is mainly important in academic essays and other formal writing. In those situations, the QuillBot Grammar Checker can show you when to use a period.
Continue reading: Does etc need a period?
Yes, there is a comma before etc. The “etc.” abbreviation for “et cetera” means “and more things,” so it goes after an Oxford comma that joins a final item to a list. (You don’t need “and” before “etc.,” though.) Examples of a comma before “etc.” include the following:
- The doctor told Ray to avoid jogging, weightlifting, swimming, etc.
- Amanda collects acoustic string instruments (banjos, mandolins, etc.) and plays in a bluegrass band.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can instantly show you where you need commas in different forms of writing.
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It can be ECT or etc. Use “etc.” as an abbreviation for the Latin expression “et cetera” when you mean “and more of the same” at the end of a list. “ECT” is an abbreviation for “electroconvulsive therapy.”
Examples of how to use “etc.” and ETC include the following:
- Chad loves all breakfast foods: eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc.
- One of the side effects of ETC is headaches.
Errors like “ect.” are common, but the QuillBot Grammar Checker can instantly find and fix them.
Continue reading: Is it etc or ect?
In a text message, etc. means “and other things,” just like it does in any other piece of writing. “Etc.” is the abbreviation for “et cetera.” It’s used at the end of a list where everything is part of the same category, like these examples:
- Vegans don’t consume any dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.).
- Megan asked for makeup (lip gloss, eyeshadow, etc.) for her birthday.
- We’re growing all of the ingredients for salsa in our garden: tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc.
The QuillBot app can help you use “etc.” correctly in text messages.
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The difference between AM and PM is that “a.m.” refers to the hours from noon to midnight, and “p.m.” refers to the hours from midnight to noon.
For example, 12:01 a.m. is the minute after midnight, and 11:59 a.m. is the minute before noon. Use the abbreviation “a.m.” after the first 12 hours of each calendar day. Use the abbreviation “p.m.” after the hours in the second half of each day.
The abbreviations “a.m.” and “p.m.” are usually written in lowercase with periods. QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you format expressions of time correctly in your writing.
Continue reading: What is the difference between AM and PM?
AM and PM should usually not be capitalized, but different style guides have different requirements. Unless your style guide says otherwise, “a.m.” and “p.m.” should be lowercase with a period after each letter (e.g., “I’m serving dinner at 7:30 p.m.”).
When writing “a.m.” and “p.m.” in lowercase, the QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you remember where to use a period.
Continue reading: Should AM and PM be capitalized?
