Minnesotans Are Now Most Confused By These Acronyms

Minnesotans are generally a smart bunch, right? Our state usually ranks reasonably high on the list of smartest states in the nation. But yet, many Minnesotans say they are still befuddled by some of these popular acronyms.

If you sometimes feel like the internet has a language of its own, it turns out you’re not the only one who is feeling a little confused here in Minnesota. Technology is ever-changing these days, and trying to keep up with the latest and greatest new features can sometimes be a little overwhelming.

Especially if whatever it is you're trying to master here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes features several new terms you're unfamiliar with. And, of course, it's sometimes even MORE confusing if those terms are replaced by acronyms, right?

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And in case you, like me, needed a quick refresher on just what an acronym is, I got you covered. Dictionary.com defines an acronym as 'a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word.' A common acronym here in Minnesota is MnDOT, which of course refers to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Acronyms have always played an important role in the speed and clarity of online communication. But just which acronyms are the most confusing here in the North Star State? That's what a new survey set to find out. Social media experts at How Sociable analyzed Google searches for common internet acronyms, to find out which ones have Minnesotans scratching their heads the most.

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How Sociable analyzed the number of searches for each standalone acronym combined with 'what does acronym mean', 'acronym meaning' and 'what does acronym stand for’ to find which ones confuse us the most. Here are their results:

The Most Googled Acronyms in Minnesota (And What They Mean)

1. SMH - 'Shaking My Head' (or 'Smack My Head')
2. TBH - 'To Be Honest'
3. POV - 'Point Of View'
4. NSWF - 'Not Safe For Work'
5. LMAO - 'Laughing My Ass Off'
6. OP - 'Original Post'
7. TTYL - 'Talk To You Later'
8. AFK - 'Away From Keyboard'
9. TLDR - 'Too Long, Didn't Read'
10. IIRC - 'If I Recall Correctly'
11. TFW - 'That Feeling When'
12. FTW - 'For The Win'
13. NFS - 'Not For Sale'
14. FWIW - 'For What It's Worth'
15. IMO - 'In My Opinion'

Of course, new acronyms are being coined all the time both here in Minnesota, and across the country as new inventions and features become more common, while other acronyms eventually fall out of fashion and go away.

Now that you've passed this acronym test, just how would you do on another popular Minnesota test? Like, the written test you have to take to get your driver's permit here in Minnesota. Could you pass it today? Keep scrolling to find out!

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