TL;DR means โtoo long; didnโt readโ in business documents and communications. A TL;DR is a summary of the main points for people who need the information but donโt 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 donโt have time to read.
When you need to write a TL;DR of a business document, QuillBotโs free executive summary generator will instantly provide a concise summary.
Read this FAQ: What does TLDR mean in business?
TL;DR means โtoo long; didnโt readโ 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, itโs usually a form of criticism. A more polite response is, โIโm sorry. I donโt have time to read this. Could you tell me the short version?โ
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 readerโs time (e.g., TL;DR I have tried that new ramen place, and itโs 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.
Read this FAQ: What does TLDR mean in texting?
TL;DR means โtoo long; didnโt readโ on Reddit, where it can be a response to a long post that someone else wrote or the writerโs summary of their own post.
When people respond TL;DR on Reddit, itโs usually impolite, dismissive, and unnecessary.
However, if you write a long post on Reddit, you can include a TL;DR (a 1โ2 sentence summary of the main idea or key takeaway) at the end of your post as a courtesy (e.g., โTL;DR Kansas City has a lot to offer for young, single professionalsโ).
When you encounter posts that are too long for you to read, why not try QuillBotโs free Summarizer? It will automatically show you the main points.
Read this FAQ: What does TLDR mean on Reddit?
The abbreviation for โet ceteraโ is โetc.โ (with one period after the โcโ), not e.t.c. or etc (with two periods or no period). Use a period at the end of โetc.โ whether itโs 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 QuillBotโs free Grammar Checker? It can instantly show you how to write โetc.โ and other common abbreviations.
Read this FAQ: Is it e.t.c. or etc?
Usually, etc. needs a period to show that itโs an abbreviation for โet cetera.โ You need one period after the โc.โ Use a period at the end of โetc.โ whether itโs 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 โetc.โ in text messages, and thatโs 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.
Read this FAQ: Does etc need a period?
Yes, there is a comma before etc. The โetc.โ abbreviation for โet ceteraโ means โand more things,โ so it goes after an Oxford comma that joins a final item to a list. (You donโt need โandโ before โetc.,โ though.) Examples of a comma before โetc.โ 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.
QuillBotโs free Grammar Checker can instantly show you where you need commas in different forms of writing.
Read this FAQ: Is there a comma before etc?
It can be ECT or etc. Use โetc.โ as an abbreviation for the Latin expression โet ceteraโ when you mean โand more of the sameโ at the end of a list. โECTโ is an abbreviation for โelectroconvulsive therapy.โ
Examples of how to use โetc.โ 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 โect.โ are common, but the QuillBot Grammar Checker can instantly find and fix them.
Read this FAQ: Is it etc or ect?
In a text message, etc. means โand other things,โ just like it does in any other piece of writing. โEtc.โ is the abbreviation for โet cetera.โย Itโs used at the end of a list where everything is part of the same category, like these examples:
- Vegans donโt consume any dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt, etc.).
- Megan asked for makeup (lip gloss, eyeshadow, etc.) for her birthday.
- Weโre growing all of the ingredients for salsa in our garden: tomatoes, onions, peppers, etc.
The QuillBot app can help you use โetc.โ correctly in text messages.
Read this FAQ: What does etc mean in a text message?
The difference between AM and PM is that โa.m.โ refers to the hours from noon to midnight, and โp.m.โ 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 โa.m.โ after the first 12 hours of each calendar day. Use the abbreviation โp.m.โ after the hours in the second half of each day.
The abbreviations โa.m.โ and โp.m.โ are usually written in lowercase with periods. QuillBotโs free Grammar Checker can help you format expressions of time correctly in your writing.
Read this FAQ: 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, โa.m.โ and โp.m.โ should be lowercase with a period after each letter (e.g., โIโm serving dinner at 7:30 p.m.โ).
When writing โa.m.โ and โp.m.โ in lowercase, the QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you remember where to use a period.
Read this FAQ: Should AM and PM be capitalized?
