TL;DR
TL;DR or tl;dr, short for "too long; didn't read", is a form of internet slang frequently used to indicate a summary of a longer text or to express that the content was disregarded because of its excessive length.[1][2] It can appear either before presenting a condensed version of a message or as a dismissive remark regarding lengthy communications.[3]
History
[edit]The expression TL;DR emerged in the early 2000s during the growth of online forums and digital communication. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the phrase dates back to a 2002 post on the Usenet newsgrouprec.games.video.nintendo.[4]
In 2009, the term was further popularized through publications like Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined by Aaron Peckham, a printed compilation based on the crowdsourced slang repository Urban Dictionary.[5]
The same year, TL;DR was listed in David Pogue's book World According to Twitter, which collected humorous and insightful tweets.[6]
In August 2013, TL;DR was officially added to Oxford Dictionaries Online, recognizing its widespread use in digital communications.[1] Merriam-Webster also documented the term, noting its establishment as part of modern digital lexicon.[2]
Usage
[edit]TL;DR is commonly used in online discussions, comment sections, and social media posts. Writers often employ the acronym to summarize a preceding lengthy text, allowing readers who prefer brevity to quickly understand the main point.[3] Conversely, readers might use TL;DR as a critique, signaling that a text was excessively verbose or lacked clarity.
The acronym reflects broader concerns about attention span, information overload, and the attention economy in digital communication.[7]
Cultural impact
[edit]The spread of TL;DR has led to its use beyond casual internet exchanges. Some online publications, especially blogs and news websites, include official "TL;DR" sections summarizing articles for quick consumption. Educational, technical, and legal documents have also adopted similar practices to cater to audiences seeking quick access to core information.[8]
Moreover, the style of communication represented by TL;DR has sparked discussions around the value of deep reading versus the convenience of summarization in an era dominated by short-form content.[9]
See also
[edit]
- Abstract
- Attention economy
- Attention span
- BLUF – bottom line up front
- Information overload
- Internet culture
- Skimming (reading)
References
[edit]- ^ ab"Oxford Dictionaries Online quarterly update: new words added to oxforddictionaries.com today". OxfordWords blog. Oxford University Press. 28 August 2013. Archived from the original on 28 August 2013.
TL;DR, abbrev.: 'too long didn't read': used as a dismissive response to a lengthy online post, or to introduce a summary of a lengthy post.
- ^ ab"tl;dr". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
- ^ abJohnson, Dave. "What does TLDR mean? Understanding the internet shorthand for lengthy text and its various uses". Business Insider. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^"tl;dr". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^Peckham, Aaron (1 January 2009). Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7407-8892-5.
- ^Pogue, David (15 August 2009). World According to Twitter. Running Press. ISBN 978-1-60376-173-4.
- ^"Attention Economy". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^"TL;DRs Are Here to Stay". Wired. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^"Is the Internet Shortening Our Attention Spans?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
