Acronym Reference
Terminology short form is rampant these days, used by writers, booksellers and reviewers. Sometimes, the industry abbreviations can look like gobbledygook, but there is meaning behind the mess.
Here are some acronyms that are popular in the industry. IOHO, no matter what audience they are intended for, you should use them sparingly and wisely. If the descriptors start to look like hieroglyphics, it’s time to get back to basics and whip out the long hand.
Also, if the “F word” offends you, stop reading when you get to TGIF on the list below. (Fair warning though, many of our reviewers use colourful language in their postings, which is ok with Saucy.) If profanity does not offend, then read on, our brave and saucy friend!
IMO = In My Opinion
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
IOHO = In Our Humble Opinion (Hey, how many peeps are writing this review?!?)
HEA = Happily Ever After
HFN = Happy For Now (Not quite happy “ever after”, but not a painful cliffhanger either)
H/H = Hero/Heroine
UF = Urban Fantasy
PNR = Paranormal Romance
HR = Historical Romance
ER = Erotic Romance
IR = Interracial Romance
CR = Contemporary Romance
RS = Romantic Suspense
YA = Young Adult
NA = New Adult
TBR = To Be Read
TSTL = Too Stupid To Live
SMH = Shaking my head
IIRC = If I Recall/Remember Correctly
MTC = My two cents or more to come or masturbate to cartoons (In the name of clarity, best to not use this one!)
POV = Point of view
DNF = Did Not Finish
OOP = Out Of Print
ARC = Advanced Reader Copy
BOTM = Book of the month
TGIF = Thank Goodness it’s Friday (OK, this isn’t really for book reviews, but it is a good one!)
LOL = Laughing out loud
LMAO = Laughing my ass off
LMFAO = Laughing my Fucking ass off (Also the name of a popular US electronic dance music duo… “Party Rock Anthem” anyone?)
ROFLMAO = Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off
WTF = What the Fuck!
FFS = For fuck’s sake!
SQUEE = Yippee! (A fangirl or fanboy nerding out and squealing in excitement)
OMG = Oh My God!
OMG SQUEE = Oh My God Yippee!
NSFW = Not Safe For Work (aka. Not Suitable For Work)
POS = Piece of shit (Or point of sale, but likely piece of poop)
RSVP = répondez, s’il vous plait (It’s French, but in English it means “please reply”)
RSVPFU = English is “Here’s my reply: go Fuck yourself” (Um…doesn’t properly translate back to French)
BBW = Big beautiful woman
MF = Male with Female
MFM = Male with Female with Male (aka “menage a trois” where Males don’t usually touch)
MMF = Male with Male with Female (aka “menage a trois” where everyone touches)
FF = Female with Female (Rinse and repeat for each addition F letter)
MM = Male with Male (Rinse and repeat for each additional M letter)
BDSM = Bondage Discipline Sadism Masochism (aka: Bondage & Discipline (B&D), Dominance & Submission (D&S), and Sadism & Masochism (S&M))
BD = Bondage & Discipline
DS = Dominance & Submission
SM = Sadism & Masochism
DUBCON = dubious consent (not usually as extreme as forced submission)
TABOO = (not an acronym but a full word) includes sex acts with minors, forced prostitution, bestiality, incest, necrophilia etc. (an action generally either illegal or considered anathema by mainstream society)
If you want to propose any codes missing from the list, please let us know via the Contact Saucy page.
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