What Is 'WRT'? What Does WRT Mean?

"WRT" is "With Respect To." This is internet shorthand for saying "I want to respond to a specific point made earlier in this conversation." WRT is ideal for steering a conversation in the direction you wish to take it.

(User 1) WRT unemployment insurance: I hear that you can travel to Australia as a Canadian citizen and immediately start collecting unemployment the second you step off the plane.

(User 2) Seriously? That's crazy!

(Sheldon) WRT digital SLR cameras: I think that it's a good idea to own both an SLR and a pocket camera. Keep the SLR locked in the car, and carry the pocket camera in your jacket.

(Kristina) That's a good suggestion, considering that pocket cameras are only a hundred bucks these days.

(Carmelle) Well, the Tea Party doesn't actually have a platform, other than taking shots at the Dems. The job of the Tea Party is to foment rage based on nostalgia and the sense of entitlement that many Americans feel.

(Sharmeen) That may be so, but WRT the comment about the Federal Reserve Bank: yes, the Bush family does own a part of the Fed.

(Carmelle) Oh, really? I didn't realize the Bush family was that rich.

(User 1) So she's a criminal and should be locked up!

(User 2) Maybe. WRT to the Benghazi thing: four Americans died there. Do you know how many Americans die each year at the hands of other Americans through gun violence? Over 13,000!

(User 1) No way. That number sounds way too high.

(User 2) You're welcome to call bull**** and see the numbers for yourself. But don't come crying to me saying that four Americans dying in Benghazi is somehow more tragic than 13,000 of our citizens dying at the hands of each other each year.

(Tuan) So, Trump won't accept the election results if he loses. Can you believe this guy?

(Stacy) He's a nutter. And WRT to all these women accusing him of sexual misconduct: how does someone attract that much anger without being a jerk in the first place?

(Tuan) I agree. There's got to be something wrong with the guy to have so many women calling him out for molesting them.

• IMHO (In My Humble Opinion)
• YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
• OTOH (On the Other Hand)

Capitalization is a non-concern when using text message abbreviations and chat jargon. You are welcome to use all uppercase (e.g. ROFL) or all lowercase (e.g. rofl), and the meaning is identical. Avoid typing entire sentences in uppercase, though, as that means shouting in online speak.

Proper punctuation is similarly a non-concern with most text message abbreviations. For example, the abbreviation for 'Too Long, Didn't Read' can be abbreviated as TL;DR or as  TLDR. Both are an acceptable format, with or without punctuation.

Never use periods (dots) between your jargon letters. It would defeat the purpose of speeding up thumb typing. For example, ROFL would never be spelled R.O.F.L., and TTYL would never be spelled T.T.Y.L. 

Knowing when to use jargon in your messaging is about knowing who your audience is, knowing if the context is informal or professional, and then using good judgment. If you know the people well, and it is a personal and informal communication, then absolutely use abbreviation jargon. On the flip side, if you are just starting a friendship or professional relationship with the other person, then it is a good idea to avoid abbreviations until you have developed a relationship rapport.

If the messaging is in a professional context with someone at work, or with a customer or vendor outside your company, then avoid abbreviations altogether. Using full word spellings shows professionalism and courtesy. It is much easier to err on the side of being too professional and then relax your communications over time than doing the inverse.