✶ Johnny's Comprehensive Guide to Tone Tags ✶

✶ Johnny's Easy-to-Read Guide on Understanding Tone Tags ✶

Tone tags. We've all heard of them at some point, seen those confusing little slashes at the end of the sentence, and maybe wondered why it looks like somebody put the tail's end of a keyboard smash into their message. What's the point of these? And why are there so many? Keeping up with them is like trying to organize a library alphabetically without looking at the covers — it seems impossible. Right?

Well, it doesn't have to be. My guide is simple, devoid of graphics, and utilizes only the most basic HTML coding to get the point across. Simply put: it'll tell you what you need to know, without all of the time-consuming filler paragraphs.

First, some people might wonder why we utilize tone tags in the first place. Now, as with all readings, just remember that my word is not rule. I ask that you continue to remain openminded towards different definitions and uses of tone tags even after understanding my explanation.

A bit of background on me and my "qualifications" (for lack of a better term) to make this thread: I am neurodivergent, extremely so. I am clinically diagnosed with ADHD and self-diagnosed (after months of research, talking to autistic peers, reconciling with family, etc.) with autism. The only reason I have not pursued an autism diagnosis is because people who are assigned female at birth, such as myself, tend to face more issues both medically and in a business climate if we have an autism diagnosis. I do not want a diagnosis to prohibit me from medically transitioning. The reason I explain myself is because I recognize that some people don't quite understand self-diagnosis, and I want to make it clear that I'm not just throwing words around.

So, the purpose of tone tags is to effectively and concisely state the context and/or nature of a text message, post, or other form of online communication that may otherwise be interpreted negatively without tags. Neurodivergent people, such as myself (though, please note that neurodivergency encompasses many more people than just those with autism and ADHD) often benefit from tone tags as we may have a hard time discerning the meaning of a text message without them. Not every neurodivergent person requires tone tags, and some need more (or less) than others. Also, people without neurodivergency can require tone tags; they are not necessarily an exclusive thing.

Overall, just remember that the need for tags varies from person to person, and that people have different preferences. Use appropriate tags if you are unsure what those participating in conversation require, then adjust future encounters once you learn their needs. For example: if you say, "Oh my god, I'm gonna block you.", one person may require the tone tag /j, while others may be able to interpret that you are joking. If you're unsure, utilize a tone tag just to be safe. Also, try not to go overboard with tags; they are often misused outside of the neurodivergent community as a way to infantilize and mock those who need them.

With all the blabber out of the way, onto the tags!

✶ Common Tone Tags & Their Meanings ✶

• /j - joking
• /hj - half joking
• /lh - lighthearted
• /t - teasing
• /s - sarcastic
• /srs - serious
• /nsrs - not serious
• /li - literally
• /p - platonic
• /r - romantic
• /gen - genuine question
• /rh and/or /rt - rhetorical question
• /g - genuine comment (EX: "Wow, I love your outfit! /g" prevents the comment from sounding sarcastic.)
• /q - quote
• /ly and/or /lyr - lyrics
• /nm - not mad
• /npa - not passive aggressive
• /eth and/or /et - empty threat
• /ovd - overdramatic
• /nbh - nobody here (Used in venting, it makes it clear that the post is not intended to be a subliminal jab to someone else.)
• /pos and/or /pc - positive connotation/meaning
• /neg and/or /nc - negative connotation/meaning
• /c - copypasta (Note that it IS used differently in some scenarios, including WolvDen chat; /c can also mean continued, and almost always does in chat on this site. Here, it's utilized to signal that a response to a conversation cannot fit in the chatbox's 150 character limit, and thus must be sent in more than one message.)

✶ Extra Tips & Tricks ✶

This list encompasses most of the well-known and commonly-used tone tags on the internet. There are more than this, but some of them I felt didn't need to be expressed on WolvDen due to their nature (as some clarified whether or not a message conveyed sexual intent, and others just weren't applicable to general WolvDen conversation). I know some people don't know all of the tone tags outside of this, so I want it to be known that any questions about tone tags can be directed to my private messages. I am absolutely willing to explain them and help make the internet a more inclusive place for neurodivergent individuals.

As for tips, try not to use too many tags in one sentence. We may misunderstand tone from time to time, but neurodivergent people are not children, nor are we stupid. So many people mock tone tags by overusing them as a meme, and using too many implies that you believe we can't understand you at all. Here are some examples.

GOOD USAGE OF TONE TAGS:

➝ "Hey, next time, can you ask me before you do that? I'd like to know beforehand. /nm"
🛈 /npa could work here, too; just remember to be aware of a person's personal preferences.

➝ "Why don't you like ___? Is there a particular reason? /gen"
🛈 Adding /gen can help make a question sound less sarcastic and/or passive aggressive. Technically, /npa could be added here, but /gen is more universal and accurate.

BAD USAGE OF TONE TAGS:

➝ "I hate you so much sometimes. /j /lh /s /t /nsrs"
🛈 This is too many tone tags. After using /j, it becomes obvious that this statement is a joke, so it is unnecessary to clarify that it's also lighthearted, sarcastic, teasing, and not serious. We can infer this from the /j tag alone. Of course, some people dislike jokes like this, and some may require the /nsrs tagged onto the /j; just make sure you're aware of people's preferences.

➝ "Why would you do that? It seems so blatantly unnecessary. /gen /npa /nm"
🛈 Usually, the /gen tag indicates that it's an actual question that somebody is asking, and not mockery or sarcasm. If you really feel that your question sounds rude, you can tag /nm OR /npa onto it, but generally, there's no reason to put so many tags onto a question.

✶ Thank You! ✶

If you made it this far, thank you for reading this post! It means a lot to me that you're interested in learning about tone tags, whether it's just to understand them or to better benefit neurodivergent people. Each time something becomes normalized, we make the internet just a tiny bit better for those we may call friends, and even those we call strangers.

REMEMBER: all questions can be directed to my inbox! I'm happy to answer to the best of my abilities. Have an amazing day!