BTW
BTW means “by the way.” It introduces a side comment, an extra detail, or a change of subject.
What does BTW mean?
BTW is short for “by the way.” It works exactly like the spoken phrase: you use it to add something that’s related but not the main point, or to bring up something new. It can go at the start, middle or end of a message.
It’s one of the few texting abbreviations that also shows up in fairly professional messages, since “by the way” is neutral in tone.
How to use BTW
- “Btw, the meeting moved to Thursday.”
- “Great photos! Btw, where was that beach?”
- “I finished the book, which was amazing btw.”
- “Not to change the subject, but btw, did you pay the electricity bill?”
Tone: casual or passive-aggressive?
Usually it’s just casual. But a pointed “btw” can carry an edge, especially when it’s attached to a reminder or a correction: “Btw, it was my turn to pick the restaurant.” As with most abbreviations, the words around it set the tone.
Where BTW comes from
BTW dates back to early online communication, such as Usenet newsgroups, email and chat rooms, where “by the way” was common enough to abbreviate. Its first use isn’t documented.
Related terms
See more terms like this in our texting abbreviations guide.
Example sentence
Btw, I borrowed your charger, I’ll bring it back tomorrow.
Similar words
by the way, fyi
Notes
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