What Does /s Mean?

/s is an acronym that stands for sarcasm, but it can also be used to indicate a statement that’s not to be taken totally seriously. /s is an expression used in a text or conversation to signify that a certain phrase or statement is meant to be interpreted as sarcasm. On the internet, the acronym is commonly written in lower-case letters and without the slash in front of it (/s).

Using /s

When someone writes/uses /s, it signals to the person they’re interacting with that what was said was meant to be jokingly interpreted. However, depending on how one writes/says it, it’s not always easy to detect the sarcasm in the tone and attitude. As a result, people often include /s to make sure the other person knows that they don’t mean what they’re saying in a literal way.

Drawbacks of Using /s

Some people believe that /s is an unnecessary tool as sarcastic comments should already be written in such a way as to make them evident to the reader/hearer. People usually only resort to /s when they’re not sure if their sarcasm is being understood. Moreover, it can appear to be crass if someone posts/says something insulting and then adds /s to it.

Ultimately, the /s abbreviation is a shorthand way of conveying sarcasm without having to go into detail about how something is meant to be taken. However, it’s important to be aware that, when used in written conversations, the sarcasm can be easily missed. In such occasions it’s best to find the right set of words that make the sarcasm clear.