emoticons
Typed facial expressions
Emoticons are combinations of keyboard characters used to convey emotion or tone in text, typically read sideways: :-) for a smile, :-( for a frown, ;-) for a wink.
The term blends *emotion* and *icon*.
Emoticons emerged in early internet communication to clarify intent where tone of voice was absent.
They've been largely supplanted by emoji—actual pictographic images—though the terms are often confused.
Digital cheerful expression
- frownDisapproving facial expression
- winkBrief one-eyed closure
- grinBroad, toothy smile
- tongue outOral muscle extended visibly
eye roll · crying · laughing · blushing · kissing · shrug · facepalm · thinking
Sending typed mobile messages
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- SMSMobile text protocol
- instant messagingLive online text communication
- commentsSpoken or written reactions
captions · reactions · replies · shorthand · internet slang · social media · forums · email
Intense positive emotion
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
- loveIntense fond attachment
frustration · excitement · confusion · embarrassment · gratitude · sarcasm · flirtation · sympathy
Japanese text-based faces
- encodingConverting data to format
- keyboard shortcutsKey combinations for commands
- copy-pasteDuplicate then insert elsewhere
- renderingInterpretive depiction or performance
smiley
Digital cheerful expression
tongue out · eye roll · crying · laughing · blushing · kissing · shrug · facepalm · thinking · sleeping
texting
Sending typed mobile messages
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- SMSMobile text protocol
- instant messagingLive online text communication
comments · captions · reactions · replies · shorthand · internet slang · social media · forums · email · bios
joy
Intense positive emotion
- sadnessState of emotional pain
- angerIntense hostile emotion
- surpriseUnexpected event causing astonishment
love · frustration · excitement · confusion · embarrassment · gratitude · sarcasm · flirtation · sympathy · boredom
kaomoji
Japanese text-based faces
- encodingConverting data to format
- keyboard shortcutsKey combinations for commands
- copy-pasteDuplicate then insert elsewhere
XD
Text-based laughing emoticon
- emojismileys, skin tones, kaomoji
- visual symbolspictograms, pictographs, symbols, glyphs, ideograms
- Dot-com Eradot-com crash, bubble burst, irrational exuberance, IPOs, stock speculation
- text artkaomoji, word art, block letters, bubble letters, smileys
- Online Emotionsstickers, GIFs, reactions, thumbs up, sad face
- communication systemsalphabet, sign language, Braille, Morse code, hieroglyphics
emoticonsplain text
Unencoded readable characters
prose · written language · words · formal writing · verbal expression
emoticonsformal language
Elevated, rule-governed expression
academic writing · business English · official documentation · diplomatic language · technical writing
emoticonspoker face
Intentionally expressionless look
deadpan · stoicism · emotional restraint · inscrutability · flat affect