E-mail, chat rooms, and online conversations like instant messaging are the Web’s truly unique method of communication. Electronic communications are somewhat like a cross between a letter without details and a phone call without vocal tones and expressions. In order to convey these missing qualities, a new shorthand can indicate when you are happy, when you are sad,   and even when you want to scream.   This shorthand uses standard keyboard symbols to produce cute little pictures called emoticons or smileys.

Most Common Emoticons

The three most common emoticons are:

:-)      The standard smiley face showing happiness.
:-(      The sad face. The user is unhappy.
;-)      The winky face shows a flirtatious or sarcastic remark.

Lean to the Left

To get the full impact of the emoticons, just look at them while leaning your head to the left.

Other emoticons include:

:,(      Crying

:-0     Yelling

:-@    Screaming

:-X     A kiss

:-|      Frowning

|-o     Bored

#-)     Oh, what a night

:-I      Indifferent

>>:-<< Mad

  @.@ WOW! (eyes bugging out)

:-P or  :-p  or  :-6  Sticking tongue out

:~-(   Shed a tear

Some Clever Combinations

Emoticons are so popular that they have advanced into other areas. Although these emoticons have nothing to do with emotions, they are fun.

:-$     Put your money where your mouth is!

p:-)    Baseball fan

~:o    A baby

{:-{) User has a moustache and a toupee

:// A guy with duck tape over his mouth

Person or Character Emoticons

Emoticons are even used to represent famous people, cartoon characters, and animals. See if you can spot the resemblance or the connection to the person or character noted.

:-.)        Cindy Crawford or Marilyn Monroe

  +-<:-) The pope

=|:-)=   Uncle Sam

C|:-=    Charlie Chaplin

:-)8       Dolly Parton

:$)         Donald Trump

*<|:o)>  Santa Claus

%-~     Picasso

3:*>     Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

8(:-)     Mickey Mouse

:-----}   Pinocchio

@@@@8^) Marge Simpson

8:]     A gorilla

:8)         Pig

:>( )<   Penguin

Don’t you agree, emoticons are fun?  Creating them has become a hobby for some. Even if you don’t want to spend the time to create your own, understanding these cute little computer faces will certainly add to your enjoyment of online communications. And they can always lighten up your e-mail. Try it, you’ll like it. :-)