Texting acronyms and abbreviations have become a shorthand way of, often quickly, communicating with friends, colleagues, and loved ones. One acronym that you might see if you are sending text messages is DNC, which stands for “Do Not Confuse.” The term is often used when wanting to ensure that someone does not misunderstand the message they are receiving, or possibly even sending.

Let’s take a look at some examples of how someone might use DNC in a text message. Suppose Sarah wants to make plans with her friend Kevin. Sarah sends a text that says, “Wanna grab dinner tonight?” Kevin responds “Sure DNC = Dinner not concert right?” Sarah could then reply, “Exactly!”

In this scenario, Kevin used DNC to make sure he wasn’t confusing dinner and a concert. The phrase can be used for a variety of occasions. For example, if you are texting about a job offer and your friend writes “It sounds great,” you might follow up with “DNC you don’t have to decide now.” This phrase would be used to indicate that your friend does not have to make a decision about the job offer right away.

In addition to being used as a clarification tool, DNC can also be sent as a kind reminder or reassurance. For example, if your friend sends you a text that reads “I really want to go to the game tonight” you might respond with “It sounds like fun. DNC you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” This way, your friend knows that they don’t HAVE to go to the game, even though you think it might be fun.

In the same way that other texting acronyms and abbreviations can be used to make text conversations easier, DNC can be used to ensure clarity and kindness. Whenever using DNC, make sure that you are using it to mean “Do Not Confuse” and not “Do Not Care.”

So the next time you’re sending text messages, consider using the acronym DNC to help ensure that your recipient does not confuse the message that you are sending. This can help to ensure clarity in your conversations, as well as demonstrate that you care about the message that is being sent.