By its very nature, the Internet is an extremely open medium of communication. It allows people to talk honestly, perhaps even more so than in face-to-face meetings. When we are talking to people online, we rely on the written word. We cannot hear the tone or expression of a voice, or see the signals given out by body language, so the potential for misunderstandings are great.

As a result of this, people have begun to use symbols to represent their moods and what they are trying to say. These symbols have come to be known as emoticons (or smileys). They are used to try and add a little expression and personality to the impersonal world of a computer screen.

There are thousands of different emoticons but the more you use the Internet and e-mail to communicate with other people, the more you will come to recognize. The basic emoticons are :-) which means you are happy, or that you made a joke, and :-( which obviously means you are sad or unhappy with what someone has just said.

We have put together a list of the most common smileys that you will find, to get you started:

Basic emoticons:

:-) or :) smiling/happy/joking

:-( or :( frowning /sad

:,,-( crying

;-) winking

:-, smirking

:-0 yelling

:-D laughing

|-D belly laugh

B-D another belly laugh

:-I indifferent

8-O Omigod!!

:-o Wow! or Uh oh!

,‘-() scream of agony

:-@ screaming/shouting

:-V shouting

~:-( angry

:-< really sad

:-c very unhappy

:-O shocked

:-X lips are sealed, or a big kiss

:-v speaking

|-{ disappointed

:-/ sceptical

:-\ undecided

:-" pursed lips

:-* oops, or ate something sour or bitter

:-& tongue tied

|-O yawning or snoring

>-< absolutely livid

|-) falling asleep or chortling

:-P sticking tongue out

:-9 licking lips

<:-| dunce

Some physical attributes/accessories:

 

8-) Wearing glasses or goggles

B:-) sunglasses on head

:-)} has a beard

{:-) wearing a toupee

}:-( wearing a toupee in an updraft

C=:-) a chef

@:-) wearing a turban

:-{ has a moustache

:-{} wears lipstick

*<:-)}, or *<|:-)> Santa Claus