TL;DR | Meaning, Uses & Examples
TL;DR is an initialism for “too long; didn’t read.” It has two meanings and uses. When it’s a response to a long message, document, or online post, TL;DR means “this is too long, so I didn’t read it.” TL;DR also means “a summary of the main points.” When people write a long post or document, they sometimes include a TL;DR at the beginning or end.
The tips and examples below illustrate how to use TL;DR appropriately.
| TL;DR as a response | TL;DR as a summary |
|---|---|
| In a Reddit discussion about Mario Kart World, a user writes 4 paragraphs about why Peachette should be a playable character, and someone replies TL;DR. | On the family group chat, Julian writes 3 paragraphs about his daughter’s first day of Kindergarten. He ends the long message with “TL;DR she had a great day and loves her new school.” |
| A busy college student texts her mom about where they’re meeting for dinner. Mom writes back with a long paragraph about the dinner plans and several other things. The student writes back, “TL;DR, can you just LMK the time and place?” | Mariah writes a 5-page report on how the project management platform her company started using last year has reduced costs. In the email with the attachment, Mariah writes, “TL;DR this tool has reduced labor costs by 25%.” |
Simply copy/paste the full version into the interface, click “summarize,” and voila! QuillBot will instantly provide you with a TL;DR of the main points
What does TL;DR mean?
TL;DR is common in a variety of digital communications, such as text messages, emails, forums, etc., but what is TL;DR exactly? TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read,” but it has two different connotations (aka implied meanings):
- Response: When someone writes TL;DR as a response, it means “this post, message, or document is very long, so I’m not going to read it.”
- Summary: When someone includes a TL;DR with something they wrote or politely requests a TL;DR from the writer, it means “a summary of the main points” or “a short version.”
TL;DR as a response
TL;DR originated as a response to a wall of text in a message or online forum. This use of TL;DR can have negative or neutral implications.
- If you don’t know the reader or if the topic of conversation is controversial, TL;DR can come across as terse and imply that the other person’s ideas are unimportant.
- If you know the other person well and if you legitimately can’t read the full comment, TL;DR can simply mean “I didn’t have time to read this.”
Negative connotation: A NextDoor user writes a 5-paragraph post about the 25 mph speed limit in Pleasantville. One of the replies is “SMH. TL;DR. Nobody cares.”
If wordiness is a challenge for you, no worries! You can always run your comments through QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to see shorter variations.
TL;DR as a summary
When TL;DR means “a summary” or “a short version,” the purpose is to help readers who are pressed for time and/or to acknowledge that a message, post, comment, or document is very long. You can include a TL;DR with something you wrote or request a TL;DR after you receive something that you don’t have time to read.
Scenario 2: Silas has prepared a 20-page report for his colleagues about the pros and cons of a new CRM platform the company might purchase. On the first page, under the heading TL;DR, Silas provides a bulleted list of the main pros and cons.
How to use TL;DR
When using TL;DR, most people follow two formatting conventions:
- TL;DR is always capitalized. (Otherwise, it looks like a typographical error.)
- TL;DR usually has a semicolon, but it’s okay to write TLDR without one.
To use TL;DR appropriately in online forums, emails, or text messages, consider these tips as well:
- Don’t use TL;DR as a standalone comment (especially at the end of a discussion).
- Don’t use TL;DR unless it’s absolutely necessary. For example, in an online forum, where people come and go, you don’t need to announce that you didn’t read a post or comment.
- When you’re seeking a summary or shorter version, contextualize TL;DR with additional details (e.g., “I don’t have time to read all of this right now, but can you send me a TL;DR?”)
- When you include a TL;DR with something you wrote, aim for 1–2 sentences or a short bulleted list.
Frequently asked questions about TLDR
- What does TLDR mean on Reddit?
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TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read” on Reddit, where it can be a response to a long post that someone else wrote or the writer’s summary of their own post.
When people respond TL;DR on Reddit, it’s usually impolite, dismissive, and unnecessary.
However, if you write a long post on Reddit, you can include a TL;DR (a 1–2 sentence summary of the main idea or key takeaway) at the end of your post as a courtesy (e.g., “TL;DR Kansas City has a lot to offer for young, single professionals”).
When you encounter posts that are too long for you to read, why not try QuillBot’s free Summarizer? It will automatically show you the main points.
- What does TLDR mean in texting?
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TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read” in texting, where it can be a response to a text message or a summary of a long text message that you wrote.
When people respond to a long text message with TL;DR, it’s usually a form of criticism. A more polite response is, “I’m sorry. I don’t have time to read this. Could you tell me the short version?”
When you write a very long text message, you can end it with a TL;DR to acknowledge your own verbosity and/or show respect for your reader’s time (e.g., TL;DR I have tried that new ramen place, and it’s amazing but pricey).
In text messages, TL;DR has capital letters. The QuillBot app will automatically capitalize initialisms like TL;DR when you type them in lowercase.
- What does TLDR mean in business?
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TL;DR means “too long; didn’t read” in business documents and communications. A TL;DR is a summary of the main points for people who need the information but don’t have time to read the full text.
Business professionals sometimes include a TL;DR on the first page of a lengthy document or in the email that includes an attachment. Someone can also request a TL;DR of a document they received but don’t have time to read.
When you need to write a TL;DR of a business document, QuillBot’s free Summarizer will instantly provide a concise summary.
