14 August 2006

What does "HT" mean?

UPDATE: Hey all! This post has been by far the biggest traffic-getter for my silly little blog for the last three years, because I answered a question that many were asking yet no-one at the time was answering, and that got me big love on the Google search results for variations on that question.

Well, I'm not really blogging for the sake of the traffic, and I made the original post in the spirit of public service. It's in that same spirit that I make the following recommendation, which I've adopted myself of late:

Please don't use "HT:". It's needless, useless insider jargon.

Instead, use "via". As in "via Susan". Not "HT: Susan". Even (especially?) on Twitter. It's the same number of characters, yet people are much more likely to understand WTF it means. (That said, "RT" has a different meaning on Twitter, which is officially recognized by both Twitter-related software and the vast majority of tweeters. "RT" probably needs to stay. But I invite you to join me in kicking "HT:" to the curb.)

This has been another public service announcement on RudeTheology.com.

(Hang on, now I need to make a new post: WTF does WTF mean??) ;-)

~~~~~~

I actually know what it means, and use it, but I just had a conversation with a friend which echoed my own experience when I started seeing "HT: SoAndSo" on blogs. While I could tell it was an acknowledgement of a source, I couldn't figure out what the H and the T stood for, and Google, at the time, was little help. It's a little better now, but I'm making this post for this reason: maybe next time somebody Googles "What does HT mean?", they'll get this post and their question will be answered.

So, for the record, HT stands for "Hat Tip", as in "A tip of the hat to Susan for pointing me in the direction of...."

Now you know.

This has been a public service announcement on RudeTheology.com.

27 comments:

susan said...

Oh boy! That's actually REALLY helpful for all of us newbies.

Grazie mille!

Gallycat said...

I think I'm going to start calling myself Helen Hat Tip.

~HHT

Gallycat said...

PS: Tomorrow at 11--send happy mojo!

dave said...

How bout this to bless those who google it?:

What dooes "HT" maen, according to Rude Armchair Theology, one of the top websites on the planet?(:

That should get a few exact matches.

==

Tahnks for the great work

Mike Croghan said...

Thanks, Dave!

Anonymous said...

Funny that we are both interested in Jesus and yet we meet by my Google search. This post was written just for me. Thanks.

Overflow Blogger said...

I just googled what does HT mean and your post came up. Thanks! Now I know.

Anonymous said...

I also just googled the question. You Rock as the #1 answer!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much! I'm new to the blog realm, and your answer really helped me out. :)

Nick Norelli said...

I googled 'What does HT mean?' and this came up. I know, I know... others already said that they did it, but extra confirmation never hurts.

BTW (that means 'by the way' in case anyone thought to google it ;) -- nice blog.

Nick Norelli

Mike Croghan said...

Thanks, Nick! BTW, you too. (IMHO).

;-)

Michelle-n-David said...

Mission accomplished. I saw it enough times that I had to google it, and you were the first valid result (10-23-07) of 1.9 MM.

Thank you

Jeff Gill said...

I'm making this post for this reason: maybe next time somebody Googles "What does HT mean?", they'll get this post and their question will be answered.

It's still working.
Thanks

Anonymous said...

Looks like you're continuing into the new year as the #1 (and accurate) result for discovering the meaning of HT. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Thanks! I like to know what something means before I start using it...and you answered my question.

Unknown said...

I googled "what does HT mean on blogs" and yours was the first that popped up. Thanks

Mike Keith said...

That is so funny.....I typed in "what does HT mean" just like you said and here I am and now I know. I tip my hat to you sir!

Chirag Jain said...

Even I was frustrated by what 'HT means' and I happened to come by google (as you'd thought of)
Thanks for explaining the 'hat tip' meaning.
Chirag

Denese said...

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

haha, so i googled "ht" and your post was the first google found! kudos to you!!!

Mike Anderson said...

Thanks brother! That was buggin; the mess out me and nobody seemed to know what it stood for but used it anyway.

paul said...

I googled "what does 'ht' mean" and your blog came up! Thanks for writing this post!!!

Rob said...

Thanks. Very helpful. And you are right google puts you at the top. I'm glad I stopped by.

Christy of The Travel Bags said...

Ohhhhhh, thank you! I was wondering if I was being called some nasty insider name or if I was being thanked! ;)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for using the profane WTF term and telling me you are a missional, postmodern movie lover - to know to stay away from your "rude" theology. Get your theology from postmodernism, Internet jargon, Susan Sarandon, or the Anglican church? I have no idea.

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