It’s Time To Bring Back NNTR

NNTR means No Need To Reply. Where this originated from I haven’t a clue, but it’s something that has been dormant for years that I believe needs to be used again.

Were I to hazard a guess, I believe NNTR came about due to one of two reasons. Either the fact email used to actually cost something, be it time and/or money, or to discourage useless replies. Or maybe both.

NNTR sounds rude but in fact it isn’t. An example would be, “I will attend the meeting @ 3pm. NNTR”

When you say something like that, it doesn’t warrant a reply. In fact, if you sent the above message to your boss, he or she would appreciate the fact that no reply is necessary.

Given the fact that we’re so much more mobile these days, NNTR once again has its place. If you text at all on a cell phone, you’ve probably run into your fair share of useless reply messages. These serve to do nothing but get in your way when you’re busy. If you introduce the people you communicate with frequently to NNTR, it can save a lot of time.

If you want to introduce someone to NNTR in email, the best way to do it is like this: “I will attend the meeting @ 3pm, NNTR (no need to reply)”

Explaining what NNTR means a few times should get the message across adequately, at which point you can drop the explanation.

If using NNTR using mobile means, you’ll probably have to tell the person that when you use NNTR that no reply is necessary due to character limitations.

Final note: NNTR isn’t used in article or blog comments, because that medium is supposed to foster replies and discussion. :)

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5 comments

  1. It’s common sense. NNTR shouldn’t ever be used. I’m just HAPPY as a clam that most people don’t. If they DO reply to your NNTR, then simply remember there’s NNTR back!

  2. Actually what needs to come back, is the fact that people DON’T need to send so many messages that NEED nntr on them. People need to learn to shut the heck up! Darn Twitter making people think their $.02 is actually worth a damn…it ISN’T!

  3. It amazes me when people reply all when more than 90 percent of the distribution list has nothing to do with the original message. It’s a waste of companies money, period!

  4. David M /

    No replies so far. :)

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