Meaning of IIRC in explained texts: use cases and examples

Understanding the new jargon and abbreviations is the secret to communicating effectively in the world of constantly evolving social networks. He once noticed that someone sends text messages or publishes “IIRC” and you are sitting there asking you: “What is that?” You are not the only one. This article will explain what IIRC means in texts in the comments of social networks in social media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat.

What does IIRC mean?

“IIRC” means “if I remember correctly.” It is one of those internet acronyms that you will often see in forums, comments sections or informal chats. It gives the reader a notice that the shared information is not guaranteed that it is 100% precise, but it is what the person remembers at that time.

It is used when you are trying to remember something, but you are not sure they had it. It will often use it before historical facts, dates or facts, especially in situations where precision is important.

Some IIRC examples in conversations include:

• “IIRC, the sequel came out in 2019, not in 2020”.
• “IIRC, we had that science fair in March last year.”
• “IIRC, that boss is weak for fire attacks.”
• “IIRC, announced the update last summer.”
• “IIRC, this was mentioned in one of the previous episodes.”

Why do people use iIRC?

There are some common reasons why someone could use “IIRC” in a message:

• Sounds less safe or more educated – Instead of seeming too safe, the use of “IIRC” shows that they are open to being wrong. Add some humility to what they are saying.
• Are covered in case of doubt – If you are not sure that something is a particular detail, record it as “IIRC” prevents them from correcting if it is then discovered that it is wrong.
• Save time and effort – You need less time to write “IIRC” than writing “if I remember correctly”, particularly in informal conversations or instantaneous responses.
• Use an informal tone – In the informal internet communication, people tend to use such shortcuts to maintain a casual and friendly tone.

Keep in mind

Although “IIRC” may sound perfect for casual conversations, it is not always the best option to use. It will be too informal in formal emails, for example, or in formal letters. Not everyone knows Internet jargon, so it will confuse some. Therefore, it is safer to use the complete sentence or use it if the spelling is appropriate for tone and audience.