Abbreviation “IMS” can be especially confusing because some of the letters aren’t accounted for in the abbreviation. The meaning of “IMS” is “I am sorry.” Based on other abbreviations used in texting, we might expect it to be “IAS.”
Although, It’s not. When you think about “I’m sorry,” then the abbreviation “IMS” makes a little more sense.
Since it’s accounting for the apostrophe and letter “m” in the abbreviated form. For example, someone might say, “IMS, I miss you and I want to see you.”
Examples and other meanings
“IMS, will you forgive me?”
- Emotion: Endearing
- Intention: A person who says “IMS” is trying to apologize to you and say that they are sorry. For some reason, they decided to use the abbreviated form rather than saying, “I’m sorry.”
“Didn’t mean to do that last night! IMS!”
- Emotion: Emotive
- Intention: Someone who is apologizing in passing and with a short message might say “IMS” to try and tell them that they’re sorry.
Popularity over time
IMS began trending in 2022 within the text messaging community. The abbreviation primarily saw an increase in usage in this community, becoming a common way of expressing apologies in everyday communication.
Safe for work and social media
The abbreviation IMS, or I Am Sorry, is considered safe for work and safe for children, making it a widely acceptable form of expression in a variety of settings. Additionally, it is used both on Snapchat and Instagram, where it is understood to convey the message of an apology from the sender.
