DECIPHERING internet slang can sometimes be harder than it seems, with more and more words appearing.
Just as you get the hang of one term, a new one is invented but this one is more old school than you might think – ISTG.
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What does ‘ISTG’ mean?
The acronym ISTG pops up all the time on TikTok and other social media platforms.
It is simply an abbreviation for “I swear to god”.
It is used to express that you are being serious with whatever you are saying or to put emphasis on it.
You might use it to assure your followers that the wild story you are telling is true or to show that you are being serious.
Alternatively, you might say ISTG to show exasperation or frustration at something someone is telling you.
Essentially, ISTG is a shortcut way of saying “I promise” or “cross my heart”.
ISTG can be stylized in upper or lowercase and used in almost any scenario.
Sometimes ISTG is even shortened to S2G which means “swear to god”.
Where did ‘ISTG’ originate from?
ISTG comes from the 1990s and early 2000s when text talk and abbreviations were popularized.
SMS language was designed to use as few characters as possible due to phone companies limiting how many words you could include and charging per text.
“I swear to god” itself is a much older phrase, with a religious background.
It originates from swearing on the bible or on God to prove innocence and honesty.
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Swearing on something means you make an oath or promise, especially in a legal setting.
Over time the concept of swearing an oath on god became the colloquial “I swear to god”.
When shortened text speak came into fashion ISTG was used more commonly.
There is no consensus on whether or not it is disrespectful, but some religious people dislike the term.
The second of the Ten Commandments given to Moses in the Old Testament of the Bible states that “you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”.
This means that many who follow the religious teachings believe using the name of God in this way is not honoring him.
However, for most people, it is a commonly used abbreviation to indicate honesty, with the origin long forgotten.
