IIRC Meaning, Definition, and Examples

If you’ve seen the abbreviation IIRC online or in text conversations, you might be wondering what it means.

Most commonly, IIRC is an abbreviation for if I remember correctly or if I recall correctly. It’s often used in text messages, video game chats, and other forms of digital communication to express uncertainty.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways people use the IIRC abbreviation in conversation.

What Does IIRC Stand For?

IIRC is an internet slang initialism that stands for if I remember correctly or if I recall correctly. People typically use this term when they’re not entirely sure if something they’re saying is true.

Because these are long phrases, it’s easier to type IIRC than it is to type out the full phrase.

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What Does IIRC Mean?

Now that we’ve explained what the IIRC abbreviation stands for, let’s take a closer look at what it actually means.

IIRC Meaning in Text

When used in text messages, IIRC can mean a few different things.

The most common use is as a simple way to add some uncertainty to a statement. For example, you might say, “The Battle of the Bulge was fought on December 16, IIRC, but don’t quote me on that.”

It’s also possible to use IIRC to correct someone in a sarcastic way. For example, if someone says, “Want to buy me lunch tomorrow?” you might sarcastically reply, “IIRC, I was the one who paid last time.”

Examples of How to Use IIRC Acronym

Let’s take a look at an example where IIRC is being used in a conversation between friends.

• Friend 1: I loved the movie The Fellowship of the Ring, but I’m trying to read the book now, and it’s so long and slow.

• Friend 2: It was originally going to be even longer! IIRC, Tolkien thought the whole trilogy was going to be a single book, but his publisher made him split it up because it was more than 1,000 pages.

Here’s an example of IIRC being used between coworkers:

• Coworker 1: I can’t make it to tomorrow’s meeting. Do you know if that’s okay?

• Coworker 2: IIRC, only the meeting on Thursday is mandatory, so that should be fine! I’d still check with Jackie though, in case I’m wrong.

Remember that IIRC is frequently used in conversations between friends, but it won’t always be appropriate professional settings. You can use ProWritingAid’s Paraphrase Report to help reword your writing for more formal contexts.