Emoticons
A series of keyboard characters used to convey emotion. Emoticons were originally introduced by people using the email and instant message clients of the dial-up days. Now that broadband has covered so much of the nation, typical internet users can also use actual images for their emoticons. However, the technological world has come full circle, as text messaging through cellular phones has brought emoticons and abbreviations back into style.

Also called smilies

Common

:-)
;-)
:-D
:-(
:-O
:-/

Smile, Happy
Wink
Big smile, Laughter
Sad, Unhappy
Shocked, Surprised
Skeptical

Special Purpose

>:-(
:'-(
:~-(
:-X
:-^)
:-P
:-&
%-)

Angry
Crying
Weeping
I'm not telling, My lips are sealed
Tongue in cheek
Sticking out tongue
Tongue-tied
Googly-eyed

Characteristics

8-)
B-)
O:-)
:-#
:-Q
:-?

Happy with glasses
Happy with sunglasses
Angel, Saint
Braces
Smoking a cigarette
Smoking a pipe

*All emoticons above can also be made without using the nose (-). It's just personal preference.