inb4

English

Etymology

From in before. It originated on 4Chan: on threads that users thought would be locked, they would comment "in before the lock", or "I got a comment in before the thread locked." Before then got abbreviated independently into B4 or b4.

Conjuction

inb4

1. (Internet slang) Preemptively deriding a predicted circumstance or response.

   inb4 he loses again

Usage notes

For the most part inb4 is interchangeable syntactically with before, but only as a conjuction. It's rarely used with gerunds (as a preposition):

• Conjunction + Clause:

1. Before they ban him. ― Inb4 they ban him.

• Preposition + Infinitive:

1. Before locking the thread. ― Prior to locking the thread.

   But rarely **Inb4 locking the thread.

Position in a sentence

• inb4 is usually found at the start of a clause, most commonly at the start of a sentence.
• When used in mid-sentence, it may simply be an abbreviation of "phrasal verb ending in in + before". For example:

1. Get your votes inb4 the poll is closed.

   Get your votes in before the poll is closed.

• • Despite separating the particle in from its verb get that forms a phrasal verb, the sentence still retains its original meaning despite the use of inb4.
  • Because inb4, when used with its original meaning, works as a whole expression, in right before inb4 is attestable. An example using the same sentence:

1. Get your votes in inb4 the poll is closed.

• • • Here inb4 is being used as a conjunction to separate two independent clauses: "Get your votes in" and "inb4 the poll is closed". It can also be used to separate depended clauses.

inb4 is often used in forums as a response to anticipate or comment on an action that might be perceived as incorrect by others, offering guidance or suggestions in a non-judgmental manner.

• • For example, if a new and amateur user posts a sincere question about "X" in a forum where it's well known that "X" is bad, they are sure to receive hateful comments that the user probably won't even understand because they are inexperienced on the topic. Before that happens, one could repply with "inb4" answering their question in a non-judgmental way while letting them now that it's frowned upon to say that.

Synonyms

• (as conjuction): Before

References

• Usenet newsgroups: [1]