While FWIW isn’t the most used slang on the internet, it usually ends up on Twitter posts, message boards, and chat rooms. But what does FWIW mean, where did it come from and how to use it?
What is it worth
FWIW means «whatever it takes». This is an idiom that rarely carries any literal meaning, and is used to politely say that someone should consider an opinion, idea, or fact (usually because their opinion is wrong).
If it helps, imagine that FWIW means «You can ignore what I’m about to say, but I think you should still hear it.» This phrase does not change the general meaning of your sentence, it just adds politeness. tone to what you are saying.
So instead of telling a friend, «You have no idea what you’re talking about, 4K TVs have four times the resolution of HD TVs,» you can just say, «FWIW, 4K TVs have four times the resolution of HD. televisions.
Interestingly, FWIW can also be used to make your sentence snarky, empathetic, or even dismissive. These tones mostly come from context, but as a general rule, any use of «FWIW» that can be replaced with «FYI» has an odd tone. («FWIW, toothpaste kills bad breath germs.»)
It is worth noting that FWIW is usually (but not always) used at the beginning of a sentence. This is called a prepositional phrase, and it’s used to tell readers that you’re going to politely refute (or confirm) the other person’s opinion.
FWIW been around for ages
As an idiom, «for what it’s worth» has been around since the 1800s. The phrase actually has its origins in economics and was originally used to express the literal value of products, goods, or people. A 1600s farmer may promise that he will only buy a horse «for what it’s worth», while a tax collector may try to «rob you for all you’re worth»