OP
OP means 'original poster,' the person who started a post or discussion, and can also refer to the original post itself.
Definition
OP usually stands for 'original poster,' meaning the person who started the post or discussion being discussed. In X replies, Threads conversations, and Facebook comments, 'ask OP' means ask the author of the starting post. The abbreviation can also mean 'original post,' as in 'the answer is in the OP.' The surrounding sentence normally makes the intended meaning clear.
OP is useful when a conversation contains many participants and a reply needs to distinguish the author from everyone else. It does not necessarily identify the first person ever to publish an idea or image. If someone shares another person's work, the OP of the current discussion may be the sharer rather than the original creator.
Other communities use the same letters differently. In gaming, for example, OP can mean 'overpowered.' When discussing authorship, using the person's handle or saying 'the original post' can avoid ambiguity. This is particularly helpful in a thread with quoted posts, screenshots, and nested replies, where readers may disagree about which starting point is being referenced.
Example
OP added the source in the second reply. Read that note before sharing the screenshot without its context.
How to apply it
Use OP when the author of the current discussion is obvious. If you are responding beneath a quote post or a screenshot, name the account or specify which post you mean. This keeps a correction or question from being directed at someone who merely shared the material. Credit the actual creator separately when relevant.
When writing threads, make references understandable outside the full reply chain. Replace an ambiguous 'OP explains this' with a short description of the explanation and its author. If you are the original poster, answer recurring questions in a clearly labeled follow-up so readers do not have to reconstruct the conversation from scattered replies.
Common mistakes
- Confusing the author of a repost with the creator of the original material.
- Using OP in a nested conversation where several different posts could be the starting point.
Related terms
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is OP?
OP means 'original poster,' the person who started a post or discussion, and can also refer to the original post itself.
How do you use OP in a thread?
Use OP when the author of the current discussion is obvious. If you are responding beneath a quote post or a screenshot, name the account or specify which post you mean. This keeps a correction or question from being directed at someone who merely shared the material. Credit the actual creator separately when relevant.
Example of OP
OP added the source in the second reply. Read that note before sharing the screenshot without its context.