Coming to grips with Twitter is fairly easy. Even a child can do it. Better yet, even grandparents can do it.  Here are some definitions of common Twitter functions and jargon:

Tweets: In short, a Tweet is a quick, precise text message that contains 140 characters or less. That includes spaces and punctuation too. Grammar and punctuation suffer a little bit due to the 140 character limit. People often use “w/” for with, “ppl” for people, “4″ for four or for. Messages can contain a variety of content.

@replies: This is used when you want to reply to someone else’s Tweet. Click the “Reply Button” or type @ followed by the User ID of the person that posted the message that you are replying to. By using @reply, you are letting other people know who you are talking to and it also allows people to know when you are talking about them.

Hashtags (#): Hash tags enable you to make groupings, and they allow you to draw attention to a particular keyword or subject. Hashtags can be about news, tips, events, sports, a sports team, a sale at your favorite store, your business, a product,  and the list goes on and on.