When it comes to books and reading, you may have heard the term “DNF.” But what does DNF mean in the context of books?

There are so many book-related abbreviations that it can be hard to keep track of them, especially if you’re new to the world of reading. So, if you’ve never heard of DNF before or just can’t remember what it means, here’s what you need to know!

In reading, DNF stands for “Did Not Finish,” and it’s used as shorthand for saying that we haven’t completed reading a book. Generally, these are books that we either can’t read for some reason or ones that we start reading but dislike. We all have our reading habits and preferences, and DNF is used to refer to those books that we can’t finish.

There are many reasons why someone might DNF a book, and sometimes people have slightly different understandings of what DNF means or which books should be DNF’d. In its most basic sense, as mentioned, a book that hasn’t been finished. But some people see it as a last resort when they try another book and it doesn’t work, while others decide more freely to DNF a book they’re reading before it reaches a level of hate.

As a reader, you can start or stop reading a book at any time. Labeling a book as DNF doesn’t mean you can’t pick it up later. DNF is not a final verdict that lasts forever. It could just mean that now is not the right time for you to read the book – for example, maybe you’re currently experiencing a similar situation or grief that the characters in the book are going through.

What should you do after reading a book you DNF’d? There are many reasons why you might want to DNF a book, so I suggest keeping a reading journal to note which books you DNF’d and why. This can help you identify themes or tropes that you don’t like, so you don’t try to read similarly frustrating books later. It can also help you remember the titles of the books you DNF’d in case you want to pick them up again later.

Journaling your reading is a good reading habit anyway, but it can be particularly helpful for keeping track of DNF books. There are many ways to track your reading, so you’re sure to find one that fits well into your reading life and habits and helps you keep track of your DNF books!