Explain Acronym Again in a Long Text
Lesson 12: Abbreviations and Acronyms
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Abbreviations and acronyms
Abbreviations and acronyms are shorter versions of existing words and phrases. They're designed to save time and accept up less space (whether y'all're typing or writing past mitt), and can even make your writing easier to read.
What is an abbreviation?
Abbreviations are all around us, from mutual titles like Dr. and Prof. to the abbreviations yous come across on street signs. Specifically, abbreviations are shorter spellings of words and expressions we use every 24-hour interval.
What is an acronym?
You lot might already know some acronyms, like NASA (National Helmsmanship and Space Assistants) and ATM (automated teller machine). An acronym is a stand-in for a string of words, usually an arrangement name, slogan, or something else every bit wordy. Dissimilar abbreviations, they aren't shorter spellings of words—they're fabricated upwards of the words' initials.
Using abbreviations
Abbreviations are usually formed using the virtually recognizable letters from the word or expression. This makes them easier to remember, and easy for others to read. It's almost like the letters are clues that signal to the original word or expression.
Some abbreviations expect like acronyms (for example, mph and NY), only it'due south actually but a coincidence. Technically, these are initialisms, which is a type of abbreviation. Thankfully, you don't have to know whether something is an abbreviation, initialism, or acronym to use it properly. You merely have to know what the term means, and how to spell information technology—everything else will usually fall into place.
At present that you know how abbreviations are formed, you may be wondering how they're pronounced. Most of the time, they're pronounced the same as the original word—whether yous're reading information technology aloud or in your caput.
For instance, Prof. Snape would be pronounced Professor Snape (not Prof Snape). The abbreviation etc. would be pronounced et cetera (not e-t-c). The important matter to recollect is that abbreviations aren't words in the true sense—they're more like shorthand.
There are some exceptions that are pronounced differently. For example, AM, PM, i.e., and PhD are pronounced exactly the fashion they're spelled. This happens when the abbreviation becomes more pop than the original term—commonly considering the original is as well long or outdated. For example, AM stands for Ante Meridiem. (That'southward Latin for before apex. Who knew?)
Luckily, in that location aren't many exceptions similar this, and so y'all don't have to worry likewise much about making a error. Most abbreviations are pronounced the same every bit the discussion they're based on, like hr, min, and sec (that's 60 minutes, minute, and 2d).
Period vs. no catamenia
This is one of the most mutual questions people have about abbreviations: Do y'all have to employ a period at the stop when writing it out? There'southward no strict dominion that says you exercise—it's kind of up to yous.
Sometimes adding a period is expected and tin can make the abridgement easier to read. Have the example below. Pop . is the abridgement for the word population—without a period, it might just wait like pop (as in popular goes the weasel).
On the other manus, some abbreviations never use a period; for example, state postal abbreviations like NY, CA, and TX. The abbreviation for United States of America tin be written with a period between each letter, just it'south much more common without. The same goes for measurement abbreviations like ft, in, and cm.
Common abbreviations
There are abbreviations for and then many dissimilar things, information technology would exist impossible to list them all hither. Here are some of the most common abbreviations you lot'll run across and use:
You may take noticed that the abbreviations for ounce (oz) and pound (lb) are a little different from the balance. They're spelled using letters that aren't part of the original discussion. This is because the abbreviations are based on older forms of each word—ounce comes from the Italian word onza, and pound from the Roman word libra.
What about chat terms like LOL (express mirth out loud), BRB (be correct dorsum), and plz (delight)? Many blur the line betwixt abbreviations and acronyms, but they're abbreviations even so. In other words, they abbreviate something in a gimmicky way, using initials, slang, and other shorthand. They make information technology possible to communicate chop-chop, and that's what makes them a form of abbreviation.
Is it OK to utilize abbreviations?
Look closely at the heading higher up, and you may observe your answer. Believe it or non, OK is an abbreviation as well, and we use information technology on the site all the time.
A skilful rule for abbreviations is to put the reader kickoff. Ask yourself: Will the abbreviation make the sentence easier to read, or will information technology misfile the reader (for instance, if the abbreviation is also obscure)? If an abbreviation still sounds similar a skilful idea, side by side consider the context. Abbreviations are perfectly OK in personal and coincidental writing—they're often OK in formal writing also. You might want to ask your boss or your teacher if you lot're unsure.
Using acronyms
As yous read before, acronyms are used in place of a phrase or string of words. They're nigh always made upward of the words' initials and are spelled in all caps. They can represent all kinds of things, from organizations to mnemonics to sandwiches.
Like abbreviations, in that location'due south a lot of overlap between acronyms and initialisms—merely remember, this doesn't really thing when information technology comes to using them. Information technology might help to think of acronyms as something catchier than abbreviations (after all, they represent longer phrases, so information technology helps if they're memorable). They don't but shorten words; they stand up for organizations, ideas, and other things you want people to retrieve.
Acronyms are read differently from abbreviations. Accept the give-and-take BLT. If y'all saw that on the menu at your favorite restaurant, there's a adept run a risk you'd merely order a BLT, not a bacon, lettuce, and love apple sandwich. You wouldn't pronounce it built or belt either; y'all would say B-Fifty-T. This is what makes acronyms unique—you lot tin can read them every bit they appear, even though they stand for something else.
The pronunciation of acronyms can vary, however. While some are pronounced literally like the case above, others can actually be pronounced as a give-and-take, like UNICEF, POTUS, and NASA.
Sometimes it's simply a question of, "Tin the acronym exist pronounced as a give-and-take?" A lot of acronyms tin't because they don't have the right combination of vowels and consonants. However, there's no ready dominion that governs this. Knowing how to pronounce acronyms depends a lot your awareness of the globe around you, simply it's not the terminate of the globe if you lot brand a mistake.
When and how to use acronyms
Sometimes you may demand to explain the acronym when using it in writing. Fashion guides suggest that you write the acronym kickoff, followed past the full name or phrase in parentheses. You can also write them in the opposite order—whatever makes more sense. In curt, if the acronym is more widely known, list information technology offset; if it's more obscure, you may desire to starting time with the unabridged phrase.
A lot of gimmicky acronyms might demand to be explained for different reasons (this also applies to the chat abbreviations that we discussed before). Not everyone volition be familiar with slang similar NIMBY (not in my back yard) and TGIF (give thanks goodness information technology's Friday). As always, this blazon of slang can be OK in sure contexts, just it might leave some readers feeling confused.
As you now know, abbreviations and acronyms can salve time and space, and they can brand your writing easier to read. Beneath is a sample that contains the full form of several different words, phrases, and expressions. Exercise you lot know which acronyms and abbreviations could be used as substitutes?
Also known every bit = AKA
AKA is an acronym for also known equally . Even though information technology could be pronounced as a word (information technology has the right combination of consonants and vowels), it's always pronounced literally— A-K-A .
Junior = Jr.
Jr. is the abbreviation for Junior . It tin can exist used to refer to someone who is a junior in name (for example, Martin Luther Rex, Jr. ), or a junior in high school or higher.
Sr. ( Senior ) is a related abbreviation—every bit in Martin Luther King, Sr.
Répondez due south'il vous plaît = RSVP
RSVP stands for répondez s'il vous plaît . If you lot've heard the acronym before, but never knew what it stood for, that's OK.
This is 1 of those special cases where the acronym is at present more mutual than the original phrase. Not but is répondez s'il vous plaît long and sort of old-fashioned—it's also in a completely different language!
Orange juice = OJ
OJ stands for orange juice —yet another term that we didn't cover in this lesson, but information technology'south easy to run into the connection. Did you get this one right?
OJ is more than of a slang term than an official abbreviation or acronym. It's used about exclusively in conversation and coincidental writing (and your weekly shopping list).
Peanut butter and jelly = Pb&J
Pb&J stands for peanut butter and jelly . Like OJ , it'south more than like slang than an official acronym.
The interesting affair virtually PB&J is that it's sort of its own "thing," considering the acronym is so memorable and symbolic. In other words, you don't take to say "PB&J sandwich"—you lot can only say Pb&J .
Miscellaneous = misc.
Misc. is the abbreviation for miscellaneous . Proficient guess if yous got this one correct.
Misc. is a very mutual substitute for miscellaneous —fifty-fifty in formal writing—simply because the original word is so long.
Minute = min
Min is the abridgement for infinitesimal . Detect that it's non capitalized in the judgement, and it doesn't use a period either.
This is common for certain types of abbreviations (especially those related to time and measurement ). However, in your ain writing, feel free to add together a period if it makes the abbreviation easier to read.
Captain = Capt.
Capt. is the abbreviation for Captain . Maybe yous've seen information technology spelled a different manner on a sure cereal box—ever heard of Cap'due north Crunch ?
That'south more of a slang abbreviation, used in chat and coincidental writing (sometimes equally a joke). Capt. is the official abbreviation; information technology's used in the military, police strength, and other organizations.
Incorporated = Inc.
Inc. is the abbreviation for Incorporated . Information technology's one of the few abbreviations that can be pronounced literally (as in rhymes with "ink" ), or the same as the give-and-take information technology's based on.
It often depends on the business' branding, and how they prefer to be known to the public.
Post Meridiem = PM
PM is the abridgement for Post Meridiem . Practiced job if y'all got this i correct! If you didn't, that's OK—the abbreviation is far more common than the expression it'south based on.
Luckily, y'all don't have to recollect exactly what PM stands for. It's much easier to think of it as an abbreviation for afternoon .
Feb = February.
February. is a common abbreviation for Feb . We didn't discuss this in the lesson, only if you expect closely at the abridgement, you can probably see where information technology comes from—it'due south simply the first iii messages of the discussion.
There'south an abbreviation for almost every month, from January ( Jan. ) to December ( December. ). Some months don't have an abridgement because the spelling is already so brusk ( May , June , and July ).
Very important person = VIP
VIP is an acronym for very of import person(s) . It's mutual for clubs to accept VIP lounges or services, but people can be VIPs too (i.e., the person is a very important person ).
VIP is pronounced literally ( Five-I-P ) rather than "vip" or "veep."
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Source: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/grammar/abbreviations-and-acronyms/1/
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