Questions tagged [acronyms]
Acronyms are words which were created by taking the first letter (or several letters) of each word of a phrase.
301
questions
2
votes
1
answer
965
views
how do I use a hyphen when defining an acronym in the middle of the term? [duplicate]
Example:
"Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level unemployment"
I need a hyphen between "Area" and "level". Later in the document the term appears as "MSA-level".
Should it be:
"Metropolitan ...
- 21
1
vote
1
answer
4k
views
Is it possible to say "ASAP" instead of "as soon as possible" when we speak? [closed]
Or is it just an abbreviation that should be written just on paper? I heard Al Pacino say "asap" on the phone when he was talking with his friend.
What about pm? Could we say p m instead of prime ...
- 65
0
votes
2
answers
843
views
Is "off" also an acronym?
I found the term off used in the following way (technical document):
... a total of two (2 off) Single radio channels ...
While the meaning seems pretty clear, I'd like to know what off stands ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Is 'acronymise/ze' a word? Is it used only colloquially, if at all?
I just sent a text to a friend, who didn't understand an acronym I used for a game:
"Ah, I said it in a previous text so thought it was ok to abbreviate
it."
Though, since it was an acronym I ...
- 21
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How do we pronounce the acronym CMYK?
How does one pronounce the acronym CMYK, in the color model sense.
If there is more than one pronunciation, how popular is each of them?
user58801
1
vote
2
answers
1k
views
What is the correct abbreviation for the plural "Quantitative Trait Loci" — "QTL" or "QTLs"?
Strictly speaking, both the biological term Quantitative Trait Locus and its plural Quantitative Trait Loci can be abbreviated as QTL. However, one often reads the abbreviations QTL and QTLs. Is the -...
1
vote
1
answer
311
views
What is the correct way to form a demonym from an acronym?
For instance, what is the equivalent of New Yorker when using the acronym (NY or N.Y. instead of New York)?
- 997
2
votes
1
answer
28k
views
Placement of acronym vs words spelled out [duplicate]
I am confused whether to place the acronym before or after the words are spelled out. For example, the first time this organisation is mentioned, which of these alternatives is more correct:
The ...
- 33
6
votes
2
answers
365
views
"An SATA device"? Weird article choice in suggested edit
This question references a suggested edit I rejected on Super User. The edit suggested that the a in
There's no way you're plugging any of those directly into a SATA interface.
be changed to an. ...
- 218
11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is the correct way to define an acronym when its first appearance is plural? [closed]
The question and answers posed in What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? deals very nicely with acronym (and possibly initialism) usage. What about the case when you are defining the acronym?...
- 123
11
votes
1
answer
38k
views
Is there an equivalent for French "CQFD"
In French, when concluding a demonstration, we say "CQFD", which stands for "Ce Qu'il Fallait Démontrer" (What was to be demonstrated).
Does English have an equivalent for this ?
- 265
8
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Is the second period necessary after an abbreviation?
Which one of the following is correct?
only in the continental U.S.A. For all other countries...
only in the continental U.S.A.. For all other countries...
I am not sure if I need two periods after "...
- 83
2
votes
0
answers
10k
views
what is the plural of "GPS" [duplicate]
Do I have several GPSs, or several GPSes, or something completely different? What is the rule to remember (will be useful later when I can have a GPS2, a GPST and maybe a GPSX too).
- 169
0
votes
1
answer
222
views
How to add clarity to an acronym that is already a word
Where I'm working we have an acronym spelled "was" and I'm wondering is there a way to clearly distinguish it from the verb? According to here "acronyms...usually do not require periods" so is this a ...
- 2,910
4
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Is there a Latin, or English, phrase or acronym for "in summary"?
Is there something similar to TLDR that can be used in professional emails and messages?
- 205
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Can the acronym "R.N.A." be used at the end of an e-mail? [closed]
There was the following statement in New York Time’s (June 1) article titled, “Sabbath Gasbags, Speak up.” - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/opinion/sunday/sabbath-gasbags-speak-up.html?hp
“My ...
- 70.2k
7
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Proper to add tense to acronyms, abbreviations and initialisms
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? asked about pluralising acronyms, abbreviations and initialisms, but is there a standard way to add verb endings e.g. -ing and -ed (what are these ...
- 2,081
0
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Do you put an 's' at the end of acronym? [duplicate]
For example, is it FAQs or just FAQ?
I guess it's either:
Frequently Asked Questions
or
"Frequently Asked Question"s
- 131
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Should you use en dashes in acronyms?
For terms like liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry that typically use an en dash rather than a hyphen, would an en dash still be used in the acronym, LC–MS? Or would we only need a hyphen there, ...
- 119
2
votes
1
answer
400
views
How should one punctuate the phrase "simply to understand devote yourself"?
I found an acronym for the word STUDY online. However, the punctuation looks amiss.
It reads
Simply — to understand, devote yourself!
But I think the dash makes no sense here. Am I right?
...
2
votes
1
answer
444
views
Is an "acronoun" a real concept?
In discussing pronunciation of difference kinds of acronyms and initialisms, I recalled the term "acronoun." However, I can't find any reference to this term on the Wikipedia Acronym page, nor in ...
- 133
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can an acronym be pronounced as a construction of letters and words?
I've found this question Pronouncing acronyms in which people discuss how to pronounce acronyms, and they can be pronounced either as single letters or as a single word.
However I would like to know ...
user29020
3
votes
2
answers
114k
views
What is the correct definition and usage of the acronym "ETA"? [closed]
Does "ETA" stand for "Estimated Time to Arrival" or "Estimated Time of Arrival"? I most commonly hear phrases like "ETA 20 minutes", but I've also heard "ETA 4:30 PM". Is one usage correct and the ...
- 141
1
vote
1
answer
372
views
Using "the" with name of research center
The name of our research center is Southeastern Transportation Center, STC is the acronym, of course. In writing, I use STC, not 'the STC' but our director says 'the' is needed so that it reads well. ...
- 11
0
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Double acronym/initialism: acronyms and initialisms that stand for two things simultaneously
I am looking for a term that describes an acronym that has two possible expansions, but both expansions refer to the same thing. The term "double acronym" doesn't appear to be widely used and is ...
- 277
10
votes
8
answers
15k
views
LEDs and the correct pronunciation
The LED is quickly becoming a standard light source alternative to incandescent lights, when speaking to others, I have always pronounced any reference to LED as the acronym "L E D", but increasingly ...
- 856
0
votes
2
answers
170
views
Pronunciation of OS X versions [closed]
I don't feel like this belongs on SU, so I put it here.
I know that "OS X" is pronounced "oh-ess ten," but how should the common construction "OS X 10.9" be pronounced?
The primary possibility I can ...
- 480
32
votes
4
answers
137k
views
Proper Timezone Acronym Usage - PT vs PDT or PST
What is the difference between PT (Pacific Time), PDT (Pacific Daylight Time), and PST (Pacific Standard Time)? Also, is the time format "2:00pm PT" unambiguous?
- 449
4
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Why are all acronyms accented on the last syllable?
When saying acronyms out loud, almost always the last syllable is accented (no matter how long the acronym is): US*A*, U*N*, RSV*P*, etc.
Accenting any syllable but the last makes you sound silly (...
- 167
6
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Does pronouncing an initialism make it an acronym?
One definition of an acronym is:
An abbreviation formed by (usually initial) letters taken from a word or series of words, that is itself pronounced as a word, such as RAM, radar, or scuba; ...
- 1,264
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Defining an acronym when using the plural of the term? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?
I am defining an acronym which will be substituted for some unwieldy term in a document.
One thing Gary has talked ...
- 113
30
votes
6
answers
26k
views
Hip Hip Hooray!
I am looking for the etymology and history of the cheer “Hip Hip Hooray”. I’m curious due to its interesting entry in Wikipedia, which reads thusly:
The call was recorded in England in the ...
- 31.1k
4
votes
2
answers
295
views
How to pronounce acronyms and initialisms with apostrophes?
Simple question:
How do you pronounce acronyms when they're used with apostrophe to express possession? For example:
In the NIH's high-risk, high-reward programmes, “if an idea isn't developing ...
- 383
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Correct capitalisation of 'jargon' words used as acronyms
In a technical role at work we use many three letter acronyms to describe 'things' that we work with or processes that we follow. When writing these up, I'm unclear if capitals should be used or not. ...
- 111
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is the acronym PIGS (or PIIGS) offensive?
To my Spanish ears, the acronym PIGS (for Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain) or PIIGS (for Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain) sounds offensive. The Spanish equivalent “cerdo” is a strong word ...
- 1,545
18
votes
6
answers
18k
views
Researching the real origin of SNAFU
I know the wiki origin puts SNAFU as appearing during WWII as the first in a long line of military slang, BUT, years ago I recollect reading in an electronics magazine, likely 'Wireless World' from 60'...
Keith Rodgerson
1
vote
3
answers
4k
views
Does an initialism count as one word? How about a hyphenated word?
I was playing a game over the weekend where you're allowed to give a one-word clue. Someone said "RNA" and a disagreement followed as to whether or not it's a single word. At the time, we ...
- 182
1
vote
1
answer
790
views
Does the long form of an abbreviation go in quotes?
I am trying to use and introduce an abbreviation in a sentence. Example:
I worked with technologies such as Syntactically Awesome Stylesheets (Sass) while working on my project.
Does the "...
- 13
147
votes
8
answers
287k
views
Plurals of acronyms, letters, numbers — use an apostrophe or not?
When I was in high school back in the 1970s, I was taught that to make a plural of an acronym, a letter, or a number, one should add an apostrophe and "s". Like I would have written this sentence, "......
- 36.2k
13
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Pluralization of acronyms ending in 'S'
What is the proper way to pluralize acronyms ending in the letter 'S'?
The particular acronym under study in this case is T.A.R.D.I.S.
The various forms I believe are correct are:
TARDISes
T.A.R.D....
- 252
23
votes
6
answers
55k
views
Opposite of acronym
If U.N. is the acronym of United Nations, then United Nations is the what of U.N.?
Is there an opposite of acronym?
- 1,207
17
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Proper capitalization of commonly used acronyms and initialisms
I was always under impression, that acronyms ought to be written all caps. However reading BBC News site very often I see some of the common acronyms written as proper names (first cap). For example "...
- 1,124
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can a word that sounds the same as the way it is spelt be an initialism and an acronym?
Initialisms are pronounced as words and acronyms are spelt letters. However, some words sound the same, said and spelt.
e.g. Input Output can be abbreviated as IO. It can be spelt I-O or pronounced ...
- 141
13
votes
5
answers
14k
views
Correct capitalization for "of" in an acronym definition
For an acronym that includes the word "of", do you capitalize its usage within the definition (or expansion) of the acronym
For example, in the follow sentence:
My coworker Steve suffers from ...
4
votes
2
answers
38k
views
What is the acronym for a minor in a subject at a university?
I'm filling out a resume and need to list my education. For my bachelor's degree, it's just "B.S. Whatever", no problem.
I also have a minor. What is the acronym that I should use for this?
- 408
-3
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is it proper to capitalize after an acronym?
By intuition, I would say that after writing an acronym, one need not capitalize the first word after it. However, after seeing how writing-software capitalizes any word which follows the acronym, ...
- 21
0
votes
1
answer
335
views
Pluralizing acronyms: how to? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?
Let's say we're talking about PLCs (programmable logic controllers)? Or are they "PLC's"? I've seen it both ways!
- 1,059
11
votes
3
answers
26k
views
Proper Apostrophe Usage with Initialisms: CCS' or CCS's?
I work with a company whose name is frequently reduced to an initialism (acronym). Let's say the name is "Cool Computer Systems" (CCS). I am engaged in an ongoing, bloody battle with the ...
- 1,337
14
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why is the plural acronym "CSS" treated as singular?
CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, which is a plural phrase. One would say:
Cascading Style Sheets are used to provide a central location for all of the stylings of a project.
However, it ...
- 8,752
2
votes
0
answers
122
views
How to pluralise an acronym? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?
How would you make the plural form of an acronym? For example, if you have two of Nintendo's game console, the DS.
Would you ...
- 346