Changes

'''Initialisms''' are a form of abbreviation in which a phrase is abbreviated to the first letter of each word in the phrase; familiar examples include

'''Initialisms''' are a form of abbreviation in which a phrase is abbreviated to the first letter of each word in the phrase; familiar examples include

*''CPA,'' for ''Certified Public Accountant''

*''[[CPA]],'' for ''Certified Public Accountant''

*''CBS,'' for ''Columbia Broadcasting System''

*''[[CBS]],'' for ''Columbia Broadcasting System''

*''KJV,'' for ''King James Version.''

*''KJV,'' for ''[[King James Version]].''

Initialisms are distinguished from [[acronym]]s in that initialisms are pronounced as individual letters, while acronyms are pronounced as if the letters spelled out a word (which they may in some cases do). The use of the word "acronym" to ''include'' initialisms is increasingly accepted.

Initialisms are distinguished from [[acronym]]s in that initialisms are pronounced as individual letters, while acronyms are pronounced as if the letters spelled out a word (which they may in some cases do). The use of the word "acronym" to ''include'' initialisms is increasingly accepted.

Both initialisms and acronyms are defined by custom; sometimes they do not strictly follow the rule of using every initial, or only the first initial. Unimportant words may be omitted. In the case of acronyms a certain amount of creativity may be employed.

Both initialisms and acronyms are defined by custom; sometimes they do not strictly follow the rule of using every initial, or only the first initial. Unimportant words may be omitted. In the case of acronyms a certain amount of creativity may be employed.

*''FBI,'' for ''Federal Bureau of Investigation'''

*''[[FBI]],'' for ''Federal Bureau of Investigation'''

*''AFL-CIO,'' for ''American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations''

*''[[AFL-CIO]],'' for ''American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations''

Examples of acronyms include:

Examples of acronyms include:

*''USA PATRIOT'' Act, for ''Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act''

*''[[USA PATRIOT]]'' Act, for ''Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act''

*''TULIP,'' for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints (the core tenets of [[Calvinism]]).

*''TULIP,'' for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints (the core tenets of [[Calvinism]]).

*''Roy G. Biv,'' for ''Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet'' (the conventional description of the colors in the [[spectrum]]).

*''[[Roy G. Biv]],'' for ''Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet'' (the conventional description of the colors in the [[spectrum]]).

[[Category:Linguistics]]

[[Category:Linguistics]]