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'''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
*'''FBI''' for ''Federal Bureau of Investigation''
*'''CBS''' for ''Columbia Broadcasting System''
*''CPA'' for ''Certified Public Accountand''
*'''KJV''' for ''King James Version.''
*''CBS'' for ''Columbia Broadcasting System''
They are distinguished from ''acronyms'' 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 as well as acronyms is imprecise, but increasingly accepted).
*''KJV'' for ''King James Version.''
They are distinguished from ''acronyms'' 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). 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, and particularly in the case of acronyms a certain amount of creativity may be employed.
*''FBI'' for ''Federal Bureau of Investigation''
Examples of acronyms include:
*''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]].
(The use of the word "acronym" to include initialisms as well as acronyms is imprecise, but increasingly accepted).