Difference between revisions of "Abbreviation"
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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 | ||
| − | *''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. | ||
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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]] | ||
Revision as of 14:08, March 4, 2009
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
- CBS, for Columbia Broadcasting System
- KJV, for King James Version.
Initialisms 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 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.
- FBI, for Federal Bureau of Investigation'
- AFL-CIO, for American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
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).
- Roy G. Biv, for Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet (the conventional description of the colors in the spectrum).