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 Accountand'' |
| − | * | + | *''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). | ||
Revision as of 14:52, March 25, 2007
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 Accountand
- CBS for Columbia Broadcasting System
- 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).