Acronyms and abbreviations

[Rik]

When replying to posts, we do try to judge the level of experience of a poster, and phrase our replies accordingly. However, for long-time users of the 'net and its predecessors, the habit of using acronyms such as OTOH (on the other hand) is second nature.

To help you with these cryptic terms, there's an online site which lists the vast majority at:

http://www.gaarde.org/Acronyms/?lookup=A

If you don't find the answer there, just poke us and we'll be more fulsome.

Thanks to Steve for finding this for us.

[Simon]

I would just add a warning to those of a sensitive nature, that some of the acronyms in the link above contain strong language. 

[Lona]

to Rik as he asked. 

[Steve]

http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php has the use of **

[Rik]

to Rik as he asked. 

[quandam]

Just noticed this addition Many thanks Guys for this useful (particularly for me) link

[JD_LincsUK]

There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding the word 'acronym'.

Seems like most people these days think that any abbreviation is an acronym. Silly, I know, but it always winds me up when I see people who should know better (not meaning that here ) using it instead of 'abbreviation' - such as on the BBC news etc.

Anacronyms, as far as my distant schooling was concerned, where abbreviations that formed pronouncable words, such as SWAT or STOL, but not things like FBI or ATGW - because you can't say them - you'd have to say F - B - I - not fbee or fbeye as a word!

Okay, that's my worthless point of the day, time for Sunday Dinner....yummy! 

JD

[Rik]

 

[JD_LincsUK]

Blimey! I must have had a few when I wrote that reply - shocking spelling  

Oh well - I can't edit it now, so I guess I'll just have to not mention it again - ever...  

JD

[Rik]

 

[pdu]

Abbreviations are short forms of single words such as 'etc' being etcetera, acronyms are short forms of multiple words, where the short form uses the initial letter of each word such as 'otoh' being on the other hand.  FBI is an ancronym, despite it being unpronouncable. Sorry, I'm a pedant 

[Simon]

Not another one! 

[Rik]

Should fit in perfectly around here. 

[gizmo71]

Abbreviations are short forms of single words such as 'etc' being etcetera, acronyms are short forms of multiple words, where the short form uses the initial letter of each word such as 'otoh' being on the other hand.  FBI is an ancronym, despite it being unpronouncable. Sorry, I'm a pedant 

This site disagrees and so did my schoolteachers. Though come to think of it my teachers turned out to be wrong about a few things...

[pdu]

Ah see, the error is on the page, but you have to look quite hard for it:

© Oxford University Press 1971

As any blackadder fan will know, when comparing Oxford, Cambridge and Hull, Oxford is a complete dump :p

[gizmo71]

© Oxford University Press 1971

All the best things were created in 1971.

[Rik]

Or started - I met Sue that year.