We should use an acronym
only when it will be referred to frequently throughout the text
(say, five or more times) or because it is commonly known and understood. There is no requirement for authors to use acronyms—it is their choice if and when to use them.
When can you use an acronym?
Please remember that acronyms should only be
used for words or phrases that are repeated a number of times throughout your document
. If you use too many initialisms and acronyms, readers will become confused.
How and when should acronyms be used appropriately?
Introduce every acronym before using it in the text
. The first time you use the term, put the acronym in parentheses after the full term. Thereafter, you can stick to using the acronym.
How do you use acronym in a sentence?
- In history class, the students learned the acronym NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
- Remember to capitalize each letter of an acronym.
- Even the computer slang LOL is an acronym because it is an abbreviated version of the phrase “Laugh Out Loud.”
How do you use acronyms?
Always write out
the first in-text reference to an acronym
, followed by the acronym itself written in capital letters and enclosed by parentheses. Subsequent references to the acronym can be made just by the capital letters alone.
What is the difference between initialism and acronym?
An abbreviation is a truncated word; an acronym is made up of parts of the phrase it stands for and is pronounced as a word (ELISA, AIDS, GABA); an initialism is an acronym that is pronounced as
individual letters
(DNA, RT-PCR). … Do not introduce an abbreviation in a heading.
What is it called when you make an acronym?
A backronym, or bacronym
, is an acronym formed from an already existing word. … By contrast, a backronym is “an acronym deliberately formed from a phrase whose initial letters spell out a particular word or words, either to create a memorable name or as a fanciful explanation of a word’s origin.”
Why using abbreviations is bad?
In many cases, they can confuse and alienate unfamiliar audiences, and even well-intentioned writers and speakers may overestimate an audience’s familiarity with abbreviations. Abbreviations shouldn’t be completely avoided, but using them as
a default can be problematic
.
Do you put the before an acronym?
It’s important to know how to pronounce an acronym, because the rule for choosing the right indefinite article before acronyms is based on pronunciation—not spelling.
If the acronym begins with a vowel sound, use the indefinite article an before the acronym
.
What makes a good acronym?
An acronym is a kind of abbreviation that consists of the initial letters and each of them represents a word. Important – It is spelled as one word. Initials are rather a kind of acronym. And it should be spelled letter-by
-letter
.
What is the difference between acronym and abbreviation?
Abbreviations and acronyms are
shortened forms of words or phrases
. An abbreviation is typically a shortened form of words used to represent the whole (such as Dr. or Prof.) while an acronym contains a set of initial letters from a phrase that usually form another word (such as radar or scuba).
How do you write an acronym in writing?
An acronym is a
word formed from the initial letters of each word of a compound term
. The word is pronounced as spelt and no full stops are used. Writing Tip: Try not to use unfamiliar acronyms in your introductory paragraph. This side-tracks readers from your story.
What are some common acronyms?
- AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. …
- ASAP – As Soon As Possible. …
- AWOL – Absent Without Official Leave (or Absent Without Leave) …
- IMAX – Image Maximum. …
- LASER – Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. …
- PIN – Personal Identification Number. …
- RADAR – Radio Detection and Ranging.
What are examples of acronyms?
An acronym is a word formed by abbreviating a phrase by combining certain letters of words in the phrase (often the first initial of each) into a single term. Common examples of acronyms include
NASA (an acronym for National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
and FOMO (a slang acronym for fear of missing out).
Is NASA an acronym or abbreviation?
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (
NASA
) was created by the National Aeronautics and Space Act in 1958.
Can I use acronyms in academic writing?
Initialisms and acronyms can be used in academic essay writing in limited circumstances. The general rule of thumb is that you
spell out an acronym on first reference and then use the acronym after that
. … Do not place the acronym in parentheses after the initial reference. Readers can be trusted to recognize it.
