Acronyms

Jeff2131 and Real Gun - this thread isn't intended to be a debate of what the definition of acronym is or what it isn't. That debate ended with the first paragraph in my post #9.
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Actually I did get it wrong, but not how you might think. I meant to say "initialism". That is the proper term for the series of initial letters of two or more words which is not said as a word (that would be an acronym), but by the letters themselves. Examples - FBI, GCA, IRS, etc. The letters are normally not separated by periods. If that is the case, then they are indeed simply initials.
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Webster's agrees that an acronym is simply the first letter of each of a series of words, no other conditions.

The definition of initialism according to Websters is as follows:

"An acronym formed from initial letters."

I think it would be heavy handed to disallow discussion on this point.

When my usage agrees with Webster's, I choose not to be corrected on my use of the language.
 
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"Terms of Art", would/could be used if everyone taking part in the conversation were of the same knowledge/experience as all others....:rolleyes:

In a forum you don't really know who you're talking to (most posts are "sent out in cyberspace" for any and all to see, and members may or may not have much in common). This is why I address most/all my posts or replies as if I were speaking to a beginning reloader (and most of the time spell words out). :D
 
When I write, I want to communicate. When I put the effort into writing, I want to be sure my message is clear
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I concur with the above quote.

People should just stop being lazy and type words
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I concur with the above quote. It sees our upcoming generations with all the electronic wizardry are in my opinion becoming less able to communicate as we older folks. Ask them to write a letter, whats paper and pen. Perhaps I'm exaggerating a bit but all to often you see a group of youngins sitting around and all are looking down at there phones and typing away and not speaking a word to each other. What we have here is a failure to communicate:eek: with spoken words
 
youngins sitting around and all are looking down at there phones and typing away and not speaking a word to each other.
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They are not typing...they are touch keyboarding. Actually, they probably have a more brief term for it, probably an acronym. It's hard to keep up.:confused:
 
typing
See definition in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Syllabification: typ·ing
Pronunciation: /ˈtīpiNG/
Definition of typing in English:
noun
1The action or skill of writing something by means of a typewriter or computer:
they learned shorthand and typing
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If it's good 'nuf for Oxford, it's good 'nuf for me. ;)

Are we getting off topic (hereinafter designated by "OT")?

Which begs the question: Is "OT" an acronym? An initialization? An abbreviation? All of the above? None of the above? Some of the above? :eek: :confused:
 
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higgite
Which begs the question: Is "OT" an acronym? An initialization? An abbreviation? All of the above? None of the above? Some of the above?
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Too late for me to edit my post. Try not to copy my mistake. I should have written:

How I think of it top down:
1) Abbreviations
.a) shortened words [Feb]
.b) initialisms [psi]
.c) acronyms [NATO]

"OT" is an abbreviation, and more specifically an initialism. It is not an acronym.

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/abbreviations-acronyms-and-initialisms
 
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