Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In my work we use "acronyms" all the time, and they're almost never pronouncable on their own. TSB, PLI, API, DDG, ETC. While Mirriam-Webster online agrees that an acronym is a word, usage no longer respects this restriction. My favourite is ETLA. This stands for Extended Three-Letter Acronym... Paul - -----Original Message----- From: Malcolm McCullough [mailto:MM4@mm-croy.mottmac.com] Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 6:34 AM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] TLA -- three-letter-abbreviation: WOT >TLA -- three-letter-acronym Isn't it a 'three-letter-abbreviation'? An acronym is an abbreviation that can be pronounced as a word, like SCSI is scuzzy (as in 'my old Sprintscan 4000 is getting really scuzzy, I must get a Nikon 8000ED now'). TLA itself is not an acronym, it is an abvreviation. I know that this sounds very picky, and I do have my tongue in my cheek, but 'acronym' has a particular meaning and if 'acronym' loses that meaning and just becomes another word for abbreviation we should then have to invent another word for an abbreviation that is pronounced as a word. We would you know. Trust me on this. My favourite acronym, in the official local government language of 'Bolleaux Complets', was / is POSSLQ, pronounced posslekew. 'Person of the opposite sex sharing living quarters'. Kind Regards Mr V Picky (WOT? way off topic)