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Style, Writing - Monday, June 15, 2009 13:59 - 0 Comments
Acronyms
Acronyms are words formed from the initial letters of the parts of a multiword term. These can be names of organizations (NATO), nations (USA), phrases (FAQ), and technical terms (JPEG).
Occasionally acronyms go all the way and become words, and the original terms that made them up are nearly forgotten — laser comes from “light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation,” a term that’s unlikely to be found in many articles.
While acronyms are highly efficient, packing a lot of information in a little space, care needs to be taken when using them. Too many, the AP Style Guide warns, produces “alphabet soup.”