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Alphabet soup of names. Shorthand for speech.

Gosh, how many do we use all the time in real life?

I try and steer clear from acronyms, as much as I can. In My Opinion people are becoming a little lazy, when it comes to written language. :p

Okay, if you are limited to space (such as text mesages) I can understand it. But half of the acronyms I see, I haven't a clue what they mean. :rolleyes:

Ah, why do they do it while driving?:(

How many do I use all the time in real life? AM and PM telling the time, GMT and BST, CD-ROM and DVD, posh PR ID, BBC, USA, there's loads.

How long has the word 'acronym' been included in the dictionary?

OpenMind;1205294 wrote: How long has the word 'acronym' been included in the dictionary?


The OED describes the word as comprising

Greek "acr(o)" combining form of a. terminal, highest, topmost; n. a tip, point, extremity, peak, summit: Largely used in its various senses to form modern technical terms.

and onym after the style in HOMONYM to give a word meaning named from the tips of other words.

Their first example of the use of acronym as a word is from 1943.

spot;1205304 wrote: The OED describes the word as comprising



Greek "acr(o)" combining form of a. terminal, highest, topmost; n. a tip, point, extremity, peak, summit: Largely used in its various senses to form modern technical terms.



and onym after the style in HOMONYM to give a word meaning named from the tips of other words.



Their first example of the use of acronym as a word is from 1943.


Now you mention it, I believe acronyms were started by the armed forces.

OpenMind;1205308 wrote: Now you mention it, I believe acronyms were started by the armed forces.


That's it then. Buggered if I use those any longer.

I thought they were invented by the post office guy sending telegrams? Way back in the olden days. Texting isn't new either it was used back in the good old days as well.

An article in Wikipedia indicates that acronyms were used he Greeks and Romans.

Acronym and initialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OpenMind;1205412 wrote: An article in Wikipedia indicates that acronyms were used he Greeks and Romans.

Acronym and initialism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


I wonder what they were called before 1943 then?

spot;1205424 wrote: I wonder what they were called before 1943 then?


Apparently, Hebrews used acronyms. It might be an idea to scour the Hebrew language to see if they had a word for acronyms or initialisms.