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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Mark Sandlin writes:
> > That's been my understanding; if the letters don't form a word it's an
> > abbreviation rather than an acronym, though the two terms are blurring.
> This is what Dictionary.com has to say about it:
> ac·ro·nym (kr-nm)
> A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's
> Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words,
> such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.
> It doesn't specify that it must be a real word that is formed in order to be
> an acronym.
Not a "real" word, but a word nonetheless, as opposed to a string of
distinct letters. AFOL, if pronounced as a word ("I'm an AFOL") rather than
spelled out ("I'm an A-F-O-L"), is an acronym by that definition. The
convention was to say "WAC" (rhymes with pack) rather than spell out "W-A-C."
> Some words have become so integrated into our society that most people don't
> even realize they're acronyms.
True. In many cases (like radar, scuba, and laser) they've become
full-fledged words and no longer need to be considered acronyms.
Dave!
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