The word acronym is formed from the Greek roots acr-, meaning "height, summit, or tip" and -onym, meaning "name". 7.2 Redundant acronyms and RAS syndrome.7 Changes to (or wordplay on) the expanded meaning.6.2.4 Pronunciation-dependent style and case.6.1.2 Representing plurals and possessives.6.1.1.2 Pronunciation-dependent style and periods.4 Comparing a few examples of each type.Dictionary and style-guide editors are not in universal agreement on the naming for such abbreviations, and it is a matter of some dispute whether the term acronym can be legitimately applied to abbreviations which are not pronounced "as words", nor do these language authorities agree on the correct use of spacing, casing, and punctuation.Ībbreviations formed from a string of initials and usually pronounced as individual letters are sometimes more specifically called initialisms or alphabetisms examples are FBI from Federal Bureau of Investigation, and e.g. The broader sense of acronym-the meaning of which includes terms pronounced as letters-is sometimes criticized, but it is the term's original meaning and is in common use. They can also be a mixture, as in radar ( RAdio Detection And Ranging).Īcronyms can be pronounced as words, like NASA and UNESCO as individual letters, like FBI, TNT, and ATM or as both letters and words, like JPEG (pronounced JAY-peg) and IUPAC. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in NATO ( North Atlantic Treaty Organization), but sometimes use syllables, as in Benelux (short for Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg). For the use of acronyms on Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Acronyms.Īn acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase.