Are these acronyms or abbreviations?
"lol" (laugh[ing] out loud)
M.I.A (missing in action)
lbw (leg before wicket)
VIP
RSVP
2007-05-30 18:19:40 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The answer is -- it is BOTH!
It is not a matter of "either/or", because an acronym is one TYPE of abbreviation - one which uses the initial letters in a phrase. (Several earlier answers have a mistaken definition of "abbreviation".)
Thus, an acronym is a TYPE of abbreviation. This means that anything that is an acronym IS, by definition an abbreviation, or at least starts as one. (Some of them end up turning into their own words. See "radar" in the second link below.)
On the other hand, there are many types of abbreviations that are NOT acronyms.
To see this, check the following dictionary definitions, and note especially the one for "abbreviation" which includes the *acronym* "USMC" as an example:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/abbreviation
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/acronym
2007-05-30 22:37:56 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Acronyms. An abbreviation uses part of a word for a shortened form. An acronym is made from two or more words and is the use of all or some of the first letters of the words for a shortened form. The use of acronyms specific to a particular field or interest is part of what is called "jargon." An abbreviation that makes another English word takes a period; such as "in." but others, like "mm" do not.
2007-05-31 05:03:49 · answer #2 · answered by Gerald G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are acronyms because each letter stands for a separate word. An abbreviation is a shortened version of a single word such as Mr. is short for mister, or St. is short for street.
2007-05-30 18:26:18 · answer #3 · answered by Jeanne 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are acronyms;because are using a letter for each word.The abbreviations use incomplete word with a period at the end of the word abbreviated.
2007-05-30 18:41:18 · answer #4 · answered by kuinike10 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it does not worry me. those human beings are only showoffs and that they are going to with any luck provide up, as I did. "SNAFU" i presumed replaced into so lovable I had to describe it, until I discovered that maximum anyone knew what it meant. I proceed to be concerned with acronyms. they enable me to fish issues out of my neural internet, additionally ordinary as "wetware." occasion? I knew there replaced right into a lovable acronym in Spanish that I encountered the former day .. in doing a Yahoo seek on "Evo Morales," the 1st Indian President of Bolivia. "MAS" "extra" is his politicial occasion "Movimiento al Socialismo." Spanish is elementary, acronyms are exciting. want I say extra?
2016-10-09 04:27:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
those are acronyms. abbreviations are just shortened versions of one word such as "miscellaneous" being shortened to "misc."
2007-05-30 18:23:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
acronyms
2007-05-30 18:22:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
acronyms.
eg. each letter stands for a seperate word.
2007-05-30 18:33:02 · answer #8 · answered by 3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋