Re: Abbreviations and Acronyms

This is a definite yes. In the context the question is actually
"Is "HTTP" an acronym or an abbreviation?". It is evidently not
an abbreviation.

On the quibble about pronounciation, I'm sure there is a way. Even
if you are spelling the letters out, that is still a pronunciation,
and anyway, in which language are you concerned that it should be
pronouncable?

What I am concerned about is, (I'm sorry that I don't have all the
information) why is there a need to distinguish between the two?
Surely this is excessively fine-grained differentiation?

>So far I've understand it too. But I think the information differ
>wether acronyms are initial letters which can be pronounciated as a
>word (eg. SETI, NASA) or all inital letters -- even those which can't
>be pronounciated as the abbrevation (eg. HTTP, WWW).
>
>Is "HTTP" an acronym?

>> I understand:
>> 
>> Abbreviation:
>> A shortening of an existing dictionary word.
>> e.g. Doctor->Dr. Telephone-> 'phone.
>> 
>> Acronym:
>> A new word made up of the initial letters of other words.
>> This is usually a naming convention. An acronym is a noun.
>> e.g. Search for Extra-Terrestial Intelligence->SETI.

Received on Sunday, 10 October 1999 19:41:31 UTC