Acronyms make communication easier, but who can keep track of what they mean? We can, and now you can too with these common acronym examples.
Learn these acronym examples ASAP
Sometimes we have a lot to say, but little time to say it. That’s where acronyms come in and help speed things up. What exactly is an acronym? It’s a word comprised of the first initials of the other words, which is then pronounced as its own word. Acronyms are created to shorten long phrases and speed up communication, much like abbreviations and initialisms.
While these terms are similar, they do have distinct differences to note. Abbreviations shorten a word or phrase without creating a new word to say (think of “avenue” being abbreviated to “ave.”). Initialisms are words comprised of the first letter of phrases, but you say the individual letters instead of combining them to make a new word (think “RSVP“—you don’t create a new word when reading it aloud). Did you know canola in canola oil is an acronym?
You’ve likely seen these acronyms in everyday life mixed in with common texting abbreviations. But what exactly do they mean? Here’s a quick guide to keep you in the know and help you communicate faster (we also included some common abbreviations and initialisms for reference).
Commonly considered an abbreviation for “miss,” but technically it’s not an abbreviation for anything. The period is there to indicate that it’s a valid title for adults to use.
Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnary. The first two words are the founder’s name, Invgvar Kamprad, and the second two refer to Kamprad’s family farm (Elmtaryd) and hometown (Agunnary, Sweden)
MADD
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
NASDAQ
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
Kelly Kuehn is a former editor for Reader’s Digest who covered entertainment, trivia and history. When she’s not working you can find her watching the latest and greatest movies, listening to a true-crime podcast (or two), blasting ‘90s music and hiking with her dog, Ryker, throughout the Finger Lakes.
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