Abbreviations, Initialisms, Acronyms, and Backronyms
Figures of speech and constructions in the English language abound. There are many terms that refer to these, and it's difficult to keep them all straight. Abbreviations, initialism, acronyms, and bacronyms are similar constructions. Use this quick and precise explanation of each to help you keep their differences straight.
Abbreviations are, in general, shortened forms of words or phrases.
1. Doctor-dr.
2. United States of America-USA
3. inch-in
4. tablespoon-Tbsp.
Initialisms are a specific kind of abbreviation that is made of initials that are pronounced separately in the abbreviation. For example, USA is an abbreviation that is an initialism because we pronounce the letters separately.
1. Federal Bureau of Investigation-FBI
2. Digital Video Disk-DVD
3. University of Tennessee-UT
Acronyms are also a specific kind of abbreviation that is made of initials, but acronyms can be pronounced as words instead of having to pronounce the initials separately.
1. North American Trade Organization-NATO
2. As Soon as Possible-ASAP
3. Self-contained underwater breathing aparatus-SCUBA
Bacronyms are "backwards" acronyms. Bacronyms take an existing word and form an expression from it. There are some that are commonly recognized, but you can also make your own.
1. MADD-Mothers Against Drunk Driving
2. Golf-Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden
3. Spa-Serenity, pampering, awesome
As you can see, these four things-abbreviations, initialisms, acronyms, and bacronyms-are similar constructions, but they are slight variations of each other. Now that you are aware, you can refer to them with accuracy!
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