What is an Acronym?
A word formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase.
Acronyms: Words that say a lot with a little!
Acronyms come in all shapes and sizes - some are a household name, such as NASA or SWAT, while others may be more obscure - NFPA or OPEC, anyone?
Regardless of the acronym you're looking at, they all have one thing in common: they are created using the first letter of each word in a longer phrase. In some cases, acronyms are pronounced as a word (like NASA), while others are pronounced letter by letter (like FBI).
Acronyms can be a great way to shorten a long or complicated phrase into something more easily remembered. But beware, using too many acronyms can cause confusion for your reader or listener if they don't know what the acronym stands for. When using acronyms, always consider your audience and whether they are likely to know what it means. And if you're not sure, it's better to explain it in full or at least give the full name the first time it's used.
Acronyms have long been used in literature to create memorable characters and themes, as well as to inject a sense of urgency or danger - here are two examples:
In the opening lines of 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,' Eliot uses an acronym to describe the evening: 'Let us go then, you and I, / When the evening is spread out against the sky / Like a patient etherized upon a table; / Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, / The muttering retreats / Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels / And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells: / Streets that follow like a tedious argument / Of insidious intent / To lead you to an overwhelming question ... / Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” / Let us go and make our visit.'
In the fourth installment of the Harry Potter series, Rowling introduces the Triwizard Tournament, which is shortened to 'the Tournament' throughout the book. Using the acronym 'TWT,' she creates suspense and intrigue as Harry competes against students from two other wizarding schools.