[funsec] UserFriendly.org: Truth in Acronyms

[Willy, Andrew]

Abbreviations are shortened versions of a word.  "Abbr" is an abbreviation
of abbrevation.

Acronyms are formed by combining the first letters of several words to form
one word.

Neither needs to be pronounceable in the real world, as far as I know,
however when writing HTML it is apparently otherwise.  

>From HTMLhelp.com:

"Unlike other kinds of abbreviations, acronyms are pronounceable words,
though in some cases the pronunciation is strictly a presentation issue. For
example, "SQL" and "URL" are pronounced as words by some people and
pronounced letter-by-letter by others. In such cases, authors should use the
ABBR element, possibly with a style sheet rule specifying the pronunciation
for aural rendering."

Andrew



-----Original Message-----
From: David Lodge [mailto:dave at cirt.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 4:18 PM
To: funsec at linuxbox.org
Subject: Re: [funsec] UserFriendly.org: Truth in Acronyms


On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:51:19 -0000, Fergie <fergdawg at netzero.net> wrote:
>  http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20060122

Must... not... be... pedantic... Must... not... be... pedantic...

Oh sod it:
DMCA is *not* an acronym. It's an abbreviation. An acronym can be  
pronounced (like radar, laser and NATO). DMCA cannot be pronounced  
(easily: DAM-ca? DUM-ca?) ergo it is not an acronym...

dave
Deity of pedantism and buying beer



















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