[funsec] UserFriendly.org: Truth in Acronyms

[Gary Funck]

> From: Nick FitzGerald
> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2006 4:35 AM
>
> Also, some of the sources of your definitions that tend to suport the
> "pronunciation is not an issue" approach are rather less than
> definitive or schaolarly, whereas the more traditional "keepers of the
> language" tend to side with the abbreviation =/= acronym view.  for
> example, Oxford (from my handy 8th edition Concise) says:
>
>    acronym ... n. a word, usu. pronounced as such, formned from the
>    initial letters of other words (e.g. Ernie, laser, Nato).  ...

Ernie?  Is that really a common acronym?  First I've heard of it:

ERNIE
Acronym for electronic random number indicator, machine designed and
produced by the UK Post Office Research Station to select a series of random
9-figure numbers to indicate prizewinners among Premium Bond holders.