by Doggie S on December 10th, 2007

Question

Help answer this question below.

What is the difference between acronym and abbreviation?

Like
Report

Share:: Facebook; Twitter; Other

Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

by leeks5229 on September 28th, 2008
Acronym and abbreviation are different. An acronym contains the alphabets to denote catchy phrases or linkage for the remembrance of concepts or principles. Abbreviations are merely the condensed versions of the words. I give the examples to highlight the difference:

Acronym: TEAM stands for Together Everyone Achieves More

SMART stands specific, measurable, achievable, retrievable and time based which are used in relation to goals setting, etc

Abbreviation: dept. is the short form for department, UK is United Kingdom, USA is United States of America.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Midgardsormr on December 10th, 2007
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word. Add. for address, for instance. Or Mr. for Mister. An acronym is an intialism that forms a new word, like NATO, for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. An initialism is a set of letters taken from the initial letters of a phrase. ADHD for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.

In common usage, initialisms are commonly referred to as acronyms, even though most of them aren't. And not all acronyms use the initial letter of all the words. I can't think of an example of that at the moment, but I'm sure I will eventually.

Point of trivia: The US Navy is rumored to have a standard document entitled "TLAs," for "Three Letter Acronyms."
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by Takei-Shihan on December 10th, 2007
With an acronym, there are several letters and each letter usually stands for a different word ... With an abbreviation, there is only one word being represented by the smaller version with only one or a few letters.
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink
by iCringe 4 Love on December 10th, 2007
an abbreviation is a shorter form of a word (canada=ca) and as for acronym each letter is a word (m.a.d.d.= mothers against deadbea daddies)
Comments
Add a comment...
- Like
- Report
No comments. Post one | Permalink