• I_Miss_Daniel@kbin.social
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            Good point. It’s both.

            I had to DDG that one.

            “… an acronym is a specific type of abbreviation formed from the first letters of a multi-word term, name, or phrase, with those letters pronounced together as one term. OPEC—or the O(rganization of) P(etroleum) E(xporting) C(ountries)—is an acronym because we pronounce it as one word, oh-pek.”

            • boogetyboo
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              5
              ·
              edit-2
              1 year ago

              Huh, interesting. In my mind an abbreviation was either a truncation or maybe a portmanteau. Didn’t think it was an accurate description of acronyms or initialisms.

              Also I said ‘actually’ in my response, please forgive me. I had an upwards lilt in my head voice which would have negated any condescension in person, but on reading what I said, I just came across as a regular, pedant fuckwit.

              • I_Miss_Daniel@kbin.social
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                4
                ·
                1 year ago

                No worries at all. Both are words I hardly every use, and I was happy to be corrected if I was wrong.

                The written word can be misinterpreted easily since it doesn’t easily carry the audible nuances of the spoken word, or the visual cues of the speaker. We’re always learning hey.