Comments on: Acronyms, abbreviations, and HSN coupons http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html Science Blog from Freelance Science Writer David Bradley Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:41:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html/comment-page-1#comment-128682 David Bradley Tue, 31 Jul 2007 07:42:56 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html#comment-128682 I'm sure there are millions of 2nd and 3rd order acronyms and abbreviations out there. There are also a whole range of tautological acronyms and abbreviations, such as "PIN number", "PDF format", "TIFF format" and many others. It's the kind of thing that used to provide our bread and butter on the back page (Feedback) section of New Scientist. Anyone got any more interesting variations on the theme that they would care to share? Maybe I should run a competition to find the first genuine fourth order abbreviation... I’m sure there are millions of 2nd and 3rd order acronyms and abbreviations out there. There are also a whole range of tautological acronyms and abbreviations, such as “PIN number”, “PDF format”, “TIFF format” and many others. It’s the kind of thing that used to provide our bread and butter on the back page (Feedback) section of New Scientist.

Anyone got any more interesting variations on the theme that they would care to share? Maybe I should run a competition to find the first genuine fourth order abbreviation…

]]> By: Robert Bowen http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html/comment-page-1#comment-128536 Robert Bowen Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:44:31 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html#comment-128536 Second order acronyms (and abbreviations) are fun to watch for. Anything with L for laser, N for NASA, etc. NEM for NAAQS Exposure Model, for example, is pretty obscure to me. I only recall one probable TOAA (third order acronyms and abbreviations), but I'd bet there are some more out there. (CPMP= CEMI Participative Managment Program [CEMI= Cominco Electronic Materials Inc. {Cominco= Commonwealth Mining Co.}]) Second order acronyms (and abbreviations) are fun to watch for. Anything with L for laser, N for NASA, etc. NEM for NAAQS Exposure Model, for example, is pretty obscure to me. I only recall one probable TOAA (third order acronyms and abbreviations), but I’d bet there are some more out there. (CPMP= CEMI Participative Managment Program [CEMI= Cominco Electronic Materials Inc. {Cominco= Commonwealth Mining Co.}])

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html/comment-page-1#comment-128329 David Bradley Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:30:08 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html#comment-128329 Well, yes, you're right, and I did know that, of course, just not the best edited of items, thanks for picking it up. Well, yes, you’re right, and I did know that, of course, just not the best edited of items, thanks for picking it up.

]]> By: Headley http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html/comment-page-1#comment-128029 Headley Sun, 29 Jul 2007 10:42:32 +0000 http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/hsn-coupons.html#comment-128029 Considering it's a hobby horse of yours, you should be a bit more clued-up about it. Acronyms and abbreviations are not the same thing. Acronyms form a special subset of abbreviations; acronyms make words. So, HSN is an abbreviation, not an acronym. NATO, radar, quango, and FACT are all acronyms. Considering it’s a hobby horse of yours, you should be a bit more clued-up about it. Acronyms and abbreviations are not the same thing. Acronyms form a special subset of abbreviations; acronyms make words. So, HSN is an abbreviation, not an acronym. NATO, radar, quango, and FACT are all acronyms.

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