longest acronyms

Dance Master MC

Posers and Puzzles

26 Jun 07

DeepRed

Joined: 09 Jun 07
Moves: 1416

29 Jun 07

But isn't RSPCA an acronym?

Gastel

B is for bye bye

Joined: 09 Apr 06
Moves: 27526

01 Jul 07

Originally posted by doodinthemood
No it isn't.
Acronyms are things that make a new word:
SCUBA, FIFA, RADAR, PETA

What was suggested was an initialism, this is just a jumble of letters:
CIA, WWF, CNN, FA

Acronyms must be pronouncable.

ROYGBIV is pronounceable. And an acronym does not need to bee so easily pronounced. CNN is an acronym as are EPL, CSA, UL, and NAMbLA.

doodinthemood

Joined: 31 May 07
Moves: 696

01 Jul 07

incorrect, RSPCA and CNN are not acronyms (if you're going to say that you say those things 'ruspucka' and 'cunun' then I think that's rather silly).

RSPCA and CNN are initialisms and nothing more. Acronyms make up a new word that is pronouncable.

gaurav2711

walking...

...back

Joined: 21 Aug 05
Moves: 27002

01 Jul 07

Originally posted by doodinthemood
No it isn't.
Acronyms are things that make a new word:
SCUBA, FIFA, RADAR, PETA

What was suggested was an initialism, this is just a jumble of letters:
CIA, WWF, CNN, FA

Acronyms must be pronouncable.

R.O.Y.G.V.I.B might not be pronouncable. But its reverse is. Thats the way we learnt it in school - VIBGYOR!!

agryson

AGW Hitman

http://xkcd.com/386/

Joined: 23 Feb 07
Moves: 7113

01 Jul 07

I do think it's picking hairs, but apparently it holds up...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym#Nomenclature

demonseed

Joined: 19 Mar 05
Moves: 11878

01 Jul 07

WYSIWYG - computing acronym

What You See Is What You Get