These are driving me nuts



Anyone who has ever had to publish documents professionally (ie tech manuals etc) know that you are always suppose to expand a term the first time it's used, then you can abbreviate it.

One thing that drives me nuts is that this sort of knowledge use to be pretty common. Then, time progresses and the abbreviation becomes such common vernacular that people use it as a word. That's fine, but the problem then becomes that people use it incorrectly.

I present to the reader a few real world examples - all of which tend to flip the temperature switch in my head until my brain begins to boil.

Expansion ABBREV Common Use Example Proper Use
Automated Teller Machine ATM Where is the ATM Machine? Where is the ATM?
Personal Identification Number PIN Enter your PIN Number. Enter your PIN.

I will add to these as I come across, or remember them. Please feel free to e-mail me your own examples.

Posted: Fri - August 12, 2005 at 08:15 PM   If this blog entry was of use to you, why not show your appreciation by donating to support the site? Just click on the MAKE A DONATION button on the right hand side of the page! It's all handled by PAYPAL.
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