Acronym Usage

[Fazor]

Okay, I've been meaning to post this for a while, because it comes up in my job a lot. We all know many people say things like ATM machine, to which you can snidely reply "Automated Teller Machine Machine? You don't say the 'machine' after the M! Haha! Stupid you!" whatever.

I get annoyed at that. Yes, the machine is already in the acronym. But 'ATM machine' is said enough to be common usage, IMHO.

But the one that comes up at work is "VIN number"; a vehicles "serial number", or spelled out, Vehicle Identification Number. So yes, the above would be "Vehicle Identification Number Number".

So why do I say "VIN Number" when referring to it? Because not everyone knows what a VIN is. When you say "VIN Number", they can usually figure out you're asking for that real long combination of digits. Sometimes I try to avoid the issue by saying "Vehicle's serial number"; but then the car people act snarky and go, "You mean the VIN?" (with the 'haha I'm so smart and you're stupid tone in their voice).

So, here's Fazor's PSA for the day; Next time someone says a superfluous word at the end of an acronym, don't just assume they're stupid and don't realize they don't know it's unnecessary.

Thank you.

[jokergirl]

Don't enter your PIN Number on the ATM Machine! You might get the HIV Virus.

[hhEb09'1]

LOL laughing, TLA acronyms can be funny that way

[Perikles]

I registered the downward spiral some decades ago, in the computer business where they started making acronyms out of acronyms. Our computer ran with HASP, Houston Automatic Spooling Protocol, where SPOOL was Simultaneous Peripheral Operation Online Language, or something like that. I feel damaged because I can actually remember such garbage.

[pzkpfw]

We say " A . T . M " because it doesn't "make a word". But we say "Pin" and "Vin" because the vowel makes them "sayable". I wonder if that has an effect on how they are used and/or misused.

(Over here we had "New Zealand Insurance". This became "NZI" and is now called "NZI Insurance". Weird.

I've never heard someone say "Let's have KFC Chicken".)


I agree with the sentiment of not hassling people for adding the superfluous words. I used to do it (the hassling). And I was just being smug and annoying.

[Fazor]

The insurance industry is like many, I suspect. We get daily "briefings" from the home office, and they're chock'full'o acronyms. Most of the time, me and my manager look at each other and ask, "What in the world are they talking about?"

They fall into the trap of using common acronyms amongst themselves so much, that when these departments communicate with the "outside world", they just assume we all know what they mean.

I guess we all do it sometimes. But it's astounding how often they do it.

[pzkpfw]

I registered the downward spiral some decades ago, in the computer business where they started making acronyms out of acronyms. Our computer ran with HASP, Houston Automatic Spooling Protocol, where SPOOL was Simultaneous Peripheral Operation Online Language, or something like that. I feel damaged because I can actually remember such garbage.

I once had a copy of an IBM dictionary of computing. In it they identified some three-level acronyms. (But I don't remember any...)

[Bean Counter]

I deal with Material Safety Data Sheets at work often. I've caught myself on many occastion requesting an MSDS sheet from a vendor.

There's also a concert venu in the St. Louis area that used to be called the UMB Bank Pavillion when UMB had the naming rights. UMB stands for United Missouri Bank.

[NEOWatcher]

I've never heard someone say "Let's have KFC Chicken".

Me neither, but then again, most of the people I associate with don't like greasy foods.

Anyway, computer science is full of em.
Just pick any IBM Machine, such as the PC computer. On there you will find tiff files that can be sent to you via FTP protocol or by DVD disk or CD Disk. Of course that can all be analyzed with a LISP processor.
(ok, I think that last one made me think twice about continuing.)

[Ara Pacis]

BTW, if it's not pronounced as a word, it's not an acronym, it's an initialism. But what do you call those items that are a mix of an abbreviation and initials? Is it still an acronym?

I recall a local bank called "LNB National Bank" where, you guessed it, de-initialed it's L-something National Bank National Bank.

[Ara Pacis]

Me neither, but then again, most of the people I associate with don't like greasy foods.

Anyway, computer science is full of em.
Just pick any IBM Machine, such as the PC computer. On there you will find tiff files that can be sent to you via FTP protocol or by DVD disk or CD Disk. Of course that can all be analyzed with a LISP processor.
(ok, I think that last one made me think twice about continuing.)

BTW, a CD or DVD isn't a disk, it's a disc, only floppies are disks.

[HenrikOlsen]

And DVD doesn't contain the word disc/disk anyway.

[pzkpfw]

Eh?

"Digital Versatile (was Video) Disk", isn't it?

[Kaptain K]

You don't even need accronym too be redundant.

How many times have you heard somebody refer to their hot water heater? Come on folks, if the water is already hot, it doesn't need heating!

[Perikles]

And DVD isn't an acronym containing the work disc/disk anyway.

but but but when I switch one on, it always says 'this Digital Versatile Disk...bla bla. (or Disc, but one of the two)

Edit: you didn't have a link in your post when I replied.

[HenrikOlsen]

I added an explanatory link.

[NEOWatcher]

Eh?

"Digital Versatile (was Video) Disk", isn't it?

Follow the link, you'll see the joke.

Disk, disc... I never know which. Diskette or discus. Either way, and my dictionary translates disc merely as disk.

Anyway, a lot of them work as ROM Memory, don't they?

[Fazor]

How many times have you heard somebody refer to their hot water heater? Come on folks, if the water is already hot, it doesn't need heating!

I used to be guilty of that, but with great effort, have retrained myself to just say "water heater".

[HenrikOlsen]

Anyway, a lot of them work as ROM Memory, don't they?

As long as they aren't WOM's which I've experienced with several batches over the years.

[pzkpfw]

You don't even need accronym too be redundant.

Was the redundant "o" on purpose?

[jokergirl]

No, but the redundant "c" was.

My GPS (not GPS system - though that would at least make sense in some way) writes "DVD disc" on the screen somewhere.
I hear "LAN network" as well.

[Ara Pacis]

You don't even need accronym too be redundant.

How many times have you heard somebody refer to their hot water heater? Come on folks, if the water is already hot, it doesn't need heating!

Sure it does. You might want it hotter.

[Fazor]

Sure it does. You might want it hotter.

Or maybe the water heater is, in itself, running hot. Or it's a sexy water heater. "Hey man, look at that hot water heater!"

[tdvance]

I once had a copy of an IBM dictionary of computing. In it they identified some three-level acronyms. (But I don't remember any...)

I know an infinite-level acronym:

GNU = GNU's Not Unix

[tdvance]

Follow the link, you'll see the joke.

Disk, disc... I never know which. Diskette or discus. Either way, and my dictionary translates disc merely as disk.

Anyway, a lot of them work as ROM Memory, don't they?

What kind of ROM? The older, Read-Only kind of ROM memory, or the kind you can rewrite over and over for firmware upgrades?

[kleindoofy]

... I get annoyed at that. Yes, the machine is already in the acronym. But 'ATM machine' is said enough to be common usage, IMHO. ...

"Ain't" is also common. That's not an excuse to not try and better one's self.

Having said that, while we all wait for that really good TGIF friday, I'll go buy a book. I already have the ISBN number, it's on my CD disk. The picture on the cover is full of pixel elements and the company gave me the SKU unit so I can find it quicker...

[Fazor]

"Ain't" is also common. That's not an excuse to not try and better one's self.

It's in the dictionary, I say it's a word. Albiet one that I don't use.

[Gillianren]

I'll use it occasionally in colloquialisms. By and large, though, while I see its place in the language--and that it ain't new--I don't use it much myself.

[kleindoofy]

I'll use it occasionally ...

How often does your mother faint?

[KaiYeves]

I know somebody who referred to an ISS element as being "A European ESA mechanism".