Advertisement

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCES TO C&EN

Environment

Abbreviation, Acronym, Or Initialism?

June 1, 2015 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 93, Issue 22

I read with some amusement the letter from John Neumeyer regarding the use of acronyms in the literature without identifying their meaning (C&EN, March 30, page 2). I used to believe that any combination of letters used to identify something was an acronym until a boss of mine pointed me to the dictionary definition, which says the letters must form something that can be pronounced as a word. All of Neumeyer’s examples would meet this criterion except his last: GMO.

Jon Green
Morrisville, N.C.

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

0 /1 FREE ARTICLES LEFT THIS MONTH Remaining
Chemistry matters. Join us to get the news you need.