What They Are
- Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases.
Example: St. for Street, Rx for prescription, DC for District of Columbia. - Acronyms are a type of abbreviation made from the first letters of a phrase.
Example: DIY, ASAP, NASA.
Technically, acronyms are pronounced as words (NASA), and initialisms are pronounced as letters (FBI). But for simplicity, we call both “acronyms” in this guide.
When to Use (and Avoid) Acronyms
- Avoid acronyms when you can. They often confuse readers.
- If you must use one, spell it out the first time, then put the acronym in parentheses.
Example: The General Services Administration (GSA) - Some acronyms are more familiar than their full names (like NASA or FBI). In those cases, it’s okay to use the acronym without spelling it out.
- Instead of using an acronym on second reference, you can use a shortened name.
Example: Use Labor instead of Department of Labor, not DOL.
