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Abbreviation refers to a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase. Abbreviations can consist of initialisms, acronyms, contractions, as well as some other shortened forms of words. An acronym is a type of abbreviation that uses the first letters of a series of words to form a new word. All acronyms are abbreviations, but not every abbreviation is an acronym. This is the key difference between abbreviation and abbreviation. This article explores other differences between acronyms and abbreviations.

What is an acronym?

An acronym is formed from the first letters of a series of words. Acronym is often treated as a separate word. The most important feature of an acronym is that it can be pronounced like a single word. Acronyms contain both vowels and consonants because vowels make the word easier to pronounce.

For example, we pronounce AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) as a single word and not as individual letters. (/eɪdz/) Acronyms are usually capitalized. However, some acronyms have been used long enough to be accepted as ordinary words. Examples such as (scuba - self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) and lasers (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) are examples of such cases.

Some other examples of acronyms are,

NAT - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

RAM - Direct access memory

FIFA - International Association of Football Clubs

OPEC - Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Laugh out loud

UNICEF - The International Relief Fund for Children for Children

RIP - rest in peace

SIM - Subscriber Identification Module

In addition, not all acronyms are formed by the first letters. Some acronyms also do not contain initials. For example, the word radar is the shortened form of radio detection an nd r anging.

What is an abbreviation?

Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases. An abbreviation is a group of letters taken from the original word or phrase itself. A word can be abbreviated using many techniques. Abbreviation, initialism, and contractions are some of these methods.

An acronym is the first letter of a series of words. It is pronounced as a separate word.

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ZB: FIFA, UNESCO

An initialism also consists of the first letters of a series of words. The letters are pronounced separately.

Bsp.: FBI, KFC, HSBC

A contraction is a shortened form of a word made by omitting certain sounds and letters.

Ex: I won't do it

Abbreviations also include shortened forms such as Mr., Dr., Rev., Prof., St., etc.

Difference between acronym and abbreviation

Definition

Acronym is a type of abbreviation in which a new word is formed from the first letters of a series of words.

Abbreviation refers to a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase.

pronunciation

Acronym is pronounced as a separate word.

Some abbreviations are not pronounced as new words.

interdependence

All acronyms are abbreviations.