# On the use of acronyms **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 8, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310 "2022-08-08T15:07:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/1 "2022-08-08T15:07:15Z")
Can we come to any sort of consensus regarding good form in the use of acronyms in posts? Some readers seem to get terribly upset when people use acronyms without defining them. But if we have to define every acronym in a post - or eschew acronyms entirely - then it’s going to get awfully wordy around here. No more USA, NATO, Washington DC, JFK, GDP, FCC, EPA, RADAR, and so on. On the other hand (OTOH), there are some truly esoteric acronyms that the average reader will have never encountered, or that have multiple meanings (with the relevant meaning not made clear by context). My preference would be for writers and readers to both be reasonable: - Dope writers shouldn’t feel compelled to spell out every acronym every time, since the whole point of acronyms is efficiency in communication. But they should think a bit about who the likely audience is and how likely they are to know a particular acronym. If you’re in a discussion about plumbing, the people involved are probably mostly familiar with the terms of art, so you shouldn’t feel compelled to explain NPT. But in a discussion about a military engagement, the audience might be lot more broad, so you’d probably want to define BDA (bomb damage assessment) at least once before you use it. - Dope readers who encounter an acronym they’re not familiar with ought to start out by making a good-faith effort to search for enlightenment on the internet. Example, if a Dope writer neglects to define BDA in a thread about a military engagement, readers can google it for themselves, obtaining an answer in seconds instead of minutes/hours. Googling “BDA” by itself turns up a bunch of irrelevant results though, so one could add other key words like war, army, or artillery to help narrow the results. Any of those additional key words results in bomb damage assessment as the top result. If a brief internet search doesn’t get you an answer, it’s reasonable to ask the writer for a definition. Or am I crazy to look for middle ground here? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/2 "2022-08-08T15:12:34Z")
As noted, it takes a few seconds to Google an acronym or ask what one means. It’s a good idea to spell out obscure ones, but hardly something to get “terribly upset” about. BOLO for overly sensitive folks. 🫣 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/3 "2022-08-08T15:18:16Z")
BOLO is a great example of where using an acronym is a bad idea. It isn’t all that common and does not Google easily. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/4 "2022-08-08T15:23:38Z")
There are many acronyms that are popular among the texting young 'uns, and I can be pretty overly sensitive (read: anal) about confusing posts, and I’m not afraid to speak up when people are inconsiderate. That said, BOLO = Be On the LookOut, right? I don’t think I ever came across it before, but I figured it out from context. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/5 "2022-08-08T15:44:52Z")
To state the obvious, there is a huge middle ground between all the very-commonly-used acronyms and initialisms in the OP’s first paragraph, and those used in specialized or narrow interests. Most of that middle ground seems to be occupied by those used by people who text a lot (vs. those who don’t) and so encounter them every day. As with any writing where the intent is to communicate, the rule should be: know your audience. The second rule is to be polite, and that’s on both writers and readers. My recommendation to those composing posts is, when in doubt, spell it out (the first time) followed by the acronym or initialism, i.e. “bomb damage assessment (BDA).” The first time in any thread should be enough, it shouldn’t be necessary to repeat it every time in that thread. My recommendation to readers is to either ask or look it up, without complaining. It’s not that your complaints are never justified, it’s just that they are always useless and lead to arguments. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/6 "2022-08-08T16:01:58Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > BOLO is a great example of where using an acronym is a bad idea. It isn’t all that common and does not Google easily. I highlighted “BOLO” and hit “Define” which runs a google search for “Define BOLO”. Top result is a Phillipine knife. Second result is “Be On the Lookout”. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/7 "2022-08-08T16:29:33Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > BOLO is a great example of where using an acronym is a bad idea. It isn’t all that common and does not Google easily. If search results come back with a bunch of results explaining the actual word (e.g. a bolo is a type of knife), it can be helpful to google “what does \* stand for” (where \* is the acronym in question. In this example, Googling “what does BOLO stand for” gets the desired result. > [@Babale](#): > > I highlighted “BOLO” and hit “Define” which runs a google search for “Define BOLO”. Where’s the “Define” option? I’m using Chrome on a PC. Is it browser-/app-specific? ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/8 "2022-08-08T16:36:00Z")
Well, IMNSHO, things like JFK and BOLO are not a common abbreviations. Probably more work than is necessary, though, and I don’t know how that would display on phones and tablets. I say spell out any that aren’t common in this community, patiently explain if anyone asks, and don’t sweat the petty things. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/9 "2022-08-08T16:50:26Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Can we come to any sort of consensus regarding good form in the use of acronyms in posts? Some readers seem to get terribly upset when people use acronyms… I wasn’t aware that there was a lack of consensus, bar one poster. Why be evasive about the fact that it has been ONE poster causing 100% of the problem with this issue? He was pitted, the pitting was initially poorly received and everyone agreed that we could sometimes do better with acronyms, applying common sense principles similar to what you have outlined here. The pittee then joined the thread and alienated everyone by insisting on his right to junior mod when (in his opinion) an acronym should have been defined, rejected the idea that SDMB should ever engage in more technical discussions where some prior knowledge is assumed, declared essentially that he would continue to be a disruptive jerk about it and that he was being persecuted. > [@I Pit ILMVI for Complaining Incessantly About Acronyms](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ilmvi-for-complaining-incessantly-about-acronyms/943142): > > ILMVI, please, for the love of DOYC, stop derailing threads to gripe about acronyms (or, for that matter, [legalese you don’t understand](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-american-with-a-40-year-old-dui-in-america-visit-canada/943054/28)). I have gotten so sick of you disrupting threads over [your pet peeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/53) that I have had you on ignore for months now (honest: that’s the only reason, I can’t stand your moaning about acronyms). But apparently even that’s not enough. Because every time you drop a squat in a thread over someone’s use of an acronym (and so frequently in situations where its meaning… What prompted this rehashing of the issue? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/10 "2022-08-08T16:52:17Z")
I already know what BOLO means. It’s a class of artificially intelligent unmanned ground combat vehicles in the far future of the human race. Later instances are large enough, powerful enough, and fast enough to defend an entire planet by itself. > **[Bolos](https://bolo.fandom.com/wiki/Bolos)** > > ... Keith Laumer's Bolos! A Bolo is a fictional type of artificially intelligent tank. They were first imagined by Keith Laumer, and have since been featured in science fiction novels and short story anthologies by himself and... But I don’t know why you would use that in that context. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/11 "2022-08-08T16:58:20Z")
JFK immediately means John F. Kennedy to most of us I would think. Did you mean something else? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/12 "2022-08-08T17:03:30Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > JFK immediately means John F. Kennedy to most of us I would think. JFK is one of probably a handful of politicians and public figures who, in the U.S., are widely known by their initials (others would include FDR, RFK, LBJ, and MLK). I’m not sure how widely those initials are known/used for them outside of the U.S., however. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/13 "2022-08-08T17:06:15Z")
> [@GreysonCarlisle](#): > > Well, IMNSHO, things like JFK and BOLO I’ll agree with you on BOLO (I thought it was a string tie), but disagree on JFK. For us 'Mericans, JFK is about as common as you can get. John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Popular President of the United States. Beloved by Catholics. The reason even into the 90s that the prevailing sentiment was “You can’t be a Catholic and vote Republican”. There was a time where the Presidents were known by initials - FDR; HST; DDE; JFK; LBJ. For some reason, it stopped at Nixon. Don’t know anyone who would see “RMN” and think “Nixon”, or JEC and think “Carter”. President Kennedy doesn’t show up in discussions much any more (unless you’re specifically talking about former Presidents), so any use of JFK is probably referring to the airport for New York. And that shows up enough that (again) any American is going to know what you’re referring to. So, your NSHO needs an “NS”-ectomy. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/14 "2022-08-08T17:11:05Z")
Obviously, what we need is the [Discourse Abbreviations and acronyms plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/abbreviations-and-acronyms-plugin/38501). May some helpful mod will install it for us. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/15 "2022-08-08T17:12:25Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > JFK is one of probably a handful of politicians and public figures who, in the U.S., are widely known by their initials (others would include FDR, RFK, LBJ, and MLK). I’m not sure how widely those initials are known/used for them outside of the U.S., however. I recall a thread complaining about calling AOC AOC when everybody was already calling her AOC… > [@AOC's "Green New Deal" pipe dream](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aocs-green-new-deal-pipe-dream/829160/): > > Mike Pesca delivers a nice takedown of AOC’s truthiness schtick in the latest episode of his daily Slate podcast The Gist, starting at 19:30: Note that Pesca (like me) is a center-left Democrat, and he explicitly says he would be cool with Scandinavian style democratic socialist policies, though he doubts they could get past political hurdles in the U.S. But what AOC is talking about here goes far beyond that, and what really alarms me is the Trump-style dismissal of the importance of fact c… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/16 "2022-08-08T17:16:23Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Where’s the “Define” option? I’m using Chrome on a PC. Is it browser-/app-specific? I don’t think it is a clickable option. I have found that wording a Google search like this works best: > Define: [word or phrase] … and put phrases in double quotes if necessary. Example – these three searches may turn up different results: > define in god we trust > > define: in god we trust > > define: “in God we Trust” ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/17 "2022-08-08T17:17:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > JFK immediately means John F. Kennedy to most of us I would think. Did you mean something else? If you’re using a computer, you should see a dotted line under JFK. You can hover over it to get a pop-up saying Just For Kicks. If you’re using another sort of device, it may not work, and my example fell flat. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/18 "2022-08-08T17:19:08Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Obviously, what we need is the [Discourse Abbreviations and acronyms plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/abbreviations-and-acronyms-plugin/38501). > May some helpful mod will install it for us. I think that just automatically does what I did manually. Evidently, it doesn’t display correctly on mobile devices. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/19 "2022-08-08T17:23:09Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > That said, BOLO = Be On the LookOut, right? I don’t think I ever came across it before, but I figured it out from context. It’s a term used in law enforcement, also known as [APB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-points_bulletin) (all points bulletin) and frequently used in CSI and NCIS and similar shows. (I hope I don’t need to explain _those_ initialisms) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310/20 "2022-08-08T17:23:50Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I wasn’t aware that there was a lack of consensus, bar one poster. Why be evasive about the fact that it has been ONE poster causing 100% of the problem with this issue? I might have seen the Pit thread you linked to back around the time that it was started, but it’s not one that stuck in my memory. The target of that thread wasn’t on my mind at all when I started this thread. > [@Riemann](#): > > What prompted this rehashing of the issue? This. > [@Is hatred towards EV's due to the belief in a apocalyptic future?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-hatred-towards-evs-due-to-the-belief-in-a-apocalyptic-future/966752/260): > > Could everybody please stop using acronyms without defining them? It took me forever to realize that ICE was Internal Combustion Engine and now you throw FUD into the mix. FUD is what I buy for my cat (thanks, Gary Larson) but what does it mean in this context? Googling the word “ice” by itself will bury you in irrelevant information, but adding the key word “car” tells you what you need to know on the first hit. If you’re on a PC, you don’t even need to take your hands off of the keyboard: 1. hit CTRL+t to open a new browser tab 2. type “ice car” (without the quotes) 3. read the results 4. hit CTRL+w to close that new tab and get back to the Dope Same goes for FUD. > [@Musicat](#): > > I don’t think it is a clickable option. I have found that wording a Google search like this works best: OK, so when you said: > [@Babale](#): > > I highlighted “BOLO” and hit “Define” which runs a google search for “Define BOLO” did you mean you just went to Google and typed “Define BOLO” in the search window? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-the-use-of-acronyms/969310.md?page=2)