# PWUA (People Who Use Acronyms) and terms they assume people will know (spoiler: they don't) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030 "2019-08-21T23:32:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/41 "2019-08-22T17:22:01Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why are you using an acronym in your location field? IIRC, he is a student at the University of South Alabama. Go USA Jaguars!!! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/42 "2019-08-22T17:31:41Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why are you using an acronym in your location field? 1. I’m not using an acronym. 2. It’s an abbreviation commonly known throughout the world, and is a well-known shorthand for the country, more commonly used than the full name. So, it’s not comparable to postal abbreviations for states. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/43 "2019-08-22T18:00:34Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I can’t get behind this. I’m not going to type Pennsylvania when PA is correct, or California in place of CA, especially when the state follows a city. What does “correct” mean? If you’re mailing something, the 2-letter is correct and writing out the entire state name is wrong. If you’re communicating, though, “correct” is whatever best conveys your message to its audience. > [@cochrane](#): > > Because I’m lazy and I’m on a phone. If I can save typing ten letters by using an abbreviation, then I will. This message board is based in the U.S. and most of the members know the abbreviations. Anybody who doesn’t can ask. Or just ignore whatever you had to say, since you didn’t communicate it effectively. > [@](#): > > Consider it my contribution to fighting ignorance It’s pretty much the diametrical opposite. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/44 "2019-08-22T18:02:24Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Although in technical fields it may be that the acronym is more well known and a and so in some ways a better description then the actual thing it spells out. > > For example in my field if someone asks, if I have the CGH data on MYD88 for the HBL1 cell line, I would know what they wanted. If instead they asked for the Comparative genomic hybridization data, on the Myeloid Differentiation Primary Response Protein 88, for Human diffuse B-cell lymphoma cell line 1, I’d be totally baffled. > > Similarly it if a teller asked me to put in my personal identification number, I’d be a bit confused until I worked out that they meant my PIN number (yes I do realize its redundant, linguistics is descriptive not prescriptive so suck it). Yes I’m asking my colleague to replace the CMOS battery to make sure the BIOS doesn’t get reset. I’m not asking them about a complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor battery to ensure basic input/output settings aren’t screwed up. Of course if I’m talking to a layman I’m not using either the abbreviation or full name, I’m using a descriptor so they know what the hell I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/45 "2019-08-22T18:19:43Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why are you using an acronym in your location field? I can see rapidly thumbing an abbreviation in a post on your phone, but in the location field? You’re going to type that once, why not use the state’s full name? Unless it’s obvious, then you don’t even need the abbreviation (I think Tokyo, Liverpool, Los Angeles, even NYC are well enough known). Yeah, nitpickers, no one is going to think “I wonder if he meant the Tokyo in Papua New Guinea?” or “Boston? Golly, this here poster must hail from that neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky!” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/46 "2019-08-22T18:57:39Z")
> [@digs](#): > > **TIL** it’s worse on Reddit. **That** one’s mine. For now. Translation, please? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/47 "2019-08-22T19:14:57Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > **That** one’s mine. For now. > > Translation, please? Today I learned that TIL stands for “today I learned.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/48 "2019-08-22T19:18:21Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Because I’m lazy and I’m on a phone. If I can save typing ten letters by using an abbreviation, then I will. This message board is based in the U.S. and most of the members know the abbreviations. Anybody who doesn’t can ask. Consider it my contribution to fighting ignorance Yeah, there’s a certain point where something is so ubiquitous and obvious that the longer version isn’t needed CA=California is obvious and objections are silly. MI=Michigan? Missouri? Mississippi? AK=Arkansas? Alaska? When something gets less obvious it needs to be spelled out. The burden of “not being lazy” should fall on the writer, not the reader. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/49 "2019-08-22T19:24:39Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > > [@cochrane](#): > > > > Because I’m lazy and I’m on a phone. If I can save typing ten letters by using an abbreviation, then I will. This message board is based in the U.S. and most of the members know the abbreviations. Anybody who doesn’t can ask. Consider it my contribution to fighting ignorance > > Or just ignore whatever you had to say, since you didn’t communicate it effectively. If most of the members understand the abbreviations, then I consider that to be communicating effectively. It not as if most of them are that hard to figure out, anyway. Some of them are weird, but anyone can figure out OH for Ohio or TX for Texas or NY for New York. Anyway, the current two-letter abbreviations for the states came into use in 1963. It’s not like they’re brand new and have seldom been encountered before. People have had 56 years to get adjusted to them. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/50 "2019-08-22T20:07:23Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > If most of the members understand the abbreviations, then I consider that to be communicating effectively. Depends on your intended audience. Since state abbreviations are US postal addressing abbreviations, they will tend to be less familiar to non-Americans, especially those overseas. So it may make it slightly harder for them to understand, and it conveys a US-centric tone, which may or may not be an issue. Even on this side of the ocean, where most Canadians recognize most US state abbreviations, something like “CA” can cause momentary confusion because it’s also the IANA country suffix for “Canada” in Internet domains. And I don’t buy the “because I’m on my phone” excuse – phones and tablets will offer to autocomplete a long state name after just a few characters. On my tablet “California” pops up after tying “cal”, which is hardly more arduous than typing “CA”. This is all somewhat nitpicky but it just underscores the general principle that inappropriate use of acronyms and initialisms can be bad form and can impede communication, however slightly it may be. To me it’s somewhat akin to lazy bad writing, which sends the message “I’m not interested in expending any effort to make my writing easy for you to understand because I don’t give a shit”. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/51 "2019-08-22T20:15:29Z")
When someone asks you to come on over for a RPG. Do not bring a rocket propelled grenade. They are talking about some kind of gamer stuff. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/52 "2019-08-22T20:29:49Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m not going to type Pennsylvania when PA is correct “PA” is “correct” only as a reference to one’s father in certain dialects, and on an envelope address within the US. Unless you’re going to rewrite the lyrics to “Chattanooga Choo Choo” to make them “correct”. You’ll need to throw in “NC” and “TN” in there, too. Eventually all the great classics will sound just like a USPS zip code directory! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/53 "2019-08-22T21:07:30Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If I had heard DDD I would have thought of Dolly Parton. > > It is an irritating habit. In technical writing it’s generally accepted practice that the first time an acronym is used, it is spelled out with the acronym following in parentheses. I always thought this is the convention in general, not just for technical writing. I expect people to explain what they mean. If they don’t, I will remind them they are not being clear. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/54 "2019-08-22T21:14:57Z")
I was chatting with a friend last evening and he was telling me about his day at work, and suddenly started repeatedly dropping a TLA into the conversation. (I don’t recall the actual letters.) From context it was clear that it was a specific type of task that he was being asked to do a lot of, and that he considered it a distraction. After the dozenth time he used the term I gave up, broke down, and told him that I didn’t know how big a deal all those XYZs he was being asked to do was because I had no idea what he was talking about. He apologized and explained what the clearly office-specific TLA meant, and the conversation carried on, but damn if it wasn’t annoying. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/55 "2019-08-23T02:24:44Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > “PA” is “correct” only as a reference to one’s father in certain dialects, and on an envelope address within the US. Unless you’re going to rewrite the lyrics to “Chattanooga Choo Choo” to make them “correct”. You’ll need to throw in “NC” and “TN” in there, too. Eventually all the great classics will sound just like a USPS zip code directory! 😉 Okay, to hijack my own thread, what’s with the highway signs in Pennsylvania? The ones that say PENNA Turnpike? ([Even if you google Pa Turnpike you get them](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1058&bih=598&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTKzWmHHnjQ_xzDCTuFZSwnY4mEEw%3A1566525773273&sa=1&ei=TUlfXdWvEIyWsAXKnorYCA&q=Pa+turnpike+sign&oq=Pa+turnpike+sign&gs_l=img.3..35i39.64654.65568..65890...0.0..0.111.215.0j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i7i30.kpmle0vnidI&ved=0ahUKEwiViv2h85fkAhUMC6wKHUqPAosQ4dUDCAY&uact=5))… Why? PA TURNPIKE would take up less space. Does anyone there say “Penna”? Can you imagine abbreviating another state by just cutting out the middle of the name? ILLS TOLLWAY, Next Exit … Kenky Derby … India Hoosier Stadium ahead … Come Visit Beautiful Alaa … head north or south, either one’s nice. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/56 "2019-08-23T03:01:51Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Okay, to hijack my own thread, what’s with the highway signs in Pennsylvania? The ones that say PENNA Turnpike? ([Even if you google Pa Turnpike you get them](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1058&bih=598&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTKzWmHHnjQ_xzDCTuFZSwnY4mEEw%3A1566525773273&sa=1&ei=TUlfXdWvEIyWsAXKnorYCA&q=Pa+turnpike+sign&oq=Pa+turnpike+sign&gs_l=img.3..35i39.64654.65568..65890...0.0..0.111.215.0j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i7i30.kpmle0vnidI&ved=0ahUKEwiViv2h85fkAhUMC6wKHUqPAosQ4dUDCAY&uact=5))… > > Why? PA TURNPIKE would take up less space. Does anyone there say “Penna”? > > Can you imagine abbreviating another state by just cutting out the middle of the name? I think it’s silly – I would just have spelled it out in a narrow font – but it does show that the two-letter USPS state abbreviations are far from being as “correct” or ubiquitous as the other poster claimed outside the context of a mailing address. The meaning of “PA Turnpike” might indeed be unclear, especially to a foreign traveller. And really, the contraction of long state names in this way isn’t a first – the Massachusetts Turnpike is commonly known as MassPike, the port authority that runs the airports is Massport, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/57 "2019-08-23T03:07:58Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > I had to look up the term “stans” used in a tweet today, as in “Trump stans don’t care what he does”. > > Apparently, it’s like a groupie. I think “Stan” comes from a Marshall Mathers tune about an overzealous fan. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/58 "2019-08-23T05:29:45Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I think “Stan” comes from a Marshall > Mathers tune about an overzealous fan. I love you, Trump, we coulda been together, think about it ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/59 "2019-08-23T05:54:18Z")
The OP’s situation I get. Why would you assume that people know a TV show by its abbreviation, or know the abbreviations in your field when they aren’t part of it? And why would you assume that most people are acquainted with classical literature enough to get allusions? (I’d assume the “allusion to Faulkner” part was a joke, myself.) But when it’s online in a fan community, I just assume it’s a word that’s common there, and I’m new, so I don’t know it. So I go out and look it up. If I can’t figure it out, then I’ll ask. If I do figure it out, I’ll post a helpful “For those who didn’t know.” I’ve never seen it go awry. As for the rest: I will continue to call them acronyms, as I reject prescriptive that is so far at odds with common usage. And if I used my state abbreviation in my location field, I’d expect to get several posters thinking I was in Arizona. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2019, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030/60 "2019-08-23T06:00:12Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Okay, to hijack my own thread, what’s with the highway signs in Pennsylvania? The ones that say PENNA Turnpike? ([Even if you google Pa Turnpike you get them](https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1058&bih=598&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTKzWmHHnjQ_xzDCTuFZSwnY4mEEw%3A1566525773273&sa=1&ei=TUlfXdWvEIyWsAXKnorYCA&q=Pa+turnpike+sign&oq=Pa+turnpike+sign&gs_l=img.3..35i39.64654.65568..65890...0.0..0.111.215.0j2......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......0i7i30.kpmle0vnidI&ved=0ahUKEwiViv2h85fkAhUMC6wKHUqPAosQ4dUDCAY&uact=5))… > > Why? PA TURNPIKE would take up less space. PA TURNPIKE, since it’s all capital letters, could easily be seen as just “pa.” What I don’t get is why they don’t use either PENN. or even PENNS. Why throw in the last letter? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pwua-people-who-use-acronyms-and-terms-they-assume-people-will-know-spoiler-they-dont/839030.md?page=4)