# Why is TIME Magazine not capitalizing abbreviations?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 23, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357 "2003-09-23T17:35:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357/21 "2003-09-23T23:28:37Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> as only “he” is able to be or do anything.

as only “he” is able to be or **to** do anything.

Since we’re talking about being grammar Nazis.

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357/22 "2003-09-24T01:51:07Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by acsenray \*  
> \*\*Just a nit, but of those three, only “NATO” is an acronym. “CIA” and “ISI” are abbreviations. \*\*

Another nit: "CIA’ and "ISI’ are initalizations, not acronyms or abbreviations. An abbreviation is “co.,” “ltd.,” etc.

Sentences with “to be” conjugations are considered sentences of identity, wherein the object is actually the subject also. There is identity of the subject and object. Hence, the “object” is really the subject and requires the subjective case.

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357/23 "2003-09-24T05:15:55Z")

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Merriam-Webster defines _abbreviation_ as “a shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the whole.” So, CIA and ISI are abbreviations.

Initializations are a subset of abbreviations, and acronyms are a subset of initializations.

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357/24 "2003-09-24T06:19:01Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Sentences with “to be” conjugations are considered sentences of identity, wherein the object is actually the subject also. There is identity of the subject and object. Hence, the “object” is really the subject and requires the subjective case.

I’m going to assume that this is the geeky explanation that backs me up.

It’s exactly this kind of explanation that I could never have gotten away with in tutoring, so I never learned it.

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**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:** [September 24, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-time-magazine-not-capitalizing-abbreviations/203357/25 "2003-09-24T16:42:40Z")

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What **Walloon** said.

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