[Magdalen] Acronyms and initialisms (was TECnical question)

[Kristin Rollins]

On Mon, May 4, 2015, at 01:00 PM, Mahoney, W. Michael wrote:
> Note that some acronyms get "spelled out"; OMB and DoD are examples.
> Others get pronounced as words; NASA is example.  My guess is that if
> "TEC"
> ever came into common usage (and I hope it doesn't), it would be spelled
> out.

That fact leads to some warring of words in this household. My beloved
makes a distinction between acronyms and initialisms and insists that
they are two separate categories. If they are pronounced as words, they
are acronyms; if they are not, they are initialisms. I maintain that
initialism is the term for that subset of acronyms which are spelled
out, but that all initialisms are acronyms, too.

I suspect neither of us will ever budge from our positions.

Kristin

-- 
  Kristin Rollins
  kristin at verumsolum.com
  Portsmouth, VA