Wiktionary talk:List of acronyms and abbreviations

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I prefer one for acronyms and another list for abbreviations.

And a special page about dictionary typical abbreviations ( this abbreviations that one can find in a normal dictionary, like n for noun, adj for adjective and so on). User:Mac

Regarding splitting the list (which I think is a good idea, as it is likely to be very long once it becomes comprehensive), I would suggest having the following lists: acronyms (eg, "NATO", "radar"); initialisms (does this term include acroynms?) (all other abbreviations formed of initial letters of words); short forms (such as "Nazi", "bus", "phone", which are all truncations of their longer forms, and words in their own right); shortened forms (such as "pizz." for "pizzicato", which are truncations but not words in their own right). Thoughts on this? -- Paul G 10:01, 18 Feb 2004 (UTC)
What about using [[Category:Abbreviation]] and [[Category:Acronyms]] to split the list up? That way, this list could remain the comprehensive list of both. This page could be included in both for reference. (Whoops, Abbreviation should be renamed to Abbreviations?) --Connel MacKenzie 00:33, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I've deleted "modem" as this is a blend (or portmanteau word), not an acronym or an abbreviation. It already features under the Wikipedia list of portmanteaus (en:List_of_portmanteaus). I have left "laser" and "radar" as these are acronyms. I'll add "scuba" too as this is of the same ilk as these last two words. -- Paul G 09:51, 18 Feb 2004 (UTC)

Is XXXX (a trademark) and XXX acronyms in the sense of the Wiktionary definition?

How about c/o for care of? That's quite common when envelope addressing.

I fear this list will suffer from the non-rigorous definition of what an acronym is and what it is not. See the Wikipedia page en:List_of_acronyms for evidence of this. Having read through discussions on Wikipedia I still cannot formulate a bullet-proof definition, especially when it allows exceptions such as:

  • only initial letters - except when other letters may be used
  • initial letter(s) of each word - except when some words may be skipped

And the pronounceable as a word, or not prounounceable rule muddies matters further.

For example, is there a usable definition that (a) divides words into acronyms and non-acronyms? Wikibob 20:41, 6 Mar 2004 (UTC)

I think this should move to "English Acronyms and Abbreviations" like the Prefix and Suffix appendices have. — Hippietrail 00:52, 13 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I agree. --Connel MacKenzie 00:34, 10 Jan 2005 (UTC)
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