Using Acronyms in Academic Writing - Proofeds Writing Tips

Using Acronyms in Academic Writing - Proofeds Writing Tips Using Acronyms in Academic Writing With the limited characters available on platforms like Twitter, we’re used to using acronyms and abbreviations in everyday communication. After all, â€Å"IMO ppl uz 2 mNE lng wrds† is much more concise than â€Å"In my opinion, people use too many long words.† However, in academic writing, improper use of acronyms can detract from the clarity of your writing. Thus, in this post, we cover how to use acronyms in a college paper. What are Acronyms and Abbreviations? Acronyms and abbreviations are both shortened forms of long terms or phrases. However, while all acronyms are abbreviations, there is an important difference: Abbreviations are shortened versions of words (e.g., when â€Å"Jan† is used in place of â€Å"January†). Acronyms are abbreviations where the first letters from each word in a phrase spell out a new word (e.g., when National Aeronautics and Space Administration is shortened to â€Å"NASA†). In addition, there is technically a difference between an â€Å"acronym† and an â€Å"initialism†. Acronyms are pronounced as a single word (e.g., NASA). But each letter in an initialism is pronounced separately (e.g., FBI). Since â€Å"acronym† is commonly used for both of these, we will continue using this term below. However, its worth remember that there is a difference! When to Use Acronyms The main consideration is clarity. To be specific, we shorten long technical terms to make our work easier to read, especially if theyre used repeatedly. For instance, writing â€Å"MRI† instead of â€Å"magnetic resonance imaging† is a good idea if use this term a lot since it’s easier to read. Apparently, this isnt suitable for a passport photo. If a term is only used once or twice, there’s usually no need to use an acronym. You should also avoid using too many abbreviations, since text dense with acronyms and technical jargon can be difficult to read. Introducing Acronyms If using an acronym, you must introduce it with full terminology in the first instance so your reader knows what it means. You can do this by giving the full term first and the shortened version in parentheses: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has existed since 1949. Once introduced, you can use the shortened version in place of the full terminology: The idea of NATO is to ensure security via a system of collective defense. To ensure clarity, make sure to use the acronym consistently throughout your document. This means you should not switch between the full and abbreviated versions of the same term. Introducing an acronym isn’t necessary if the term is in common use, such as with â€Å"laser† (originally short for â€Å"light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation†). However, even with well-known terms, providing a definition can be helpful, since many acronyms have more than one meaning. One example is the long-running battle for use of â€Å"WWF†, in which the conservation group grappled (pun fully intended) with the professional wrestling organization now known as the â€Å"WWE.† Although â€Å"WWF† is a recognizable term, defining it on the first use would remove ambiguity. It would then be clear that you’re discussing the â€Å"World Wildlife Fund† and not the former employers of Stone Cold Steve Austin. I will open a can of whoop-ass on any panda that gets in my way. An important distinction, were sure youll agree.