Yes, I'm seeking grammar advice at GFY
 

Yeah, it's a desperate act, but I can't think of a more active board...soooo...help me out here.

It's an acronym if it actually forms a new "word" (eg, NASA, NOW, FUBAR).

So what is it if it's just an abbreviation - eg, GFY, FWIW, etc. Is there a word for it other than "abbreviation"?




This hurts. :(

Edited for clarity that was very much not there and still probably isn't. Sorry, deadlines suck. Especially when they're self-made.

contraction or initialism.

but you might want to stick to "abbreviation" depending on the context of its use

hope that helps

Coming to GFY for grammar lessons is kind of like coming to me for typing lessons or going to [Labret] for sensitivity training or coming to GFY for advice on losing weight or dating hot women....

pure lessons in futility.......

until Kitty had to come along and play "brain" ;-)))

Initialism, you're right on, is the word I need. Thank you.

But I don't like that word! Bwah. Sometimes I think it might be okay to use the "wrong" word, when most of your readers will still understand what you mean.

Then I want to rend my clothing and wail loudly. But that's pretty much an every day occurence, so what the heck.

Thanks kitty!

See, the reason I stick around at GFY is that I KNOW that at any given moment, there will be someone around to bust (or, in the interest of Grammatical Correctness, burst) the stereotype. It's a slippery place...I like slippery.

when all else fails:
www.dictionary.com

and select "thesaurus" :winkwink: