Does EU=Europe?
Quote: EvenBobThere's nothing in the Bible about soul selling and making deals of any kind with the Devil. This whole soul selling thing is nonsense. Its dreamed up hype from the Dark Ages. Just because Mike's ancestors were roving Gypsy's and banned from EU 300 years ago, he has no power to bargain for souls. I think.
The EU didn't exist 300 years ago, and the term is "Gypsies".
And so what if there's nothing about it in the Bible? There's nothing in the Bible about blackjack, either, but we discuss THAT.
Quote: mkl654321The EU didn't exist 300 years ago, and the term is "Gypsies"..
EU is an acronym for Europe, and it certainly was there 300 years ago. Type Gypsy's in Google, it can be spelled either way. Theres an anal retentive poster on the dealer forum who sounds EXACTLY like you and is also compelled to try and correct spelling. Everybody hates him, he could be your twin brother.
Quote: EvenBobEU is an abbreviation for Europe, and it certainly was there 300 years ago. Type Gypsy's in Google, it can be spelled either way. Theres an anal retentive poster on the dealer forum who sounds EXACTLY like you and is also compelled to try and correct spelling. Everybody hates him, he could be your twin brother.
Gypsy's is the possessive form, imply something owned by Gypsy. Gypsy or Gipsy (as the great Richard Burton (*) spelled it) are all fine. I believe that's where MKL in his pedant mode was going.
EU has never been a short form of Europe that I am aware of, only the European Union, if you want to get all wikipedia/google on us, Bob. In fact, EU is a short form of the Etats-Unis, your home country, if your speaking French. It happens to me occasionally. You can write EU for Europe if you want though. Go for it. You'd be wrong, but who gives cares... this is a thread about selling your soul, not the contract negotiations for the rights to the life TheCesspit, to be shown in five languages across the US, EU and parts of Canada (it is too racy for SK and MB).
Christ, is there a humour void around these parts in general? I seemed to have been sucked into it.
(*) no, not that one, the other one.
Quote: thecesspit
EU has never been a short form of Europe that I am aware of, .
EU can be used for Europe, just like US can be used for USA. CA can be either Canada or California. GM can be General Motors or General Mills. Acronyms can be anything you want them to be.
Quote: EvenBobEU can be used for Europe, just like US can be used for USA. CA can be either Canada or California. GM can be General Motors or General Mills. Abbreviations can be anything you want them to be.
YSFOSHOB.
Quote: thecesspitNormally, one uses an abbreviation
The proper term is acronym, in this case. Hey, lets all spell anyway we like, it will drive Will Hunting up the wall.
Quote: EvenBobThe proper word is acronym, in this case.
Not in the case of EU meaning Europe :)
Anyways, I deleted my original post as this is a pointless debate, really. I'm sorry I started it.
Not in the case of EU meaning Europe :)
Sure it is. 'Acronym is the name for a word created from the first letters of a word...' In some cases, acronym and abbreviation have the same meaning.
Though is an acronym always capitalised?
EU will almost always mean the European Union to some one from the EU (or someone from the UK who may not consider it be part of the EU but has enough about the European Union in every bloody British election (I should emigrate)(oh wait, I did)).
Secondly, I have never experienced EU to mean Europe - only the European Union. Important countries in the Euro-zone that aren't in the EU are Switzerland and Norway (I didn't know this by heart, thank you google). Given, I haven't been around as long as the rest of you.
Thirdly, the second most common usage of EU is in the form of EEUU which is Estados Unidos (United States) in Spanish.
Quote: EvenBobEU is an acronym for Europe, and it certainly was there 300 years ago. Type Gypsy's in Google, it can be spelled either way. Theres an anal retentive poster on the dealer forum who sounds EXACTLY like you and is also compelled to try and correct spelling. Everybody hates him, he could be your twin brother.
EU is an abbreviation. It is commonly used for "European Union". If you meant it to mean "Europe", then it was incorrect. It might have been correct before the EU existed, but not now. In any case, it's a standard rule of written English to not use an abbreviation if its meaning is unclear or ambiguous.
The plural of "Gypsy" is never spelled "Gypsy's". The apostrophe would not be needed, and the spelling would be "Gypsies". The word you used would either be a contraction ("The Gypsy's going to tell my fortune") or a possessive ("The Gypsy's crystal ball told my fortune").
And I don't correct everyone's spelling, Bob. Just that of the persons who need help the most. Besides, what I corrected was your USAGE, not your spelling.
Quote: EvenBobThe proper term is acronym, in this case. Hey, lets all spell anyway we like, it will drive Will Hunting up the wall.
Fictional character, Bob. Doesn't exist, Bob. Definitely doesn't read your posts, Bob.
2) An abreviation is a shortened form of a longer word. For example "fax" is short for "facsimile" (and perhaps it shuld be "facs"), "fan" is short for "fanatic" (though it has become to mean enthusiast), and "abrev." is short for "abreviation." BTW at least in some languages abreviations were writen with a period at the end.
3) An acronym is a series of initials or letters related to a phrase (phrase being two or more words strung together), usually arranged as to be pronounceable. For example "Radar" is an acronym of "RAdio Detection And Ranging," "USA" is the acronym for "United States of America" (notice the "o" is not represented in the acronym), and "BJ" is an acronym for blackjack.
BTW acronyms tend to be writen in CAPS (an abreviation for "CAPITAL LETTERS"), but sometimes the acronym becomes a noun, such as happened with "radar." Then it follows the more common rules. As for instance the character "Radar O'Reily" in MASH.
Quote: Nareed2) An abreviation is a shortened form of a longer word. For example "fax" is short for "facsimile" (and perhaps it shuld be "facs"), "fan" is short for "fanatic" (though it has become to mean enthusiast), and "abrev." is short for "abreviation." BTW at least in some languages abreviations were writen with a period at the end.
Don't forget TLA for "three-letter acronym."
Other acronyms that became words:
* zip, as in zip code
* MASH, as in the TV show
* radar, as in the character on the TV show (not really, but thematic!) (and not a *true* acronym)
* scuba
* nope (although it has morphed)
* wiki
* swag
* bimbo (not a *true* acronym either)
Fun!
Quote: Nareed1 "BJ" is an acronym for blackjack.q]
Sorry but the teenage boy still buried inside me can't help but point out that most people probably don't think of Blackjack when they here BJ.Be careful when you follow the masses, the M is sometimes silent.
Quote: ItsCalledSoccer
* wiki
As I understand, term "wiki" came from the first wiki, the WikiWikiWeb, which itslef was named after a Hawaiian airport shuttle, "wiki" meaning "fast".
I guess I'm being a pedant now :-P
Quote: ahiromuFirst off, even if you're right it's not an acronym. Acronyms form some kind of a "word" that you can pronounce. "OPEC" is an acronym, US is not.
I don't think that's right. LED and LCD are both acronyms for video display technology. It doesn't make sense to consider only the first one an acronym because it's pronounceable. And consider NATO, the acronym for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, vs. a fictional South Pacific Treaty Coalition. SPTC would still be an acronym even though it's not pronounceable.
COBOL: COmmon Business Oriented Language
Quote: From dictionary.comac·ro·nym: a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words, as Wac from Women's Army Corps, OPEC from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or loran from long-range navigation.
ab·bre·vi·a·tion: a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, as Dr. for Doctor, U.S. for United States, lb. for pound.
If a word is formed, it has to be pronouncable. A word cannot have periods in it, so an acronym is not an abbreviation. Snafu is an acronym. Lb., Dr., and U.S. are abbreviations. When used correctly, abbreviations should retain their periods. For example, eg is not correct, it's e.g. (abbreviation of exemplî grâtiâ). Dr Watson is also not correct -- it's Dr. Watson.
Quote: boymimboQuote: From dictionary.comac·ro·nym: a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words, as Wac from Women's Army Corps, OPEC from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or loran from long-range navigation.
ab·bre·vi·a·tion: a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, as Dr. for Doctor, U.S. for United States, lb. for pound.
If a word is formed, it has to be pronouncable. A word cannot have periods in it, so an acronym is not an abbreviation. Snafu is an acronym. Lb., Dr., and U.S. are abbreviations. When used correctly, abbreviations should retain their periods. For example, eg is not correct, it's e.g. (abbreviation of exemplî grâtiâ). Dr Watson is also not correct -- it's Dr. Watson.
Where should "OMFG" be classified?
Relax ... it's Thanksgiving!
Quote: DJTeddyBearSometimes acronyms stretch the pronunciation 'rule'. For example:
COBOL: COmmon Business Oriented Language
My favorite:
Quote: INTERCALmanualThe full name of the compiler is "Compiler Language With No Pronounceable Acronym," which is, for obvious reasons, abbreviated "INTERCAL."
Quote: boymimboQuote: From dictionary.comac·ro·nym: a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words, as Wac from Women's Army Corps, OPEC from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or loran from long-range navigation.
ab·bre·vi·a·tion: a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, as Dr. for Doctor, U.S. for United States, lb. for pound.
If a word is formed, it has to be pronouncable. A word cannot have periods in it, so an acronym is not an abbreviation. Snafu is an acronym. Lb., Dr., and U.S. are abbreviations. When used correctly, abbreviations should retain their periods. For example, eg is not correct, it's e.g. (abbreviation of exemplî grâtiâ). Dr Watson is also not correct -- it's Dr. Watson.
But TLA is the acknowledged self-referential acronym for "three-letter acronym". Are you suggesting that TLA isn't an acronym because nobody says "t'lah"?
Quote: MathExtremistQuote: boymimboQuote: From dictionary.comac·ro·nym: a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words, as Wac from Women's Army Corps, OPEC from Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or loran from long-range navigation.
ab·bre·vi·a·tion: a shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, as Dr. for Doctor, U.S. for United States, lb. for pound.
If a word is formed, it has to be pronouncable. A word cannot have periods in it, so an acronym is not an abbreviation. Snafu is an acronym. Lb., Dr., and U.S. are abbreviations. When used correctly, abbreviations should retain their periods. For example, eg is not correct, it's e.g. (abbreviation of exemplî grâtiâ). Dr Watson is also not correct -- it's Dr. Watson.
But TLA is the acknowledged self-referential acronym for "three-letter acronym". Are you suggesting that TLA isn't an acronym because nobody says "t'lah"?
Using dictionary.com's definition, no, it isn't an acronym, because it isn't a word. I think the litmus test is usage; some acronyms get adopted into the vernacular, like COBOL or UNICEF, precisely because they sound like and can be pronounced as words. If you have to say each individual letter to make it make sense, then it isn't an acronym; it's an abbreviation.
