Acronyms

15 Oct, 2025

Acronyms are great, as they save unnecessary repetition, but bear in mind that assumption is a foolish thing when writing.

Firstly, the definition of an acronym:

An abbreviation formed by the initial letters of other words.

We've all seen and used this form of abbreviation. They appear every day in life.

• ASAP - As Soon As Possible
• LOL - Laughing Out Loud
• DOB - Date Of Birth
• DIY - Do It Yourself

I could go on.

Lexicographers and Style Guides offer differing views on when and how to abbreviate to acronyms. That debate is for another day.

Introductions

Don't assume your audience will know what you refer to with your tangle of letters. This simple guidline applies to any form of communication: letters, documents, emails, blog posts.

As an example:

Sarah had worked hard developing her BAU plan for the FD. She hoped the document would be well received as she had worked tirelessly with the SMT.

In the end her concerns were unnecessary as the FD was delighted with the BAU.

This could mean almost nothing to some people. Now let's correct it to be more meaningful.

Sarah had worked hard developing her 'Business As Usual' (BAU) plan for the Finance Director (FD). She hoped the document would be well received as she had worked tirelessly with the Senior Management Team (SMT).

In the end her concerns were unnecessary as the FD was delighted with the BAU.

Once you introduce the acronyms you can freely use them, safe in the knowledge you are not alienating your readership.

We're not all on the same wavelength

That was a simple example, but even people in the same industry should take care.

I've been in technology for 20+ years, but every day I read documents (and blog posts/social media posts) from other techs proclaiming something or another. A heavy scattering of acronyms and I am like WTF (What the Feck!)

#rant