Abbreviation, Acronym, Mnemonic

The first two are both mnemonics, aids to memory and made-up words that stand for a longer name or description. When referring to the National Broadcasting Corporation, written as NBC, we are using an abbreviation. Sonar, on the other hand, is an acronym composed of letters from the description -- so(und) na(vigation and) r(anging), a method for echolocation.

So what? Aside from settling bar bets and as an aid to understanding crossword puzzle clues, writers need to be aware of three items concerning the use of mnemonics:

1. don't confuse acronyms with proper names (LASER & Lazar)
2. use a lowercase s to form plurals (LASERs)
3. spell out the word the first time it is used, then enclose the mnemonic in parentheses like this: frequency modulation (FM)

The third usually applies to academic writing. These tips come from the Hypertext Guide to English Grammar, Mechanics, and Usage Rules at Virginia Tech/Norfolk State University.

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