acronyms

Russ Hunt (HUNT who-is-at academic.stu.StThomasU.ca)
Thu, 11 Jul 1996 15:36:08 AST

Seems to me we're back at the discussion of Burke's parlor, the
nature of communities, and how you enter them.

Betty Zan proposes that

> Could we maybe try, as a rule, to spell out our acronyms the first
> time we use them in a post? Thanks.

But of course the problem is that they probably _were_ spelled out
the first time. Unless you spell them out every time, which would
eliminate their function as acronyms (either to make typing easier
or to define the boundaries of the group), there are always going to
be occasions when someone _encounters_ them (or words with special
meanings, or within-discourse references) for the first time. And
feels excluded.

-- Russ
__|~_
Russell A. Hunt __|~_)_ __)_|~_ Department of English
St. Thomas University )_ __)_|_)__ __) PHONE: (506) 363-3891
Fredericton, New Brunswick | )____) | FAX: (506) 450-9615
E3B 5G3 CANADA ___|____|____|____/ hunt who-is-at StThomasU.ca
\ /
~~~~~~~~ http://www.StThomasU.ca/hunt/hunt.htm ~~~~~~~~