The usefulness of acronyms
When we refer to a specific concept repeatedly, it is common that we end up using an acronym to simplify its expression. For example, instead of saying ‘national identity document’, we use the acronym DNI. The same goes for value added tax, which is abbreviated as VAT. This practice also extends to the university environment, where the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is known as UAB. Acronyms are easily recognized by the use of capital letters and are an efficient form of written communication.
Frequent use of acronyms
Sometimes acronyms are used so frequently that they become better known than the original expression. This happens especially in the computing field, where acronyms such as LIFO (last in first out) and FIFO (first in first out) are used to refer to data structures. There are even cases in which people do not know the original expression and only know the acronym. For example, in the case of the acronyms UFO (unidentified flying object), AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and COVID (coronavirus disease), these have become common words and are written in lower case.
The acronym challenge
However, the use of acronyms can pose certain challenges. In some cases, the acronyms are read letter by letter, which can cause confusion. For example, in the case of the ABS braking system (anti-lock braking system), some people may confuse the pronunciation and write ‘abeessa’ instead of ABS. In addition, there are cases in which acronyms are used as proper nouns, such as in the case of public offers for the acquisition of shares (OPA), where the verb ‘opar’ is used to refer to the action of carrying out a takeover bid. These spelling challenges can raise questions about how to spell acronyms correctly.
The case of ‘cap’
An interesting case is that of primary care centers (CAP). Although initially the full expression ‘centre d’atenció primària’ was used, over time the acronym CAP has become a commonly used word. This raises the question of whether it should be included in the normative dictionary. In retrospect, another term, such as ‘consultori’ or ‘ambulatori’, could have been used to avoid confusion with the word ‘cap’ which has multiple meanings in Catalan.
Conclusions
In summary, acronyms are a useful tool to simplify written communication and speed up the expression of specific concepts. However, their frequent use can lead to them being better known than the original expression. It is important to be aware of the spelling challenges that may arise when using acronyms and consider whether they need to be included in the normative dictionary. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve clear and effective communication, using acronyms appropriately and avoiding confusion.
