ABSTRACT

Britpop = British pop music

docudrama = documentary + drama

docusoap = documentary + soap opera

ecoterrorism = ecology + terrorism

edutainment = education + entertainment

Eurovision = European + television

e-zine = electronic magazine

heliport = helicopter + airport

infotainment = information + entertainment

motel = motor + hotel

netiquette = Internet + etiquette

netizen = Internet + citizen

paratroopers = parachute + troopers

pulsar = pulsating + star

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and

spelling

Acronyms are formed by combining the initial letters or syllables of two or more words. The combination is pronounced as a single word:

AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome

BIOS Basic Input Output System

DOS Disk Operating System

FAQ frequently asked questions

laser light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

Oxfam Oxford Committee for Famine Relief

radar radio detecting and ranging

RAM random access memory

ROM read-only memory

SAD seasonal affective disorder

SALT Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty

scuba self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

UNPROFOR United Nations Protection Force

WYSIWYG What You See Is What You Get

Abbreviations are also formed from the initial letters of words, but unlike acronyms, they are spoken by spelling out each letter:

ATM automated teller machine

BST British Standard Time

abbreviations, and clipping

EC European Community

HTML hypertext markup language

http hypertext transfer protocol

ISD international subscriber dialling

IT information technology

o.g. own goal

OTT over the top

PC personal computer (also political correctness)

PRP performance-related pay (also profit-related pay)

RSI repetitive strain injury

UFO unidentified flying object

UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees

URL Universal Resource Locator

VCR video cassette recorder

WWW World Wide Web

The following abbreviations are now widely used in e-mail messages and in online discussion groups:

AFK away from keyboard

BTW by the way

FWIW for what it’s worth

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and

spelling

IMO in my opinion

LOL laughing out loud

Clipping is a type of abbreviation in which one or more syllables are omitted or ‘clipped’ from a word. Most commonly, the beginning of the word is retained:

ad (or advert) advertisement

decaff (also decaf ) decaffeinated coffee

demo demonstration

exam examination

improv improvisation

lab laboratory

memo memorandum

movie moving picture

photo photograph

pub public house

Clipping is a very common method of creating familiar personal names, including Fred (from Frederick), Tim (from Timothy) and Seb (from Sebastian).