What are Acronyms?
The term acronym is used to describe words formed from the first letters of other words—such as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) or ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). These examples are actually initialisms rather than acronyms, but most do not make the distinction in everyday conversation. However, if you’re so inclined, you can read about the difference between those terms here. Many acronyms are used in computing—such as WWW (World Wide Web) and PC (Personal Computer). Acronyms have also become a common means of expression in online communication. In order to speed up the typing of long phrases, a whole subset of language has arisen to make texting, chatting, and instant messaging easier. Acronym use of this kind is extremely common among kids and teens; LOL (laughing out loud), TY (thank you), and BRB (be right back) are just three common terms from a long list of Web lingo your children probably use every day.
