I wanna know about the difference between acronym and abbreviation

Question

Hi everyone!I would like to know the accurate difference between acronym and abbreviation. As I know, ROTC, WTO,UN, YMCA, etc are acronyms and 'UNESCO, APEC, etc are abbreviation but I don't think it's correct word. I heard that acronym is the word that reads letter by letter and abbreviation is the word reads like another one word. But I don't think I provided the right examples above. I suppose there's an exact differnece between acronym and abbreviation. Please explain it to me with some examples.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi everyone! I would like to know the accurate difference between acronym and abbreviation. As I know, ROTC, WTO,UN, YMCA, ... examples above. I suppose there's an exact differnece between acronym and abbreviation. Please explain it to me with some examples.[/nq]
You have it backwards. UNESCO is an acronym.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I would like to know the accurate difference between acronym and abbreviation. As I know, ROTC, WTO,UN, YMCA, etc are ... examples above. I suppose there's an exact differnece between acronym and abbreviation. Please explain it to me with some examples.[/nq]
I'd call all of your examples abbreviations, but I agree with Ray that you've assigned "acronym" to the wrong category. Abbreviations that are pronounced as words are acronyms, while those that are spelt out are initialisms. However, you'll find "acronym" used quite often for both types, especially in informal language.

Odysseus

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi everyone! I would like to know the accurate difference between acronym and abbreviation. As I know, ROTC, WTO,UN, YMCA, ... examples above. I suppose there's an exact differnece between acronym and abbreviation. Please explain it to me with some examples.[/nq]
I like Odysseus' explanation, but would like to remind you that "to abbreviate" means to shorten. Thus, "established" is shortened to "est." (which might also mean and esteemed"). "Dir" can mean directory in one environment and direction in another.
Before the terms "acronym" and "initialism" came into common use, "abbreviation" was used. There were probably some rules about use of upper case, punctuation, and the like in abbreviating, but the old ways they are achanging.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I would like to know the accurate difference between acronym and abbreviation. As I know, ROTC, WTO,UN, YMCA, etc are ... examples above. I suppose there's an exact differnece between acronym and abbreviation. Please explain it to me with some examples.[/nq]
Made up words like "laser" and "radar" are acronyms. The term has become blurred in the computer industry. But that is a wierd world of its own to decent, responsible citizens.
All the words in your example are mere initials, abbreviations used in the manner of military ranks such as "C in C" -the abbreviation for commander in chief.
I suppose you either know which words are acronyms and which are not (yet) considered such. Especially difficult as these days acronyms may have no initials to give them away.

I wanna know about the difference between acronym and abbreviation

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