Abbreviations and acronyms are the keys to shorter yet effective communication, especially, at workplaces. One is always racing against the clock to accomplish tasks, and thus, one would want to save every millisecond.
In such scenarios, it is best to shift to shorter versions of the most basic words. These short forms are called abbreviations and acronyms, and they sure do ease communicative lives. Let us take a look, and understand the use of some English abbreviations and acronyms you must know! If you are in the business world, then some of these will come in total aid.
DIY
You see several videos and articles with DIY’ encrypted on them. It is short for ‘ Do it Yourself’ and is a leading trend in the English abbreviations and acronyms world.
BYOB
Generally, you would find BYOB written in departmental stores and grocery shops. It expands into ‘Bring your own Bag’. The campaign helps reduce the use of plastic and clutter. Ordinarily, BYOB translated to ‘Bring your own Beer’ along with party invitations. The newer version replaced the older one to uplift our eco-friendly mission.
EOD
“Hand in these reports by EOD.” Sounds similar? This acronym implied ‘End of Day’. Commonly, we use EOD in offices when one has to set a deadline for an assigned task.
GIF
GIF’s are all over the social media handles, aren’t they? While they are entertaining, not many know how to pronounce it, and what is it an abbreviation for. To begin with, GIF is not spelt as G-I-F separately as letters. Read it as a word (jif). Secondly, it means ‘graphics interchange format’; now that we know the full form, it does make more sense to us!
i.e. and e.g
Do the acronyms i.e. and e.g. still confuse you? You’re not alone! Since they look similar because of their two-letter and dot appearance, it does put us in quite a spot when in a hurry. Mainly, i.e. indicates ‘in other words’ or ‘that is’ while e.g. is denotes ‘example’.
SOS
SOS is amongst those abbreviations and acronyms that we should know to rescue us on a rainy day. It shows ‘Save our souls’ used mainly by people who get stranded or are in trouble. You might find several mobile applications now that read SOS, which comes in aid during emergencies.
ESL and EFL
We read about ESL and EFL examinations when one wants to travel abroad. But what do they mean? Evidently, both these exams test one’s hold over the English language and hence expand into ‘English as a second language’ and ‘English as a Foreign Language’.
RSVP
Even though a French word by origin, RSVP is one common abbreviation used across the globe. One uses this short form with party, wedding or business invites to get a final headcount for their function/event. Subsequently, it indicates répondez S’il Vous Plaît which means – ‘please give a response’.
FYI
A lot of us use FYI, and most times, even correctly, without even knowing that it is an abbreviation of ‘for your information’. For example: “You’re going to Greece in the winters? Wow! That will be one fun trip. FYI, it is frigid there; carry your warm clothes with you.” See how we use it?
TGIF
‘Thank God it’s Friday’; do you need to know why one uses it, and when? This abbreviation is a breather for a tired and overworked person who has slogged for the entire week, and is glad the weekend is here!
ATM
Yes, now a lot of you might know that ATM means Automated Teller Machine. But did you know that it is also a part of the tending internet lingo? Well, it is! ATM now also means ‘at the moment’. “I am away from my desk ATM. Please leave a message, and I shall respond when I return.”
ETA
One can find ETA written in a function’s script, and most likely, on airports, railway stations and bus stations. ETA is short for ‘estimated time of arrival’.
RIP
It’s simple, and it’s necessary to use when we hear about someone’s death. ‘Rest in peace’ is also written over many graveyards, and is the shortest form of offering condolences in written.
OCD
Technically, OCD is a word borrowed from the field of psychology. While ‘obsessive-compulsive disorder’ is a mental illness, people now commonly use it to refer to someone’s obsession. For example: “I cannot see a speck of dust in my house. I have an OCD for cleaning!”
OTC
“This medicine is available OTC and is very affordable. Please do not stress.” Do you get a brief idea about what this abbreviation means? You’re right if you said ‘over the counter’. Good job!
This list of abbreviations and acronyms include just a few, but with a change in our communicative patterns, their use is extensive. It is smart to stay updated with these and look them up every now and often. It sure is a refreshment for your curious self.
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