Template talk:List of acronyms disclaimer

definition of "acronym"

The existing definition is unclear, even misleading:

acronym = an abbreviation pronounced as a series of constituent letters, e.g., SARS = severe acute respiratory syndrome

To me, "pronounced as a series of constituent letters" means "spelled out", e.g.. ess ay ar ess... which is, exactly, the definition of the contrasting term:

initialism = an abbreviation pronounced wholly or partly using the names of its constituent letters, e.g., CD = compact disc

So I am changing the definitions to (changes underlined)

• acronym = an abbreviation pronounced as if it were a word, e.g., SARS = severe acute respiratory syndrome, pronounced to rhyme with cars
• initialism = an abbreviation pronounced wholly or partly using the names of its constituent letters, e.g., CD = compact disc, pronounced cee dee

Even though there's little chance of anyone trying to say "CD" as a word, kd or sd, I'd rather err on the side of explicitness. --Thnidu (talk) 02:51, 27 December 2012 (UTC)