Hi Dan
> I had exactly the same argument with someone a while ago -- is it like
> "ATM machine", etc? It's not as clear, because redundant words next to
> acronyms aren't quite the same; similarly, "the algebra test" is also
> redundant, but algebra has had the "al" folded into the main word.
Having serviced ATM's in the past, everyone that I know of in that
industry simply calls them ATM's, it was only Bank staff and the general
public that called them 'ATM Machines', I suspect because they didnt
know the meaning of the acronym.
A lot of acronym's have redundant bits added afterwards by those not
in the industry that originally greated the acronym, and sometimes
by those in the industry to overcome a possible conflict and thus
it becomes common. Though I've never had a problem with conflicts
in meaning as it comes down to its use in the surrounding context
of the conversation being held that includes the use of that relevant
acronym. YMMV :-)
Cheers
Ian Manners
http://www.comkal.net/
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