Glossary of initials
A selection of commonly used initials or acronyms, and what the letters actually stand for:
CERTAIN industries seem to love initialisms (all upper case, or lower case with full-stops) or acronyms (pronounceable as words, and therefore lower case). The practice is particularly rife in:
- health
- travel
- business
- management
- ICT (which is itself a common initials set)
- retail
- economics
- the military
- road transport
- marketing
- education (who should know better)
- texting slang
- police procedure (particularly through the lens of American TV series).
Some initials are a useful shorthand. Some — particularly when used for programmes, policies or procedures — are merely a way to exclude readers/listeners who are not in the know. Names of organisations play by their own rules, which can be extra tricky.
2IC = second in charge (military)
4WD = four-wheel drive (vehicle)
AD = anno domini (Latin for 'in the year of our Lord')
AD(H)D = attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder (health)
ADSL = asymmetric digital subscriber line (ICT)
AGM = annual general meeting (being replaced by 'annual meeting', but not 'AM')
a.k.a. = also known as
a.m. = ante meridiem (Lat: 'before noon')
ATF = all-time favourite (texting)
ATV = all-terrain vehicle
AWOL = absent without official leave (military)
B2B = business to business
BCE = before the Common Era (rapidly replacing BC = 'before Christ')
BDM = business development manager
CAT = computed axial tomography (health)
CCTV = closed-circuit television
CEO = chief executive officer
cf = confer (Lat: 'compare')
CFO = chief financial officer
CIO = chief information officer
CKM = customer knowledge management (marketing)
CO = commanding officer (military)
COO = chief operating officer
COD = cash on delivery; cause of death (don't get these confused, especially if you run a funeral parlour)
CRI = Crown research institute (NZ)
CRM = customer relationship management (marketing)
CSI = crime scene investigator (US)
CSU = crime scene unit (US)
CV = curriculum vitae (Lat: 'story of life')
DCV = deux chevaux (Fr: 'two horses', or two-horsepower vehicle)
DDI = direct dialling in (business); device driver interface (ICT)
DIC = drunk in charge (of a vehicle) (US)
DOA = dead on arrival (police)
DPI = discomfort, pain and injury (health insurance)
DUI = driving while under the influence (cf DIC)
EAP = English for academic purposes (education)
ECT = electro-convulsive therapy (health)
EFL = English as a foreign language (education)
Eftpos = electronic funds transfer at point of sale (ICT)
ESL = English as a second language (education)
ESOL = English for speakers of other languages (education)
ETA = estimated time of arrival (travel)
ETD = estimated time of departure (travel)
EA = executive assistant
FMCG = fast-moving consumer goods (retail)
FYUA = for your urgent action (txt)
GDP = gross domestic product (economics)
GNP = gross national product (economics)
GE = genetically engineered or genetic engineering; General Electric (US)
GM = genetically modified or genetic modification; General Motors (US); general manager (rapidly giving way to CEO = chief executive officer)
GSR = gunshot residue (police)
HIV = human immuno-deficiency virus (health)
HTML = hyper-text mark-up language (ICT)
Hum-Vee = high-mobility military vehicle (trademark)
ICT = information and communicatons technology
ISBN = International Standard Book Number (publishing)
jpeg = Joint Photographic Experts Group (ICT, printing)
KISS = keep it simple, stupid! (business)
KPI = key performance indicator (management)
LAN = local area network (ICT)
L&D = learning and development (management)
LIM = land information memorandum (real estate)
MIA = missing in action (military)
MOU = memorandum of understanding (business)
MRI = magnetic resonance imaging (health)
MS = manuscript; multiple-sclerosis
NB = nota bene (Lat: 'note well')
NCEA = National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NZ)
Nimby = not in my back yard
NLP = neuro-linguistic programming (management)
OOS = occupational overuse syndrome (health — formerly RSI, now superseded by some other initials)
OTC = over-the-counter (retail)
OTT = over the top (a good description of the overall initialising trend)
PA = public address (system); personal assistant
p.m. = post meridiem (Lat: 'after morning'); post mortem (Lat: 'after death')
QBL = quadruple bottom line (economics)
QED = quod erat demonstrandum (translate: therefore, so)
RAM = random access memory (ICT)
R&D = research and development (business)
RFP = request for proposal (business)
RFT = request for tender (business)
RIP = requiescat in pace (Lat: 'may he rest in peace')
ROFLMAO = rolling on floor laughing my arse off (txt)
ROI = return on investment (business)
R&R = rest and relaxation (military)
RRP = recommended retail price
RSS = rich site summary; really simple syndication (ICT)
RSVP = repondez s'il vous plait (Fr: 'please reply')
RTP = response to proposal
RTTR = response to tender request
SEO = search engine optimization (ICT)
SOCO = scene of crime officer (UK)
STD = sexually transmitted disease (formerly VD = veneral disease, and no doubt superseded by some other initials tomorrow); subscriber trunk dialling (US — not worth confusing with the other meaning)
SUV = sport utility vehicle
Swot = strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats (business)
TBA = to be announced
TBC = to be confirmed
TLA = three-letter acronym (this is an example, though not strictly an acronym)
TLC = tender loving care
TOD = time of death (ironically also the German word for 'death')
URL = uniform resource locator (ICT)
USP = unique selling proposition (marketing)
VAT = value-added tax (UK)
VoIP = voiceover internet protocol (ICT)
WOMA = word-of-mouth advertising (marketing)
WOP = weight of pages (a marketing formula)
Wysiwig = what you see is what you get (ICT, txt)
Yaba = yet another bloody acronym! (a perfect final word)
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