Acronyms

Acronyms are abbreviations created by using the first letter of each word and are  usually written in capital letters, e.g. NATO.

Modern usage does not usually require full stops between the letters and some acronyms have become recognisable words and no longer use all capital letters, e.g. Anzac and Qantas.

Some examples of acronyms and their meanings:

• Anzac – Australia and New Zealand Army Corps
• APEC – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
• ASEAN – Association of South-East Asian Nations
• CD – Compact Disc
• CSIRO – Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
• DVD – Digital Versatile Disc
• HSIE – Human Society and Its Environment
• NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• OOSH – Out of School Hours
• Qantas – Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services
• RAAF – Royal Australian Air Force
• radar – radio detection and ranging
• scuba – self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
• UN – United Nations.