✅ Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. It can include:
- Initial letters (e.g., USA for United States of America)
- Parts of words (e.g., approx. for approximately)
- A combination of letters and numbers (e.g., B2B for business-to-business)
📌 Key Point: Not all abbreviations are acronyms.
✅ Acronym
An acronym is a type of abbreviation—but it’s made from the initial letters of words, and it’s usually pronounced as a word.
Examples of acronyms:
- NASA = National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- SCUBA = Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
- RADAR = Radio Detection and Ranging
📌 Key Point: Acronyms are abbreviations you can say like a word.
🧠 Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Abbreviation | Acronym |
| What it is | Any shortened form | A specific type of abbreviation |
| Formed from | Initial letters or parts of words | Usually initial letters only |
| Pronunciation | Spoken as letters or short form | Pronounced as a word |
| Examples | Dr., approx., B2B, FBI | NASA, SCUBA, RADAR |
❓Examples to Clarify
| Full Phrase | Abbreviation | Acronym (if applicable) |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation | FBI | Not an acronym (spelled out) |
| National Aeronautics and Space Admin | NASA | Yes — pronounced as “nah-suh” |
| United States of America | USA | Not an acronym (spelled out) |
| Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus | SCUBA | Yes — a true acronym |
🎯 Tip to Remember
If you say the letters individually, it’s usually just an abbreviation.
If you say it as a word, it’s usually an acronym.
