From Booklist
This handy guide to approximately 2,100 acronyms, initialisms, blends, clippings, and abbreviations was originally published in 1993. The differences among these terms are defined in a brief introduction. This work provides a selection of "shortened forms" one is most likely to encounter in newspapers, directions, instructions, and on packaging, as well as acronyms for major governmental organizations.
Entries include the shortened form in boldface type; the word or words for which the entry stands; usually, one of the words initialism, acronym, blend, or clipping (to indicate whether the entry is pronounced by sounding out its letters one by one, for an initialism, or as a whole word, for the others); a definition or explanation of the entry; and a usage example. Some entries include cross-references and/or derivations.
This work is quite manageable and helpful. It will not identify thousands of terms like Gale's Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations Dictionary, nor is it meant to. What it does well is to clarify meanings of common shortened forms through examples and alternate forms (e.g., FT can mean free throw or full-time). It will prove a useful and practical addition to most libraries.
Book Description
Containing approximately 2,000 everyday shortened words used in American English, this unique collection defines the acronym or abbreviation and explains its context.
