Re[2]: Articles with Initialisms

[Joyce Flaherty <flahertj -at- SMTPGW -dot- LIEBERT -dot- COM>]

     > The problem is, there's no standard for what's an
     > initialism and what's an acronym -- and until there
     > is, it's best guess.

The standard is in your style guide, under preferred spelling.
That's how you stop "on-line" from appearing in your documentation.

You can also add it to your online dictionary--the one you create
and put on your LAN--the one that applies to just your organization
--the one that either eliminates a glossary or imposes consistency
among glossaries.

This is the value of the grammer threads on the list.  Read what
the other writers put to the list, write your own standard, and
enforce the standard where you have control.  You can always
revise it.  Sometimes a bad standard is better than no standard at
all.  If the topic hits the reference manuals, delete it.

Now if I could only get our Marketing staff to read the style
guide and the dictionary, perhaps I wouldn't wake in the middle of
the night wondering what the writers are going to do with my copy.

BTW, I'm always interested in avoiding a flame or what some
subscribers consider a marginal thread.  If the topic is clearly
basic grammar (which and that comes to mind), don't put it to
the list.

joyce flaherty
flahertj -at- smtpgw -dot- liebert -dot- com