Three-letter acronym: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 18:00, 24 May 2003

The three-letter abbreviation or three-letter acronym (TLA) is the most popular type of abbreviation in computing terminology. Some of these, "DOS" for example, are acronyms.

There are 26³ = 17576 possible abbreviations, and probably most of them are already used. For illustration, follow the link below to a page of all TLAs from AAA to DZZ. If we allowed numbers, special characters, or case-sensitivity, many more TLAs could be created.

Many TLAs have more than one meaning. There even are TLAs with more than 10 meanings (for example: SDI has at least 11 meanings). Many abbreviations have more than one expansion with the same meaning. For example GCC was first 'GNU C Compiler', and later 'GNU Compiler Collection'.

Because on DOS only three-letter file extensions (usually denoting the file type) were allowed, many longer abbreviations were shortened to three letters (for example JPEG to JPG, HTML to HTM).

Many abbreviations come from the shortened names of Usenet groups. For example pra for pl.rec.anime.

Popular TLAs:

corporations: IBM, DEC
file types: PNG, GIF
hardware: CPU, FPU, RAM, ROM
licences: GPL, MPL
operating systems: GNU, BSD, DOS
other standards: UTC
programming languages: SQL
protocols: FTP, IRC
software: GCC, Gtk
time zones: GMT, UTC, DST
sports: NFL, NBA
politics: GOP
government: DOD, DOE, HUD
military: BFR

TLAs became common in the United States during the New Deal of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, including NRA for National Recovery Administration, and TVA for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Detractors of President Roosevelt's policies called the new agencies "alphabet soup."

A four-letter abbreviation is sometimes known as an ETLA (extended TLA).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The '''three-letter abbreviation''' or '''three-letter acronym (TLA)''' is the most popular type of [[abbreviation]] in computing terminology.  Some of these, "[[DOS]]" for example, are [[acronym]]s.
-There are 26<sup>3</sup> = 17576 possible abbreviations, and probably most of them are already used. For illustration, see the table below of all TLAs starting with "A". If we allowed numbers, special characters, or were case-sensitive, many more TLAs could be created.
+There are 26<sup>3</sup> = 17576 possible abbreviations, and probably most of them are already used. For illustration, follow the link below to a page of all TLAs from AAA to DZZ. If we allowed numbers, special characters, or case-sensitivity, many more TLAs could be created.
 Many TLAs have more than one meaning. There even are TLAs with more than 10 meanings (for example: [[SDI]] has at least 11 meanings). Many abbreviations have more than one expansion with the same meaning. For example [[GCC]] was first 'GNU C Compiler', and later 'GNU Compiler Collection'.
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 A four-letter abbreviation is sometimes known as an '''ETLA''' (extended TLA).
-See also: [[VERA]], [[List of TLAs]]
+See also:
+*[[VERA]]
-== Table of all TLAs starting with A==
+*[[List of TLAs|List of selected TLAs]]
+*[[TLAs from AAA to DZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from AAA to DZZ]]
-The table below serves as a sample of some of the possibilities, it could be continued further. You can click on any of the black links to see how they are currently defined in Wikipedia.
+*[[TLAs from EAA to HZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from EAA to HZZ]]
+*[[TLAs from IAA to LZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from IAA to LZZ]]
- [[AAA]] [[AAB]] [[AAC]] [[AAD]] [[AAE]] [[AAF]] [[AAG]] [[AAH]] [[AAI]] [[AAJ]] [[AAK]] [[AAL]] [[AAM]] [[AAN]] [[AAO]] [[AAP]] [[AAQ]] [[AAR]] [[AAS]] [[AAT]] [[AAU]] [[AAV]] [[AAW]] [[AAX]] [[AAY]] [[AAZ]]
+*[[TLAs from MAA to PZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from MAA to PZZ]]
- [[ABA]] [[ABB]] [[ABC]] [[ABD]] [[ABE]] [[ABF]] [[ABG]] [[ABH]] [[ABI]] [[ABJ]] [[ABK]] [[ABL]] [[ABM]] [[ABN]] [[ABO]] [[ABP]] [[ABQ]] [[ABR]] [[ABS]] [[ABT]] [[ABU]] [[ABV]] [[ABW]] [[ABX]] [[ABY]] [[ABZ]]
+*[[TLAs from QAA to TZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from QAA to TZZ]]
- [[ACA]] [[ACB]] [[ACC]] [[ACD]] [[ACE]] [[ACF]] [[ACG]] [[ACH]] [[ACI]] [[ACJ]] [[ACK]] [[ACL]] [[ACM]] [[ACN]] [[ACO]] [[ACP]] [[ACQ]] [[ACR]] [[ACS]] [[ACT]] [[ACU]] [[ACV]] [[ACW]] [[ACX]] [[ACY]] [[ACZ]]
+*[[TLAs from UAA to XZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from UAA to XZZ]]
- [[ADA]] [[ADB]] [[ADC]] [[ADD]] [[ADE]] [[ADF]] [[ADG]] [[ADH]] [[ADI]] [[ADJ]] [[ADK]] [[ADL]] [[ADM]] [[ADN]] [[ADO]] [[ADP]] [[ADQ]] [[ADR]] [[ADS]] [[ADT]] [[ADU]] [[ADV]] [[ADW]] [[ADX]] [[ADY]] [[ADZ]]
+*[[TLAs from YAA to ZZZ|Table of all possible TLAs from YAA to ZZZ]]
- [[AEA]] [[AEB]] [[AEC]] [[AED]] [[AEE]] [[AEF]] [[AEG]] [[AEH]] [[AEI]] [[AEJ]] [[AEK]] [[AEL]] [[AEM]] [[AEN]] [[AEO]] [[AEP]] [[AEQ]] [[AER]] [[AES]] [[AET]] [[AEU]] [[AEV]] [[AEW]] [[AEX]] [[AEY]] [[AEZ]]
- [[AFA]] [[AFB]] [[AFC]] [[AFD]] [[AFE]] [[AFF]] [[AFG]] [[AFH]] [[AFI]] [[AFJ]] [[AFK]] [[AFL]] [[AFM]] [[AFN]] [[AFO]] [[AFP]] [[AFQ]] [[AFR]] [[AFS]] [[AFT]] [[AFU]] [[AFV]] [[AFW]] [[AFX]] [[AFY]] [[AFZ]]
- [[AGA]] [[AGB]] [[AGC]] [[AGD]] [[AGE]] [[AGF]] [[AGG]] [[AGH]] [[AGI]] [[AGJ]] [[AGK]] [[AGL]] [[AGM]] [[AGN]] [[AGO]] [[AGP]] [[AGQ]] [[AGR]] [[AGS]] [[AGT]] [[AGU]] [[AGV]] [[AGW]] [[AGX]] [[AGY]] [[AGZ]]
- [[AHA]] [[AHB]] [[AHC]] [[AHD]] [[AHE]] [[AHF]] [[AHG]] [[AHH]] [[AHI]] [[AHJ]] [[AHK]] [[AHL]] [[AHM]] [[AHN]] [[AHO]] [[AHP]] [[AHQ]] [[AHR]] [[AHS]] [[AHT]] [[AHU]] [[AHV]] [[AHW]] [[AHX]] [[AHY]] [[AHZ]]
- [[AIA]] [[AIB]] [[AIC]] [[AID]] [[AIE]] [[AIF]] [[AIG]] [[AIH]] [[AII]] [[AIJ]] [[AIK]] [[AIL]] [[AIM]] [[AIN]] [[AIO]] [[AIP]] [[AIQ]] [[AIR]] [[AIS]] [[AIT]] [[AIU]] [[AIV]] [[AIW]] [[AIX]] [[AIY]] [[AIZ]]
- [[AJA]] [[AJB]] [[AJC]] [[AJD]] [[AJE]] [[AJF]] [[AJG]] [[AJH]] [[AJI]] [[AJJ]] [[AJK]] [[AJL]] [[AJM]] [[AJN]] [[AJO]] [[AJP]] [[AJQ]] [[AJR]] [[AJS]] [[AJT]] [[AJU]] [[AJV]] [[AJW]] [[AJX]] [[AJY]] [[AJZ]]
- [[AKA]] [[AKB]] [[AKC]] [[AKD]] [[AKE]] [[AKF]] [[AKG]] [[AKH]] [[AKI]] [[AKJ]] [[AKK]] [[AKL]] [[AKM]] [[AKN]] [[AKO]] [[AKP]] [[AKQ]] [[AKR]] [[AKS]] [[AKT]] [[AKU]] [[AKV]] [[AKW]] [[AKX]] [[AKY]] [[AKZ]]
- [[ALA]] [[ALB]] [[ALC]] [[ALD]] [[ALE]] [[ALF]] [[ALG]] [[ALH]] [[ALI]] [[ALJ]] [[ALK]] [[ALL]] [[ALM]] [[ALN]] [[ALO]] [[ALP]] [[ALQ]] [[ALR]] [[ALS]] [[ALT]] [[ALU]] [[ALV]] [[ALW]] [[ALX]] [[ALY]] [[ALZ]]
- [[AMA]] [[AMB]] [[AMC]] [[AMD]] [[AME]] [[AMF]] [[AMG]] [[AMH]] [[AMI]] [[AMJ]] [[AMK]] [[AML]] [[AMM]] [[AMN]] [[AMO]] [[AMP]] [[AMQ]] [[AMR]] [[AMS]] [[AMT]] [[AMU]] [[AMV]] [[AMW]] [[AMX]] [[AMY]] [[AMZ]]
- [[ANA]] [[ANB]] [[ANC]] [[AND]] [[ANE]] [[ANF]] [[ANG]] [[ANH]] [[ANI]] [[ANJ]] [[ANK]] [[ANL]] [[ANM]] [[ANN]] [[ANO]] [[ANP]] [[ANQ]] [[ANR]] [[ANS]] [[ANT]] [[ANU]] [[ANV]] [[ANW]] [[ANX]] [[ANY]] [[ANZ]]
- [[AOA]] [[AOB]] [[AOC]] [[AOD]] [[AOE]] [[AOF]] [[AOG]] [[AOH]] [[AOI]] [[AOJ]] [[AOK]] [[AOL]] [[AOM]] [[AON]] [[AOO]] [[AOP]] [[AOQ]] [[AOR]] [[AOS]] [[AOT]] [[AOU]] [[AOV]] [[AOW]] [[AOX]] [[AOY]] [[AOZ]]
- [[APA]] [[APB]] [[APC]] [[APD]] [[APE]] [[APF]] [[APG]] [[APH]] [[API]] [[APJ]] [[APK]] [[APL]] [[APM]] [[APN]] [[APO]] [[APP]] [[APQ]] [[APR]] [[APS]] [[APT]] [[APU]] [[APV]] [[APW]] [[APX]] [[APY]] [[APZ]]
- [[AQA]] [[AQB]] [[AQC]] [[AQD]] [[AQE]] [[AQF]] [[AQG]] [[AQH]] [[AQI]] [[AQJ]] [[AQK]] [[AQL]] [[AQM]] [[AQN]] [[AQO]] [[AQP]] [[AQQ]] [[AQR]] [[AQS]] [[AQT]] [[AQU]] [[AQV]] [[AQW]] [[AQX]] [[AQY]] [[AQZ]]
- [[ARA]] [[ARB]] [[ARC]] [[ARD]] [[ARE]] [[ARF]] [[ARG]] [[ARH]] [[ARI]] [[ARJ]] [[ARK]] [[ARL]] [[ARM]] [[ARN]] [[ARO]] [[ARP]] [[ARQ]] [[ARR]] [[ARS]] [[ART]] [[ARU]] [[ARV]] [[ARW]] [[ARX]] [[ARY]] [[ARZ]]
- [[ASA]] [[ASB]] [[ASC]] [[ASD]] [[ASE]] [[ASF]] [[ASG]] [[ASH]] [[ASI]] [[ASJ]] [[ASK]] [[ASL]] [[ASM]] [[ASN]] [[ASO]] [[ASP]] [[ASQ]] [[ASR]] [[ASS]] [[AST]] [[ASU]] [[ASV]] [[ASW]] [[ASX]] [[ASY]] [[ASZ]]
- [[ATA]] [[ATB]] [[ATC]] [[ATD]] [[ATE]] [[ATF]] [[ATG]] [[ATH]] [[ATI]] [[ATJ]] [[ATK]] [[ATL]] [[ATM]] [[ATN]] [[ATO]] [[ATP]] [[ATQ]] [[ATR]] [[ATS]] [[ATT]] [[ATU]] [[ATV]] [[ATW]] [[ATX]] [[ATY]] [[ATZ]]
- [[AUA]] [[AUB]] [[AUC]] [[AUD]] [[AUE]] [[AUF]] [[AUG]] [[AUH]] [[AUI]] [[AUJ]] [[AUK]] [[AUL]] [[AUM]] [[AUN]] [[AUO]] [[AUP]] [[AUQ]] [[AUR]] [[AUS]] [[AUT]] [[AUU]] [[AUV]] [[AUW]] [[AUX]] [[AUY]] [[AUZ]]
- [[AVA]] [[AVB]] [[AVC]] [[AVD]] [[AVE]] [[AVF]] [[AVG]] [[AVH]] [[AVI]] [[AVJ]] [[AVK]] [[AVL]] [[AVM]] [[AVN]] [[AVO]] [[AVP]] [[AVQ]] [[AVR]] [[AVS]] [[AVT]] [[AVU]] [[AVV]] [[AVW]] [[AVX]] [[AVY]] [[AVZ]]
- [[AWA]] [[AWB]] [[AWC]] [[AWD]] [[AWE]] [[AWF]] [[AWG]] [[AWH]] [[AWI]] [[AWJ]] [[AWK]] [[AWL]] [[AWM]] [[AWN]] [[AWO]] [[AWP]] [[AWQ]] [[AWR]] [[AWS]] [[AWT]] [[AWU]] [[AWV]] [[AWW]] [[AWX]] [[AWY]] [[AWZ]]
- [[AXA]] [[AXB]] [[AXC]] [[AXD]] [[AXE]] [[AXF]] [[AXG]] [[AXH]] [[AXI]] [[AXJ]] [[AXK]] [[AXL]] [[AXM]] [[AXN]] [[AXO]] [[AXP]] [[AXQ]] [[AXR]] [[AXS]] [[AXT]] [[AXU]] [[AXV]] [[AXW]] [[AXX]] [[AXY]] [[AXZ]]
- [[AYA]] [[AYB]] [[AYC]] [[AYD]] [[AYE]] [[AYF]] [[AYG]] [[AYH]] [[AYI]] [[AYJ]] [[AYK]] [[AYL]] [[AYM]] [[AYN]] [[AYO]] [[AYP]] [[AYQ]] [[AYR]] [[AYS]] [[AYT]] [[AYU]] [[AYV]] [[AYW]] [[AYX]] [[AYY]] [[AYZ]]
- [[AZA]] [[AZB]] [[AZC]] [[AZD]] [[AZE]] [[AZF]] [[AZG]] [[AZH]] [[AZI]] [[AZJ]] [[AZK]] [[AZL]] [[AZM]] [[AZN]] [[AZO]] [[AZP]] [[AZQ]] [[AZR]] [[AZS]] [[AZT]] [[AZU]] [[AZV]] [[AZW]] [[AZX]] [[AZY]] [[AZZ]]
- [[BAA]] [[BAB]] [[BAC]] [[BAD]] [[BAE]] [[BAF]] [[BAG]] [[BAH]] [[BAI]] [[BAJ]] [[BAK]] [[BAL]] [[BAM]] [[BAN]] [[BAO]] [[BAP]] [[BAQ]] [[BAR]] [[BAS]] [[BAT]] [[BAU]] [[BAV]] [[BAW]] [[BAX]] [[BAY]] [[BAZ]]