Acronyms and Abbreviations: NASA, ASAP, P.S. and More
Quick Answer
An acronym is a short word made from the first letters of other words — like NASA or ASAP (as soon as possible). You say it like a normal word. If you say each letter separately, like BBC, it is called an initialism.
Acronyms You Already Know
You probably use acronyms every day without noticing. Look:
- NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (Said as one word: “nasa”.)
- ASAP — as soon as possible. (“Please reply ASAP.”)
- DIY — do it yourself. (Said letter by letter: D-I-Y.)
- FAQ — frequently asked questions. (The help page on most websites.)
Did you see the pattern? Take the first letter of each word, join them, and you get a much faster way to say something long.
| Type | How you say it | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Acronym | like a word | NASA, LOL, PIN |
| Initialism | letter by letter | BBC, FBI, ATM, DIY |
The Most Useful English Acronyms to Learn
Here are the ones you will meet most often in messages, emails and everyday life:
- ASAP = as soon as possible · FYI = for your information · BTW = by the way
- LOL = laughing out loud · OMG = oh my goodness · TBH = to be honest
- PIN = personal identification number · ATM = automated teller machine (cash machine)
- RSVP = please reply (from French) · ETA = estimated time of arrival
Easy way to remember: if you can say it like a word (NASA, PIN, LOL), it is an acronym. If you spell it out (B-B-C), it is an initialism — but most people call both “acronyms” in everyday talk.
The Rule in One Line: An acronym = a new word built from first letters (NASA, ASAP, PIN).
How to Use Acronyms in Everyday English
- “Can you send me the report ASAP?” (As fast as possible.)
- “FYI, the meeting moved to 3 p.m.” (Just letting you know.)
- “I forgot my PIN at the ATM.” (Two in one sentence!)
- “BTW, did you watch the match?” (By the way — changing topic.)
- “Please RSVP by Friday.” (Reply to the invitation.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Acronyms
Choosing a or an before an acronym confuses almost everyone at first — you are not alone. The trick: listen to the sound, not the letter.
✗ “He is a FBI agent.” (F is said “ef” — it starts with a vowel sound)
✓ “He is an FBI agent.” (an “ef-bee-eye” agent)
✗ “She works for an NASA project.” (NASA is said “nasa” — a consonant sound)
✓ “She works for a NASA project.”
How to remember: say the acronym out loud. Vowel sound → an. Consonant sound → a. The written letter does not matter.
Two More Short Forms: P.S. and Cont’d
Acronyms are not the only short forms. Here are two abbreviations you will see in letters, emails and documents, one at a time.
Step 1: P.S. (Postscript)
PS means “postscript.” It is a short note you add after you finish and sign a message. Think of it as saying “Oh, one more thing!” at the end of a letter, email, or text.
Best wishes, Sarah
PS: Do not forget to bring your umbrella tomorrow!
Examples:
- Thanks for dinner! PS: The cake was amazing.
- See you on Monday. PS: Can you bring the notes from class?
- Love, Grandma. PS: I put some money in the envelope for you.
Common mistake
Putting PS before your name
✗ PS: Do not forget the meeting. Best wishes, Tom.
✓ Best wishes, Tom. PS: Do not forget the meeting.
How to remember: PS stands for two words (Post Scriptum), so both letters are capitals. And since “post” means “after,” PS always goes after everything else — your message, your goodbye, and your name. It is always the last thing.
Step 2: Cont. or Cont’d?
The two correct short forms of “continued” are cont. (with a period) and cont’d (with an apostrophe). Use cont. in formal writing. Use cont’d in casual writing. Always use the same one in your whole document.
Examples:
- The list is cont. on page 5. (abbreviation — the word is cut short and a period is added)
- See the table, cont’d on the next page. (contraction — letters are removed and an apostrophe is added)
- This report is cont. in section 3. (formal style)
Common mistake
✗ contd — Wrong. Without the apostrophe, this is not a real word or contraction.
✓ cont’d — Correct. The apostrophe shows that letters were removed.
How to remember: The apostrophe in cont’d does the same job as the apostrophe in “don’t” — it shows where letters are missing. No apostrophe? It is not a real contraction.
Test Yourself: Do You Know These Acronyms?
Choose an answer to see your feedback immediately. Your first answer counts towards your score.
1. Which one is a true acronym — said like a word?
2. Your boss writes “Reply ASAP.” What does ASAP mean?
3. “I took money out of _______ ATM.”
4. A friend writes “FYI, the party starts at 8.” FYI means…
5. “She is _______ NASA engineer.”
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned what acronyms are and how to use the most common ones. Your texting and emails just got faster.
Acronyms shorten phrases — but English also shortens two words into one with an apostrophe: do not → don’t. They are called contractions, and one of them (won’t) breaks all the rules. Do you know why?
Next lesson: Contractions in English: The Most Common Ones Explained
Source
Crown Academy of English — Types of English Abbreviations
I’m Khamis Maiouf. I’m studying Health and Social Care and have completed Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Level 3 Hairdressing. I have taught ESOL in my community and helped students with GCSE English. I run English Teacher Site to help people learn and practise English.