Author(s)

Xiaolin Mao

College of International Education, Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai, China.

This article is an attempt to bring acronym under a closer review. As an exceptionally creative way of forming new words, acronyms have long been marginalized in the study of English word-formation and easily confused with initialisms. This essay is an effort to investigate some unique characteristics of acronyms, including its economy and convenience, fun of word play, unpredictability and creativity, as well as to pinpoint the subtle difference between acronyms and initialisms, thereby unfolding its special roles and peculiarities in English word-formation process.

Acronym, Initialism, Economy, Convenience, Word Play, Unpredictability, Creativity

Mao, X. (2024) An Overview of the Characteristics of English Acronyms. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 14, 907-913. doi: 10.4236/ojml.2024.145047.