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YYAT (Yet Another Acronym Thread)

Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?

<g>
<g,d&r>
<VBG>
AAMOF
AFAIAA
AFAIAC
AFAIC
AFAICT
AFAIK
AFAIR
AIUI
BTW
FAQ
FUBAR
FUD
FWIW
FYI
HAND
HTH
IANAL
IINM
IIRC
IMHO
IMNSHO
IMO
IOW
ISP
ISTM
ISTR
ITYM
IIUC
IYSWIM
LART
LOL
LUSER
NNTP
OP
OTOH
PITA
PLONK
POV
RFC
ROTFL
RTFAQ
RTFM
TIA
TTFN
WTH
WYSIWYG
Y2K
YHBT
YMMV

Comments are welcome.

Tak-Shing

Source: http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm
(with some deletions)

Nov 13 '05 #1
89 5420

"Tak-Shing Chan" <es***@city.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.33.0312052110340.21076-100000@swindon...
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
Comments are welcome.


WIYCQ?

(What Is Your C Question?)

:-)

-Mike
Nov 13 '05 #2
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mike Wahler wrote:
"Tak-Shing Chan" <es***@city.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.33.0312052110340.21076-100000@swindon...
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
Comments are welcome.


WIYCQ?

(What Is Your C Question?)

:-)

-Mike


TIAOT (Topicality Is Always On Topic). :-)

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #3
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:

Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


Y2Ys in YYAT?

--
Er*********@sun.com
Nov 13 '05 #4
Mac
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 21:38:08 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
I would not presume. Instead, I'll put an x next to the ones I personally
know (without context and without looking them up).

<g> x
<g,d&r> x
<VBG>
AAMOF
AFAIAA x
AFAIAC x
AFAIC
AFAICT x
AFAIK x
AFAIR x
AIUI
BTW x
FAQ x
FUBAR x
FUD x
FWIW x
FYI x
HAND x
HTH x
IANAL x
Isn't this from Slashdot? I don't think this is a usenet acronym. We
probably shouldn't include it here.
IINM
IIRC x
IMHO x
IMNSHO x
IMO
IOW x
ISP
As in internet service provider? That is common usage among technically
literate. That's like ATM for automated teller machine or AC for
alternating current. It is so common it doesn't really need to be
mentioned.
ISTM
ISTR x
ITYM x
IIUC
IYSWIM
LART
LOL x
LUSER is this an acronym?
NNTP
As in Network News Transfer Protocol? I guess it makes sense to include
this for a usenet group.
OP x
OTOH x
PITA x
PLONK is this an acronym?
POV x
RFC x
ROTFL x
RTFAQ x
RTFM x
TIA x
TTFN
WTH
WYSIWYG x
Y2K x
YHBT x
YMMV x

Comments are welcome.
"CLC" is certainly acceptable. I occasionally see "YRC" or "YDRC" (in
response to "IIRC") and "YDKVF" in response to "AFAIK." I would also
include "GUI." I'm sure there are others, but this is a good start.

Tak-Shing

Source: http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm
(with some deletions)

Nov 13 '05 #5
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mike Wahler wrote:

"Tak-Shing Chan" <es***@city.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.33.0312052110340.21076-100000@swindon...
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
Comments are welcome.


WIYCQ?

(What Is Your C Question?)

:-)

-Mike

TIAOT (Topicality Is Always On Topic). :-)


OK... But this is not a topicality issue.

-Kevin
--
My email address is valid, but changes periodically.
To contact me please use the address from a recent posting.

Nov 13 '05 #6
Eric Sosman <Er*********@sun.com> wrote in news:3F***************@sun.com
on Fri 05 Dec 2003 04:12:43p:
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:

Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


Y2Ys in YYAT?


The extra Y is for qualitY.

Quality also eats As for brunch.

Nov 13 '05 #7
Mac <fo*@bar.net> scribbled the following:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 21:38:08 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
I would not presume. Instead, I'll put an x next to the ones I personally
know (without context and without looking them up).


Here are some of the ones you don't know.
<VBG>
Very Big Grin
AIUI
As I Understand It
IMO
In My Opinion
IYSWIM
If You See What I Mean
LART
Luser Attitude Readjustment Tool
TTFN
Ta Ta For Now
WTH


What The H...?

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"The obvious mathematical breakthrough would be development of an easy way to
factor large prime numbers."
- Bill Gates
Nov 13 '05 #8
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


I've personally decided out that not using acronyms is a lot
easier to read. So now I set up my newsreader's editor to
automatically expand, say, "IMO", into "in my opinion". In fact
it took a special effort to type the acronym above without
expanding it. I encourage everyone else to try this sort of
thing, especially if it's easy with your editor.
--
"This is a wonderful answer.
It's off-topic, it's incorrect, and it doesn't answer the question."
--Richard Heathfield
Nov 13 '05 #9
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 21:38:08 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> wrote:
How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?

[snip list]


Most of those aren't acronyms though. And ITYM "YAAT". :)

-- Mat.

Nov 13 '05 #10
Ben Pfaff <bl*@cs.stanford.edu> wrote in
news:87************@pfaff.stanford.edu on Sat 06 Dec 2003 01:13:00p:
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


I've personally decided out that not using acronyms is a lot
easier to read. So now I set up my newsreader's editor to
automatically expand, say, "IMO", into "in my opinion". In fact
it took a special effort to type the acronym above without
expanding it. I encourage everyone else to try this sort of
thing, especially if it's easy with your editor.


Heh. A hackish solution to a hackish problem. I love it.

I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind of
symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands without regard
to the person's first language. The Indian programmers coming through here
seem to do as well with abbreviations as the native Americans, and
learning the symbols is usually easier than learning the words.

It's an i18n issue, in other words. ;)

Nov 13 '05 #11
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

In comp.lang.c, August (li*****************@onewest.net) wrote:
I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind of
symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands without regard


Well, it dependes on the acronyn used. There are several of them
that you might not know, but a quick search using Google or 'dict' well
reveal you the meaning. But there are others with a darker meaning that
will take sometime to understand. It is therefore a good idea to make a
list of those which are rare and /perhaps/ just used here and in a bunch
of other newsgroups.

Regards,

Chema.

- --
http://EuropeSwPatentFree.hispalinux.es - EuropeSwPatentFree
Take out "-news" if replying by e-mail / Quita "-news" para contestar
I don't read HTML posts / No leo mensajes en HTML
Blog Overflow: http://chema.homelinux.org
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Nov 13 '05 #12
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Eric Sosman wrote:
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:

Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


Y2Ys in YYAT?


YYAT (Yes, Yes, A Typo). Sorry. :-)

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #13
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mac wrote:
IANAL x
Isn't this from Slashdot? I don't think this is a usenet acronym. We
probably shouldn't include it here.


From a Google Search: comp.lang.c regulars who use ``IANAL''
includes (inter alia) Daniel Fox, Arthur J. O'Dwyer, Dan Pop,
Bjorn Augestad, Steve (istartedi), Joona I Palaste, Chris Torek,
Richard Bos, Gergo Barany, Keith Thompson, CBFalconer, and
Christian Bau, in order of relevance.
ISP


As in internet service provider?


Yes.
LUSER is this an acronym?
It means ``Local User'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm).
NNTP


As in Network News Transfer Protocol? I guess it makes sense to include
this for a usenet group.


Yes.
PLONK is this an acronym?


It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.
"CLC" is certainly acceptable. I occasionally see "YRC" or "YDRC" (in
response to "IIRC") and "YDKVF" in response to "AFAIK." I would also
include "GUI." I'm sure there are others, but this is a good start.


And "MMMV" in response to "YMMV". And "C&V". And "DP" for
Dan Pop, ad infinitum. Now I know why it is so difficult to
codify existing practices. :-)

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #14
On Sat, 6 Dec 2003, Kevin Goodsell wrote:
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
TIAOT (Topicality Is Always On Topic). :-)


OK... But this is not a topicality issue.


NIAOT (Netiquette Is Always On Topic)? :-)

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #15
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> scribbled the following:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mac wrote:
IANAL x
Isn't this from Slashdot? I don't think this is a usenet acronym. We
probably shouldn't include it here.

From a Google Search: comp.lang.c regulars who use ``IANAL''
includes (inter alia) Daniel Fox, Arthur J. O'Dwyer, Dan Pop,
Bjorn Augestad, Steve (istartedi), Joona I Palaste, Chris Torek,
Richard Bos, Gergo Barany, Keith Thompson, CBFalconer, and
Christian Bau, in order of relevance.


Increasing or decreasing order of relevance?

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"I am lying."
- Anon
Nov 13 '05 #16
On 6 Dec 2003, Ben Pfaff wrote:
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


I've personally decided out that not using acronyms is a lot
easier to read. So now I set up my newsreader's editor to
automatically expand, say, "IMO", into "in my opinion". In fact
it took a special effort to type the acronym above without
expanding it. I encourage everyone else to try this sort of
thing, especially if it's easy with your editor.


This is useful. I should try it sometime.

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #17
On Sat, 6 Dec 2003, Mathew Hendry wrote:
Most of those aren't acronyms though.
Depending on your definition of ``acronym''. :-)
And ITYM "YAAT". :)


Yes. Sorry about that.

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #18
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, August Derleth wrote:
I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind of
symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands without regard
to the person's first language.


Define ``nearly everyone''. ;-)

Tak-Shing

Nov 13 '05 #19
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
[...]
LUSER is this an acronym?
It means ``Local User'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm).


I don't think it really means "local user". It's a combination of
"user" and "loser".
PLONK is this an acronym?


It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.


Looks like they're making things up. Plonk, as far as I know, is not
an acronym.

--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) ks***@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
San Diego Supercomputer Center <*> <http://www.sdsc.edu/~kst>
Schroedinger does Shakespeare: "To be *and* not to be"
(Note new e-mail address)
Nov 13 '05 #20
Keith Thompson <ks***@mib.org> scribbled the following:
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
[...]
>> PLONK is this an acronym?
It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.

Looks like they're making things up. Plonk, as far as I know, is not
an acronym.


I agree with you. It's onomatopoetic or something. The only reason it
looks like an acronym is because it's written in ALL CAPS to make it
sound louder.
What would be the opposite of "plonk"? Maybe "plink"? Or "knolp"?

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"To know me IS to love me."
- JIPsoft
Nov 13 '05 #21
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> scribbled the following:
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, August Derleth wrote:
I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind of
symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands without regard
to the person's first language.
Define ``nearly everyone''. ;-)


Every single one... <g, d & r>

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"The obvious mathematical breakthrough would be development of an easy way to
factor large prime numbers."
- Bill Gates
Nov 13 '05 #22
Joona I Palaste wrote:

Keith Thompson <ks***@mib.org> scribbled the following:
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
[...]
>> PLONK is this an acronym?

It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.
Looks like they're making things up. Plonk, as far as I know, is not
an acronym.


I agree with you. It's onomatopoetic or something. The only reason it
looks like an acronym is because it's written in ALL CAPS to make it
sound louder.
What would be the opposite of "plonk"? Maybe "plink"? Or "knolp"?


Vrrrrrrp! ( the sound of velcro being pulled off ).
--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"To know me IS to love me."
- JIPsoft

--
Les Cargill
Nov 13 '05 #23
In article <ln************@nuthaus.mib.org>,
Keith Thompson <ks***@mib.org> wrote:
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
[...]

>> PLONK is this an acronym?


It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.


Looks like they're making things up. Plonk, as far as I know, is not
an acronym.


Between my recollection of proposed expansions and the first page of
google://plonk+acronym:
People Leaving Our Newsgroup Killfiled
Person {of|with} Little Or No Knowledge
PLaced ON Killfilter

All of these look like back-formations to me. The most believable
etymology is that it came from the sound made when somebody falls to
the bottom of a killfile.
dave

--
Dave Vandervies dj******@csclub.uwaterloo.ca
If giving the youth new ways to think about things is corruption, then I
hope this university is guilty of it too.
--Mike in uw.general
Nov 13 '05 #24
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, August Derleth wrote:
I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind of
symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands without regard
to the person's first language.


Define ``nearly everyone''. ;-)

Me.
--
Richard Heathfield : bi****@eton.powernet.co.uk
"Usenet is a strange place." - Dennis M Ritchie, 29 July 1999.
C FAQ: http://www.eskimo.com/~scs/C-faq/top.html
K&R answers, C books, etc: http://users.powernet.co.uk/eton
Nov 13 '05 #25

On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:

On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mac wrote:
IANAL x


Isn't this from Slashdot? I don't think this is a usenet acronym. We
probably shouldn't include it here.


From a Google Search: comp.lang.c regulars who use ``IANAL''
includes (inter alia) Daniel Fox, Arthur J. O'Dwyer, Dan Pop,
Bjorn Augestad, Steve (istartedi), Joona I Palaste, Chris Torek,
Richard Bos, Gergo Barany, Keith Thompson, CBFalconer, and
Christian Bau, in order of relevance.


Yay! I'm the second-most-relevant not-a-lawyer in this group!

-Arthur
Nov 13 '05 #26
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In comp.lang.c, Keith (ks***@mib.org) wrote:
>> PLONK is this an acronym?


It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.


Looks like they're making things up. Plonk, as far as I know, is not
an acronym.


It might be, or might not:

- From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

plonk

(Possibly influenced by British slang "plonk" for cheap booze, or
"plonker" for someone behaving stupidly; usually written "*plonk*") The
sound a newbie makes as he falls to the bottom of a kill file. While
this term originated in the Usenet, by 1994 it was widespread on Usenet
and mailing lists as a form of public ridicule.
Another theory is that it is an acronym for "Person with
Little Or No Knowledge".
And yet one more:

- From Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (Version 1.9, June 2002)
[vera]:

PLONK
Please Leave Our Newsgroup, Kid (Usenet, telecommunication-slang)

Regards,

Chema.
- --
http://EuropeSwPatentFree.hispalinux.es - EuropeSwPatentFree
Take out "-news" if replying by e-mail / Quita "-news" para contestar
I don't read HTML posts / No leo mensajes en HTML
Blog Overflow: http://chema.homelinux.org
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Nov 13 '05 #27
Keith Thompson wrote:
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
[...]
> LUSER is this an acronym?


It means ``Local User'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm).


I don't think it really means "local user". It's a combination
of "user" and "loser".
> PLONK is this an acronym?


I think of it as the sound made by the LUSER as s/he/it hits the
watery bottom of that deep well into which s/he/it is to be
henceforth delivered.

--
Chuck F (cb********@yahoo.com) (cb********@worldnet.att.net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!
Nov 13 '05 #28
Joona I Palaste wrote:
.... snip ...
What would be the opposite of "plonk"? Maybe "plink"? Or "knolp"?


#define hctiws }

switch (status) {
case plonk: destroy(); break;
case knolp: resurrect(); break;
default: read(); break;
hctiws;

:-)

--
Chuck F (cb********@yahoo.com) (cb********@worldnet.att.net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!
Nov 13 '05 #29
"Arthur J. O'Dwyer" wrote:
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mac wrote:

> IANAL x

Isn't this from Slashdot? I don't think this is a usenet acronym. We
probably shouldn't include it here.


From a Google Search: comp.lang.c regulars who use ``IANAL''
includes (inter alia) Daniel Fox, Arthur J. O'Dwyer, Dan Pop,
Bjorn Augestad, Steve (istartedi), Joona I Palaste, Chris Torek,
Richard Bos, Gergo Barany, Keith Thompson, CBFalconer, and
Christian Bau, in order of relevance.


Yay! I'm the second-most-relevant not-a-lawyer in this group!


I think I used it for the first time in who knows how long last
week, and lo, I made the hall of shame! I suspect the 'relevance'
means usage count over some period.

--
Chuck F (cb********@yahoo.com) (cb********@worldnet.att.net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!
Nov 13 '05 #30
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, August Derleth wrote:
I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind
of symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands
without regard to the person's first language.


Define ``nearly everyone''. ;-)


myself and at least one other person. That defines a clear
majority. :-)

--
Chuck F (cb********@yahoo.com) (cb********@worldnet.att.net)
Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
<http://cbfalconer.home.att.net> USE worldnet address!
Nov 13 '05 #31
In <Pine.GSO.4.33.0312071952080.4975-100000@swindon> Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
LUSER is this an acronym?


It means ``Local User'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm).


Eric Raymond's definition is different. And it is his definition that is
usually meant by people using the word.

Dan
--
Dan Pop
DESY Zeuthen, RZ group
Email: Da*****@ifh.de
Nov 13 '05 #32
In <Pine.GSO.4.33.0312052110340.21076-100000@swindon> Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
That would be a bad idea, from the POV of the newcomers.
It's much better to stick to the most common Usenet abbreviations
(not every abbreviation is an acronym, BTW). OTOH, some are so handy,
that it's very hard to resist the temptation...

Hence, my comments:
<g>
Better replaced by the poster's favourite emoticon.
<g,d&r>
I'm not sure if enough people understand it.
<VBG>
I'm not sure if enough people understand it. An emoticon is probably
better (as they are language neutral and, therefore, more intuitive to
the non-native English speaker).
AAMOF
AFAIAA
AFAIAC
AFAIC
None of them is common enough. I can't remember when I've seen one of
them actually used here.
AFAICT
AFAIK
AFAIR
AIUI
BTW
FAQ
All of them OK. Relatively easy to figure them out, if not already
familiar with them.
FUBAR
Not only not needed, but there is no consensus about its meaning.
FUD
Again, not really needed here.
FWIW
FYI
OK.
HAND
HTH
I'd rather avoid abbreviations for end of post formulas. If you want to
be polite, you can take the trouble of expanding them ;-)
IANAL
OK.
IINM
Can't remember seeing it used here.
IIRC
IMHO
IMNSHO
IMO
IOW
ISP
All of them very common and most of them very useful.
ISTM
ISTR
ITYM
IIUC
IYSWIM
These are a bit on the obscure side. It takes an imaginative reader to
figure them out.
LART
Can't remember seeing it used here.
LOL
Another one that is better replaced by an emoticon.
LUSER
Not an abbreviation, a word on its on. See the Jargon File.
NNTP
Seldom needed here (mostly for off topic discussions ;-)
OP
OTOH
PITA
OK.
PLONK
It's a made-up acronym. IMHO, anyone anouncing that he plonked someone
has an ego problem (why should anyone else care?).
POV
RFC
OK.
ROTFL
See my previous remarks on the topic. Ditto for the unproposed ROTFLMAO.
RTFAQ
RTFM
For consistency the former should be RTFFAQ.
TIA
TTFN
See my previous remark on end of post formulas.
WTH
Why not WTF, too? ;-)
WYSIWYG
Y2K
OK.
YHBT
Probably too obscure.
YMMV
OK, although the c.l.c newbie might have a problem decoding it.
Source: http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm
(with some deletions)


There are far too many such sources to consider one or another as
authoritative. Therefore, the abbreviations with non-consensual
meanings should be avoided.

Missing from the list, although very frequently used: WRT.
Missing from the list, although very frequently used in c.l.c (and not
covered by the FAQ, either): C89, C99, N869, C&V, DR, TC, NA.

If this discussion leads to any conclusion, the "approved" list, together
with expansions (and explanations, where necessary) should become part of
the weekly welcome to clc post. Otherwise, it was a mere exercise in
futility...

Dan
--
Dan Pop
DESY Zeuthen, RZ group
Email: Da*****@ifh.de
Nov 13 '05 #33
In <Pine.GSO.4.33.0312072037550.4975-100000@swindon> Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
On Sat, 6 Dec 2003, Mathew Hendry wrote:
Most of those aren't acronyms though.


Depending on your definition of ``acronym''. :-)


My definition doesn't matter. Can you find any reputable dictionary
claiming that "abbreviation" and "acronym" are synonyms? Because what
you have posted is a list of abbreviations.

Dan
--
Dan Pop
DESY Zeuthen, RZ group
Email: Da*****@ifh.de
Nov 13 '05 #34

On Mon, 8 Dec 2003, Dan Pop wrote:

Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c? FUBAR Not only not needed, but there is no consensus about its meaning.


Huh? Its meaning is perfectly clear as far as I know,
modulo the R's standing for either "repair" or "recall."
Not that it's ever been used in this group AFAIK...
WTH


Why not WTF, too? ;-)


Because people who write that most often use "wtf?" (lowercase),
and aren't worth reading anyway. It's a statement of
lack-of-knowledge and obscenity in one. :-) I've never read
"WTH" before, and I'm not entirely sure it means what you
imply it means (but can't come up with anything better, and
looks like Acronym Finder agrees with you) except in longer
phrases such as "WTHDYTYA (TTMT___)?". ;-)
Missing from the list, although very frequently used: WRT.
And maybe even WLOG ("without loss of generality"), which might
pop up from time to time here or in related groups.
Missing from the list, although very frequently used in c.l.c
(and not covered by the FAQ, either): C89, C99, N869, C&V, DR,
TC, NA.
You skipped the obvious: UB.
And its less obvious and cutesier siblings IDB and USB.
If this discussion leads to any conclusion, the "approved" list, together
with expansions (and explanations, where necessary) should become part of
the weekly welcome to clc post. Otherwise, it was a mere exercise in
futility...


And your point is...? ;-)

-Arthur
Nov 13 '05 #35
In article <Pi***********************************@unix49.andr ew.cmu.edu>,
Arthur J. O'Dwyer <aj*@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:

On Mon, 8 Dec 2003, Dan Pop wrote:

Missing from the list, although very frequently used: WRT.


And maybe even WLOG ("without loss of generality"), which might
pop up from time to time here or in related groups.


Don't forget WMLOG ("without much loss of generality") and WTMLOG
("without too much loss of generality"). (While the terms are perhaps
not in live use, the concepts are quite familiar, f'rexample assuming
INT_MAX>CHAR_MAX. Assuming a hosted implementation probably falls into
this too.)
dave

--
Dave Vandervies dj******@csclub.uwaterloo.ca

You're implying that there's only one option. I can offer several:
--Peter Seebach in comp.lang.c
Nov 13 '05 #36
Dave Vandervies <dj******@csclub.uwaterloo.ca> scribbled the following:
In article <Pi***********************************@unix49.andr ew.cmu.edu>,
Arthur J. O'Dwyer <aj*@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:

On Mon, 8 Dec 2003, Dan Pop wrote:
Missing from the list, although very frequently used: WRT.
And maybe even WLOG ("without loss of generality"), which might
pop up from time to time here or in related groups.

Don't forget WMLOG ("without much loss of generality") and WTMLOG
("without too much loss of generality"). (While the terms are perhaps
not in live use, the concepts are quite familiar, f'rexample assuming
INT_MAX>CHAR_MAX. Assuming a hosted implementation probably falls into
this too.)


I noted that www.acronymfinder.com knows WYSIWYG (What You See Is What
You Get), WYSINWYG (What You See Is Not What You Get) and WYSIMOLWYG
(What You See Is More Or Less What You Get). But I didn't try to see if
it knows WYSCAWYG (What You See Certainly Ain't What You Get).

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"Keep shooting, sooner or later you're bound to hit something."
- Misfire
Nov 13 '05 #37
In article <Pi***********************************@unix49.andr ew.cmu.edu>,
aj*@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu says...
FUBAR


Huh? Its meaning is perfectly clear as far as I know,
modulo the R's standing for either "repair" or "recall."


I thought it was for "recognition". *shrug*
--
Randy Howard _o
2reply remove FOOBAR \<,
______________________()/ ()______________________________________________
SCO Spam-magnet: po********@sco.com
Nov 14 '05 #38
Mac
On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 17:03:35 +0000, Joona I Palaste wrote:
Mac <fo*@bar.net> scribbled the following:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 21:38:08 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?
I would not presume. Instead, I'll put an x next to the ones I personally
know (without context and without looking them up).


Here are some of the ones you don't know.
<VBG>
Very Big Grin
AIUI
As I Understand It
IMO
In My Opinion
IYSWIM
If You See What I Mean
LART
Luser Attitude Readjustment Tool
TTFN
Ta Ta For Now
WTH


What The H...?


Thanks, Joona.

I like LART, in particular...

I'm sure I have enountered it before in the jargon file, but not in the
wild (as far as I remember).

Mac

Nov 14 '05 #39
Mac
On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 20:28:19 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2003, Mac wrote:
IANAL x
Isn't this from Slashdot? I don't think this is a usenet acronym. We
probably shouldn't include it here.


From a Google Search: comp.lang.c regulars who use ``IANAL''
includes (inter alia) Daniel Fox, Arthur J. O'Dwyer, Dan Pop,
Bjorn Augestad, Steve (istartedi), Joona I Palaste, Chris Torek,
Richard Bos, Gergo Barany, Keith Thompson, CBFalconer, and
Christian Bau, in order of relevance.


Hmmm. I'm not willing to go back and look at the context, but it seems
possible that they all used the expression in a context where they felt
sure it would be understood, which is reasonable. I see IANAL used
frequently on Slashdot, but seldom elsewhere. I could be wrong. ;-)
ISP
As in internet service provider?


Yes.
LUSER is this an acronym?
It means ``Local User'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm).
NNTP


As in Network News Transfer Protocol? I guess it makes sense to include
this for a usenet group.


Yes.
PLONK is this an acronym?


It means ``Please Log Off, Net Kook'' (according to
http://www.utdallas.edu/ir/tcs/techsupp/acronyms.htm). But I
noticed that Eric Raymond's definition is different.
"CLC" is certainly acceptable. I occasionally see "YRC" or "YDRC" (in
response to "IIRC") and "YDKVF" in response to "AFAIK." I would also
include "GUI." I'm sure there are others, but this is a good start.


And "MMMV" in response to "YMMV". And "C&V". And "DP" for
Dan Pop, ad infinitum. Now I know why it is so difficult to
codify existing practices. :-)


Yeah. They are a hodge-podge of ad-hoc rules. I think the best thing to do
is to keep to a mimimum number of abbreviations and acronyms. Even so, it
is probably best to spell things out for newbies, unless they specifically
state that they are not new to usenet (as occasionally happens).

If anything like an approved list emerges, I agree with DP that it should
be in the welcome message. ;-)
Tak-Shing


Mac

Nov 14 '05 #40
Mac
On Mon, 08 Dec 2003 02:06:46 +0000, CBFalconer wrote:
Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003, August Derleth wrote:
> I also disagree: Usenet's abbreviations and acronyms are a kind
> of symbolism that we can be sure nearly everyone understands
> without regard to the person's first language.


Define ``nearly everyone''. ;-)


myself and at least one other person. That defines a clear
majority. :-)


I agree.

And in a pinch, the "other person" could be hypothetical. ;-)

Mac

Nov 14 '05 #41
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 21:38:08 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c? <snip>

Y2K

Is this year 2000 or year 2048 ?
Comments are welcome.


I can't believe I've read all of the posts so far and noone has commented
the lack of "K&R" and "K&R2"

Just don't propose "u" as an acronym for "you" or we'll have the snowball
rolling again.

Why should anyone codify acceptable acronyms. Document those that are in
common use today (eg in a FAQ) and that noone complains about.

--
NPV

"the large print giveth, and the small print taketh away"
Tom Waits - Step right up

Nov 14 '05 #42
[snips]

On Mon, 08 Dec 2003 19:44:51 -0800, Mac wrote:
I like LART, in particular...

I'm sure I have enountered it before in the jargon file, but not in the
wild (as far as I remember).


You can't have been around too long, then; the LART and its companion tool
the cluebat have been used fairly frequently around usenet. ;)
Nov 14 '05 #43
In <pa****************************@spam.for.me.invali d> Nils Petter Vaskinn <no@spam.for.me.invalid> writes:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 21:38:08 +0000, Tak-Shing Chan wrote:
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?<snip>

Y2K

Is this year 2000 or year 2048 ?


Years aren't memory bits/bytes/words, so there is no place for ambiguity.
Comments are welcome.


I can't believe I've read all of the posts so far and noone has commented
the lack of "K&R" and "K&R2"


Already documented in the FAQ, which is mandatory reading.
Why should anyone codify acceptable acronyms. Document those that are in
common use today (eg in a FAQ) and that noone complains about.


The point of the discussion, as I see it, is to determine which are those
thate are in common use today.

Dan
--
Dan Pop
DESY Zeuthen, RZ group
Email: Da*****@ifh.de
Nov 14 '05 #44
In <Pi***********************************@unix49.andr ew.cmu.edu> "Arthur J. O'Dwyer" <aj*@nospam.andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

On Mon, 8 Dec 2003, Dan Pop wrote:

Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> writes:
>
> How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c? > FUBAR Not only not needed, but there is no consensus about its meaning.


Huh? Its meaning is perfectly clear as far as I know,
modulo the R's standing for either "repair" or "recall."


A Google search for "fubar" would broaden your horizon.
Not that it's ever been used in this group AFAIK...
Which is why I said it's not needed.
> WTH


Why not WTF, too? ;-)


Because people who write that most often use "wtf?" (lowercase),
and aren't worth reading anyway. It's a statement of
lack-of-knowledge and obscenity in one. :-) I've never read
"WTH" before, and I'm not entirely sure it means what you
imply it means (but can't come up with anything better, and
looks like Acronym Finder agrees with you) except in longer
phrases such as "WTHDYTYA (TTMT___)?". ;-)


One of the reasons for such abbreviations is to avoid *explicit*
obscenity when one thinks obscenity is called for. Canonical example:
RTFM.
Missing from the list, although very frequently used: WRT.


And maybe even WLOG ("without loss of generality"), which might
pop up from time to time here or in related groups.


Can't remember ever seeing it. If we start throwing in everything we
think it might be useful, the list will become unmanageably large
(and, therefore, useless) instantly.
Missing from the list, although very frequently used in c.l.c
(and not covered by the FAQ, either): C89, C99, N869, C&V, DR,
TC, NA.


You skipped the obvious: UB.


Because it's NOT obvious: both undefined behaviour and unspecified
behaviour are equal candidates for this abbreviation, therefore neither is
the obvious meaning of the expression.
And its less obvious and cutesier siblings IDB and USB.


We did very well without them until now, thank you. Especially
considering that USB already has a very well defined meaning in
computing.

Dan
--
Dan Pop
DESY Zeuthen, RZ group
Email: Da*****@ifh.de
Nov 14 '05 #45
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> wrote in message news:<Pine.GSO.4.33.0312052110340.21076-100000@swindon>...
Dear c.l.c regulars,

How about codifying a list of acceptable acronyms on c.l.c?


One I use a lot, but didn't see in your list, is IME, or "in my
experience."

Luser and plonk (actually spelled "** plonk **") are not acronyms, and
I consider any such definition erroneous. Beware False Acronym
syndrome. It once struck a legal publication that claimed UNIX was an
acronym for "Unified Network Information eXchange" or some such
nonsense.
Nov 14 '05 #46
Tak-Shing Chan <es***@city.ac.uk> wrote in message news:<Pine.GSO.4.33.0312052110340.21076-100000@swindon>...

<snip>

In a similar vein to RTFM is STFW. Surprised I haven't seen it here before.
Nov 14 '05 #47
Slartibartfast <ag******@globalnet.co.uk> spoke thus:
In a similar vein to RTFM is STFW. Surprised I haven't seen it here before.


Well, there's always the ever-popular STFU ;) What the heck is STFW
anyway?

--
Christopher Benson-Manica | I *should* know what I'm talking about - if I
ataru(at)cyberspace.org | don't, I need to know. Flames welcome.
Nov 14 '05 #48
Christopher Benson-Manica <at***@nospam.cyberspace.org> scribbled the following:
Slartibartfast <ag******@globalnet.co.uk> spoke thus:
In a similar vein to RTFM is STFW. Surprised I haven't seen it here before.
Well, there's always the ever-popular STFU ;) What the heck is STFW
anyway?


Search The Friendly Web.

--
/-- Joona Palaste (pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi) ------------- Finland --------\
\-- http://www.helsinki.fi/~palaste --------------------- rules! --------/
"Life without ostriches is like coffee with milk."
- Mika P. Nieminen
Nov 14 '05 #49
Joona I Palaste <pa*****@cc.helsinki.fi> spoke thus:
Well, there's always the ever-popular STFU ;) What the heck is STFW
anyway?
Search The Friendly Web.


Is that really what it means, or is it a skillful situational
improvisation? In either case, thanks...

--
Christopher Benson-Manica | I *should* know what I'm talking about - if I
ataru(at)cyberspace.org | don't, I need to know. Flames welcome.
Nov 14 '05 #50

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