Comments on Word-wise: Say it briefly: Abbreviations

Thanks for your comments, Jerry and Ben! @Jerry: ...

2011-07-11T10:10:17.946-04:00

Thanks for your comments, Jerry and Ben!

@Jerry: Great question! E'en is yet another variety of abbreviation, an elision--that is, the v has been elided (omitted or unpronounced) out of the word.

Ere is not an abbreviation at all but simply an alternate word--in this case, a synonym that's somewhat archaic. Of course that answer assumes you meant the ere defined as "before." There may be some other ere I'm not familiar with that is indeed an abbreviation.

@Ben: All of your answers made me LOL! (I cringe a little at that particular shorthand, but I have to admit it's perfectly appropriate for a post about abbreviations.)

I imagine you can make short work of quite a few "begats" with one well-placed KTL, no? Old Testament, abridged.

Your AOG example is a perfect example of the danger of overabbreviating. But funny just the same!

Worst abbreviation ever: I was doing an internshi...

2011-07-01T23:10:31.105-04:00

Worst abbreviation ever: I was doing an internship with a pastor who had a wedding rehearsal at the Assembly of God church. So in his planner he had written "Ass of God." We laughed for weeks!

Some of my favs... Ya'll (or, alternatively, y...

2011-07-01T23:08:19.798-04:00

Some of my favs...
Ya'll (or, alternatively, y'all)
KTL (from Greek class, and used by other Bible nerds -- stands for Kai Tois Loipas "and the others;" used similarly to 'etc.')
WTF, and the slightly less offensive, WTH. As a total aside, I heard one father explain WTF to his child as 'well that's funny.' :)
When I'm citing things, I enjoy ibid and et al. ('from the same book,' and 'and others.'

Interesting! Is there a name for poetic abbreviat...

2011-06-26T11:23:16.178-04:00

Interesting!

Is there a name for poetic abbreviations? For example the great crossword favorites such as EEN or ERE.