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<h4 class="subsection">9.1.14 <code>@acronym</code>{<var>acronym</var>[, <var>meaning</var>]}</h4>

<p><a name="index-acronym-436"></a>
<a name="index-NASA_002c-as-acronym-437"></a><a name="index-Acronyms_002c-tagging-438"></a>Use the <code>@acronym</code> command for abbreviations written in all
capital letters, such as `<acronym>NASA</acronym>'.  The abbreviation is given as
the single argument in braces, as in &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">@acronym{NASA}</span></samp>&rsquo;.  As
a matter of style, or for particular acronyms, you may prefer to
use periods, as in &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">@acronym{N.A.S.A.}</span></samp>&rsquo;.

  <p><code>@acronym</code> accepts an optional second argument, intended to be
used for the meaning of the acronym.

  <p>If the acronym is at the end of a sentence, and if there is no second
argument, remember to use the <code>@.</code> or similar command
(see <a href="Ending-a-Sentence.html#Ending-a-Sentence">Ending a Sentence</a>) to get the correct spacing.

  <p><a name="index-g_t_003cacronym_003e-tag-439"></a>In TeX, the acronym is printed in slightly smaller font.  In the
Info output, the argument is printed as-is.  In either format, if the
second argument is present, it is printed in parentheses after the
acronym.  In HTML, Docbook, and XML, the <code>&lt;acronym&gt;</code> tag is
used.

  <p>For instance (since GNU is a recursive acronym, we use
<code>@acronym</code> recursively):

<pre class="example">     @acronym{GNU, @acronym{GNU}'s Not Unix}
</pre>
  <p class="noindent">produces:

<pre class="display">     <acronym title="GNU's Not Unix">GNU</acronym> (@acronym{GNU}'s Not Unix)
</pre>
  <p><a name="index-Family-names_002c-in-all-capitals-440"></a>In some circumstances, it is conventional to print family names in all
capitals.  Don't use <code>@acronym</code> for this, since a name is not an
acronym.  Use <code>@sc</code> instead (see <a href="Smallcaps.html#Smallcaps">Smallcaps</a>).

  <p><code>@abbr</code> and <code>@acronym</code> are closely related commands: they
both signal to the reader that a shortened form is being used, and
possibly give a meaning.  When choosing whether to use these two
commands, please bear the following in mind.

     <ul>
<li>In standard English usage, acronyms are a subset of abbreviations:
they include pronounceable words like `<acronym>NATO</acronym>', `radar', and
`snafu', and some sources also include syllable acronyms like
`Usenet', hybrids like `<acronym>SIGGRAPH</acronym>', and unpronounceable
initialisms like `<acronym>FBI</acronym>'.

     <li>In Texinfo, an acronym (but not an abbreviation) should consist only
of capital letters and periods, no lowercase.

     <li>In TeX, an acronym (but not an abbreviation) is printed in a
slightly smaller font.

     <li>Some browsers place a dotted bottom border under abbreviations but not
acronyms.

     <li>It's not essential to use either of these commands for all
abbreviations; use your judgment.  Text is perfectly readable without
them.

  </ul>

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