UKC

when writing an acronym, for example, RSPCA, do you write it

RSPCA

or

R.S.P.C.A

also, if the latter, does a 'dot' go at the end after the A or not?

In reply to Hjonesy:

Depends gow much space you need to fill. AFAIK.

In reply to Hjonesy: the former...RSPCA

In reply to Ian Hill:

not that I doubt your infinite wisdom Mr. Hill... but.... is that definitely the case?

Going to present to a company later today and don't want to get it wrong!

In reply to Hjonesy: You would normally do the former, unless you were being particularly anal.

In reply to Hjonesy: here ya go sweetcheeks

According to The Business Writer's Handbook, "An acronym is an abbreviation that is formed by combining the first letter or letters of several words. Acronyms are pronounced as words and are written without periods.
EXAMPLES: radio detecting and ranging/radar Common Business-Oriented Language/ COBOL self-contained underwater breathing apparatus/ scuba
An initialism is an abbreviation that is formed by combining the initial letter of each word in a multiword term. Initialisms are pronounced as separate letters.
EXAMPLES: end of month/ e.o.m. cash on delivery/ c.o.d. post meridian/ p.m.
Usage guidelines:
The following are sample guidelines to apply in deciding whether to use acronyms and initialisms:

--If you must use a multiword term as much as once each paragraph, you should instead use its acronym or initialism. For example, a phrase such as "primary software overlay area" can become tiresome if repeated again and again in one piece of writing; it would be better, therefore, to use PSOA.

--If something is better known by its acronym or initialism than by its formal term, you should use the abbreviated form. The initialism a.m., for example, is much more common than the formal ante meridiem. If these conditions do not exist, however, always spell out the full term.

--The first time an acronym or initialism appears in a written work, write the complete term, followed by the abbreviated form in parentheses.

EXAMPLE: "The Capital Appropriations Request (CAR) controls the spending of money." Thereafter, you may use the acronym or initialism alone. In a long document, however, you will help the reader greatly by repeating the full term in parentheses at regular intervals so that he or she does not have to search back to the first time the acronym or initialism was used to find its meaning.
EXAMPLE: "Remember that the CAR ( Capital Appropriations Request ) controls the spending of money."
Write acronyms in capital letters without periods. The only exceptions are those acronyms that have become accepted as common nouns, which are written in lowercase letters.
EXAMPLE: "NASA," "HUD," "laser," "scuba." Initialisms may be written either uppercase or lowercase. Generally, do not use periods when they are uppercase, but use periods when they are lowercase. Two exceptions are geographic names and academic degrees.
EXAMPLES: EDP/e.d.p., EOM/e.o.m., OD/ o.d." (14-17).

In reply to Hjonesy: In what way is "RSPCA" an acronym? Do you mean "abbreviation"?

To answer the question, it is subjective when it comes to abbreviations. RSPCA and NSPCC and NHS are well known so it's acceptable not to use the dots. More esoteric ones may be better off with dots.

In reply to Hjonesy: Definitely no full stops in acronyms. Very few even use them after Mr these days. And remember, no apostrophes unless it's possessive.

In reply to Smitz:

Perfect. Thank you.

Wish me luck........(now I'll just say something daft like 'thanks, love you, bye' at the end of the meeting instead!)

In reply to Kenny:


errrr.no..

ac·ro·nym ( P ) Pronunciation Key (kr-nm)
n.
A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.

In reply to Kenny: Nah, she's correct. It is an acronim. That fact that most acronims are also abbreviations is just one of the wonders of the eenliusch landgwedge.

In reply to Hjonesy:

Is it OK for me to come out now?

<peeks from under desk>

Acro

In reply to Acrophobic:

GBUTN!

(Get Back Under There Now!)

In reply to Hjonesy:

Hah - can't scare me - that was only an initialism!!

Acro

In reply to Acrophobic:

Rats! come on out then....no more, I promise.......boo-ha-ha-haaaaa

In reply to Hjonesy:
A word formed from the initial letters of a name, such as WAC for Women's Army Corps, or by combining initial letters or parts of a series of words, such as radar for radio detecting and ranging.

RSPCA is not a word, and hence is not an acronym.

"WAC" and "radar" are. You have to be able to say an acronym that is the difference.

Common and well documented misunderstanding generally only picked up on by pedants.

In reply to alanw:

You shouldn't strictly use them after Mr anyway, as (like apostrophes) they signify missing letters and as the 'r' is the last letter of "Mister" there are no mising letters after it.

By the same token, if it were R.S.P.C.A. there certainly should be a dot after the A, but given that their own website refers to them as the RSPCA I wouldn't bother with the full stops.