(The) Coronavirus

Which would you usually say?


  • Total voters
    12
E

Etaoin Shrdlu

Guest

There are many forms of abbreviations, which – as the Latin derivation of the word shows – means that they are shortened forms of a word or words. Most abbreviations are of single words, so they usually need to be longer than the first letter of the word fin the interest of perspicuity: e.g. 'Prof.' for 'professor or 'Dr' for 'doctor'. However, there are single-letter abbreviations of single words: the single letter p can mean 'page', since the context where it is found makes it obvious what it refers to. Similarly, the French abbreviation for 'Monsieur' is the single capital.

An acronym – as the Greek derivation of the word shows – is a shortened form of a group of words using their initial letters. Strictly speaking there is no requirement for this to be a pronounceable word, but many do restrict the word to this kind of abbreviation, because it allows for an easy way of distinguishing shortenings like 'FBI' or 'TMI', which no one would, or even could, pronounce as single words, and 'NATO' where nobody says 'Enn Ay Tee Oh'.
 
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E

Etaoin Shrdlu

Guest

I'm in the above restrictive camp, by the way. And there are other rules, or rather conventions, about the usage of full stops, and whether all capitals are employed, but they are extremely elaborate, and life's too short, at least at the moment.
 

Hawkwood

.

  • Civis

There are many forms of abbreviations, which – as the Latin derivation of the word shows – means that they are shortened forms of a word or words. Most abbreviations are of single words, so they usually need to be longer than the first letter of the word fin the interest of perspicuity: e.g. 'Prof.' for 'professor or 'Dr' for 'doctor'. However, there are single-letter abbreviations of single words: the single letter p can mean 'page', since the context where it is found makes it obvious what it refers to. Similarly, the French abbreviation for 'Monsieur' is the single capital.

An acronym – as the Greek derivation of the word shows – is a shortened form of a group of words using their initial letters. Strictly speaking there is no requirement for this to be a pronounceable word, but many do restrict the word to this kind of abbreviation, because it allows for an easy way of distinguishing shortenings like 'FBI' or 'TMI', which no one would, or even could, pronounce as single words, and 'NATO' where nobody says 'Enn Ay Tee Oh'.
Yes, I think I get this now after looking online as well.

Regarding the thread vote, I'm going to gingerly revert back to my original vote of without the definitive article as I keep looking at the example statement and know I would not instictively use one there. I won't change again though.

Edit: 'as well' pertaining to me, as in reading your post as well as online
 
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meisenimverbis

Civis Illustris

  • Civis Illustris

Location:
Rio de Janeiro
In Portuguese we always use the article.
 

Issacus Divus

H₃rḗǵs h₁n̥dʰéri diwsú

  • Civis Illustris

Location:
Gæmleflodland
Straightforward.
 
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