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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Words, not acronyms.

38 replies

MissAW · 20/12/2025 22:58

Am I being unreasonable to expect people to write actual words rather than acronyms? I honestly read some posts that are so littered with acronyms that I can't understand what point is being made. Use your words, people.

OP posts:
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puffyeyewink · 21/12/2025 18:32

MorrisonsPlatter · 21/12/2025 16:24

PIN number is the classic example of RAS syndrome - redundant acronym syndrome syndrome.
Like saying ATM machine.
MOT test on the other hand is correct.
HTH.

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Yes I did think that as I typed PIN number 😆

MorrisonsPlatter · 21/12/2025 16:24

puffyeyewink · 21/12/2025 00:06

TBF acronyms are when the first letters are used but then pronounced as a word. For example FOMO (Fear of Misding Out) people say FoMo not F.O.M.O, or PIN (Personal Identification Number) people say PIN number.

whereas RSPCA, you say each individual letter, so that’s not an acronym. I’d say DH is the same. They are initialisms.

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PIN number is the classic example of RAS syndrome - redundant acronym syndrome syndrome.
Like saying ATM machine.
MOT test on the other hand is correct.
HTH.

Okiedokie123 · 21/12/2025 16:15

MissAW · 20/12/2025 23:06

My post-menopausal memory has more important fish to fry.

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So MN isnt the place for you. Why do you imagine we are all going to stop using shorthand just to suit you because you cant be bothered to learn the lingo.
YABVU HTH. And if you are this sort of lazy in other ways in your life you might even be a CF!

ObliviousCoalmine · 21/12/2025 00:35

RecordBreakers · 21/12/2025 00:19

Do you object to initialisms and shortenings everywhere? Or only on Mumsnet ?

BBC ?
NHS ?
MOT ?
GP?
Dr ?
etc ?
Mr ?
UK ?

If it was “my dear GP” as “went to my DGP today about my bad back”, then yes. I would. Thankfully it isn’t.

RecordBreakers · 21/12/2025 00:19

Do you object to initialisms and shortenings everywhere? Or only on Mumsnet ?

BBC ?
NHS ?
MOT ?
GP?
Dr ?
etc ?
Mr ?
UK ?

ObliviousCoalmine · 21/12/2025 00:13

YippeeKayayeMF · 20/12/2025 23:05

Do you not read DH as dhhhhuh? Or DSIL as deesill?

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No that is insane?

ObliviousCoalmine · 21/12/2025 00:12

If anyone called their husband a “Dee aitch” out loud in real life, I dread to think how quickly I’d have to run away.

Mistyglade · 21/12/2025 00:11

YippeeKayayeMF · 20/12/2025 23:05

Do you not read DH as dhhhhuh? Or DSIL as deesill?

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No.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 21/12/2025 00:06

OchonAgusOchonOh · 20/12/2025 23:56

They are acronyms. An acronym uses the first letter of each word so AIBU from am I being unreasonable. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word e.g. Ltd. from Limited.

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Turns out I'm wrong. I googled. Acronyms are a form of abbreviation. And most of the ones on here are, as a pp said, initialisms, not acronyms.

puffyeyewink · 21/12/2025 00:06

OchonAgusOchonOh · 20/12/2025 23:56

They are acronyms. An acronym uses the first letter of each word so AIBU from am I being unreasonable. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word e.g. Ltd. from Limited.

Show quote history

TBF acronyms are when the first letters are used but then pronounced as a word. For example FOMO (Fear of Misding Out) people say FoMo not F.O.M.O, or PIN (Personal Identification Number) people say PIN number.

whereas RSPCA, you say each individual letter, so that’s not an acronym. I’d say DH is the same. They are initialisms.

Original poster
MissAW · 21/12/2025 00:04

Touché!

Or is that too French?

OP posts:
Dontlletmedownbruce · 21/12/2025 00:02

MissAW · 20/12/2025 23:06

My post-menopausal memory has more important fish to fry.

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Why are you frying fish? What's this thread got to do with cooking? Can't you just say what you want to say? Use your words comprehensively

malmi · 21/12/2025 00:02

They are mostly not acronyms, or abbreviations, but initialisms. Although I do pronounce AIBU as eye-boo.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 20/12/2025 23:56

EyeLevelStick · 20/12/2025 23:03

None of the examples given here are acronyms though. They are abbreviations.

Yes I know Pedants’ Corner is over there >>

They are acronyms. An acronym uses the first letter of each word so AIBU from am I being unreasonable. An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word e.g. Ltd. from Limited.

puffyeyewink · 20/12/2025 23:52

Aww no I love a MN abbreviation! I get annoyed when people come on using OH instead of DH or DW! You know you’ve been on MN too long when IRL you refer to you DH as ‘my Dee Aitch’ as if it’s a normal thing to refer to a spouse… I have done it more than once 😆😆
also use CF and LTB too!
so, YABU!

KabukiNoh · 20/12/2025 23:44

Presumably you are new here. It’s rude to join a new community (of millions) and tell them how they should be doing things. I’m sure you’ll pick it up, or drift elsewhere.

LighthouseLED · 20/12/2025 23:43

We should probably bring back YABOS - never seen that in the wild!

LighthouseLED · 20/12/2025 23:42

This may help, although it is not a complete list

https://www.mumsnet.com/i/acronyms

Original poster
MissAW · 20/12/2025 23:38

EuroTour · 20/12/2025 23:24

You need this one 😉

FOTTFSOF(AWYGTFOSM)

HTH

I think the first two words are obvious. I'm not 100 per cent sure about the rest though.

Fuck off, twenty teenagers feel sort of feisty (any way you get to fuck off some more)

OP posts:
Abitofalark · 20/12/2025 23:28

It's okay if you know them and I don't mind those that become familiar on here such as MN for mumsnet and OP for opening post or original poster or common one such as BBC or NHS but when you come across people writing obscure ones such as FWR, or something like CPD (or it could be DPC or PCD for all I know) for a health condition which I could never work out, it's infuriating and I wonder why they don't use words. And I hate the pretentious D for Darling husband ones even though I know what they mean

EuroTour · 20/12/2025 23:24

You need this one 😉

FOTTFSOF(AWYGTFOSM)

HTH

Original poster
MissAW · 20/12/2025 23:19

ilovesooty · 20/12/2025 23:12

Well don't complain if you don't understand them then. And what has your menopause got to do with it?

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I'm going to try a little acronym (or abbreviation) especially for you.
FOAGASOH.
You're welcome.

OP posts:
twomorecats · 20/12/2025 23:18

I find stuff like DNIECE and DDOG funny. Why not just say niece or dog?!

Needmorelego · 20/12/2025 23:16

I find it all so unbelievably naff with the "D" thing.
"Dear/Darling" husband, daughter, son whatever...it's just cringe.😂

Original poster
MissAW · 20/12/2025 23:14

Gottagetfitin26 · 20/12/2025 23:04

IKR, you are DNBU. I CBA with all these CFs using acronyms. I would just LTB MN and take DH and DC with you.

Thanks for that response. Ot that I understand a sodding word of it.

OP posts: