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Initialism

/ɪˈnɪʃəlɪzəm/noun
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An initialism is an abbreviation formed from the first letters of a phrase, where each letter is pronounced individually rather than as a single word, like FBI or NASA. This distinguishes it from acronyms, which are spoken as words, and it's increasingly common in digital communication to save space and time while maintaining clarity.

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The initialism 'FAQ' (Frequently Asked Questions) is one of the most widely used online, appearing on over 80% of websites according to web analytics, yet the term 'initialism' itself wasn't standardized until the mid-20th century, highlighting how language adapts to technological changes.

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Oxford English DictionaryMerriam-Webster DictionaryEtymonline

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