The use of abbreviations

[Nozzer]

So, a bit of a rant here

It has become apparent that certain members have a very annoying habit of only using abbreviations in their posts. For example and one that I spotted today is "BCOF". Obvious if you know what it stands for, but not everyone has an understanding of such things. The correct grammar is to use the full title when first typed, adding the abbreviation in brackets after. You can then use the abbreviation in further posts secure in the knowledge that even the newest collector knows what you are going on about.

So, please stop being so lazy

[Roy]

Well said that man.

Cheers,

Roy

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Originally Posted by Nozzer

So, a bit of a rant here

It has become apparent that certain members have a very annoying habit of only using abbreviations in their posts. For example and one that I spotted today is "BCOF". Obvious if you know what it stands for, but not everyone has an understanding of such things. The correct grammar is to use the full title when first typed, adding the abbreviation in brackets after. You can then use the abbreviation in further posts secure in the knowledge that even the newest collector knows what you are going on about.

So, please stop being so lazy

Lol. Rofl lmao but imo you're probably right when it comes to collecting. HAND.

[Rob Miller]

I completely agree (although I'm not quite so angry), it makes subjects searchable and hopefully will prevent the same questions being asked in endless repeated threads.

Rob

[Drummajor]

British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, I got, but I'm Just S**t Stiring.
Phil.

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by Drummajor

British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, I got, but I'm Just S**t Stiring.
Phil.

But what about when a patch just has an abbreviation on it? ie BCOF Base

Mick

[engr9266]

QAIMNSR-RA(TF)-KOSB-WAAC

I wonder what unit this is ???..…………………... opps

SORRY, I could not resist.
Jerry

[Wmr-RHB]

It is nice to make all sorts of jokes about this, but I am with Nozzer.

Specially the comment of Rob Miller about the searchability of the forums should be taken into account. If forums members want their (and other ones) posts be available to any reasonable search action done (either using the search function on the forums or using outside search engines like Google), they should take care to have keywords, that others probably will use in their search, in their posts. That includes full text designations as well as "official" and often used abbreviations.

How do you think a search engine has to interpret the endless combinations of ASH, A&SH, Argylls, ...........

It is the same for image captions and a, asked for, image database. When the correct unit designations are not in there, it will become more or less useless after more then a 100 of images are entered. Dates e.g. should also be in a strict format. What happened on 10-2-18?
Many readers will interpret this different, or at least understand that it is ambiguous and thus have extend their research for the correct date.

In the other hand, when people are not interested in making a searchable forum to help others in the future and are not willing to put some extra effort in it while posting for that, I assume that is fine. Everybody has his/her own joy in the forum in the way (s)he handles it. Can I interpret the jokes above as saying that Nozzer may have a point, but that they are not supporting him?

[Cribyn]

I agree 100% with Nozzer.

It always used to be standard practice to spell out a term/expression in full in the first instance and then abbreviate to initials after that.

I was recently confused by the use of 'HSAT', not a term I had come across before. It would have been better, I feel, to have stated 'Helmet Steel Airborne Troops (HSAT)' and then use HSAT afterwards. Then we would all know.

Roger

[Eddie Parks]

Absolutely agree, I would also ask people to think a bit about their thread titles. "Badge for iD" will rouse no curiosity in me but "Arabic Badge for ID" will get a response as soon as I see it. I don't open every post, only those that I think might interest me and I am sure the same goes for others.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

I basically agree with Nozzer but let me give you some examples of abbreviations in what I collected which was primarily Rhodesian.

Rhodesian Light Infantry was referred to most of the time as RLI. The Selous Scouts to my knowledge was never referred to as the SS probably for obviously reasons.

In the old days Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) would be written like this but today even Google can be searched with abbreviations because I do it quite often. I use the spying search engine Google as an example here as it's the biggest.

Special Air Service in Rhodesia was referred to as SAS and as a collector when I abbreviated it I wrote RhSAS.

As a collector of Rhodesian PJI items I also quite often write RhPJI.

Originally Posted by Eddie Parks

Absolutely agree, I would also ask people to think a bit about their thread titles. "Badge for iD" will rouse no curiosity in me but "Arabic Badge for ID" will get a response as soon as I see it. I don't open every post, only those that I think might interest me and I am sure the same goes for others.

As this is a collecting forum I agree unless the person has absolutely no idea what country or region the badge, parachute wing etc came/comes from.

Originally Posted by Cribyn

I was recently confused by the use of 'HSAT', not a term I had come across before. It would have been better, I feel, to have stated 'Helmet Steel Airborne Troops (HSAT)' and then use HSAT afterwards. Then we would all know.

Roger

No argument there.

Originally Posted by Wmr-RHB

Can I interpret the jokes above as saying that Nozzer may have a point, but that they are not supporting him?

No that's a wrong interpretation of my first post. HAVE (have a nice day).

[Nozzer]

Thanks to all who have contributed, all food for thought.

Personally I like to read most new posts, even ones about subjects that are out of my collecting sphere. After all knowledge is strength. It can be somewhat frustrating when reading posts and these abbreviations crop up and the meaning is not obvious. Also and a fact that I did not mention, but others have, certain threads become unsearchable simply because every post including the title only has "RND" or "MGC" for example in their content. Most if not all are guilty of this myself included, but a little more care would benefit the forum immensely.

[jeep]

Dates e.g. should also be in a strict format. What happened on 10-2-18?
Many readers will interpret this different, or at least understand that it is ambiguous and thus have extend their research for the correct date.

Interesting thread. I too get confused by the use of some abbreviations. I have always tried to follow the military convention of writing the full wording followed by an abbreviation in brackets, although it does become tedious with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers!
Regarding dates. I used to work for a Belgian company, but based in UK. Our Belgian colleagues spoke excellent English but many had learnt it the US way. This resulted in a major missed deadline because of a date being written the US way, e.g. todays date being 01-22-19). The chairman went ballistic and decreed that all dates, worldwide, from then on would be written 22 Jan 19.
P.S. What did happen on 10 Feb 18 or is that 02 Oct 18?

[Wmr-RHB]

Originally Posted by jeep

P.S. What did happen on 10 Feb 18 or is that 02 Oct 18?

Hm, I thought it was 18 Feb 1910.

First and foremost, the year must always written in four (4) characters. Most people have already forgotten about the Y2K problem (or they never fully understood it). Typical human: never learn anything from the past.

[Lancer 17]

Originally Posted by rhodesianmilitaria

Lol. Rofl lmao but imo you're probably right when it comes to collecting. HAND.

So what's a PJI Brevet ??


He he he !!

My thoughts entirely.

Regards Phil.