As it is one of my grammatical pet peeves, I thought I’d give a random grammar tip. This tip comes, in part, from Paul Brians' Common Errors in English Usage site, one of my favorites.
Abbreviations vs Acronyms vs Initialisms
An abbreviation is any shortened form of a word or phrase. Two of the most common types of abbreviations are acronyms and initialisms.
Acronyms are words formed from the initial parts of a name.
Example: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), SCUBA (self-contained, underwater, breathing apparatus), NOW (National Organization of Women).
Initialisms, however, are a group of initial letters used as an abbreviation for a name or expression, each letter being pronounced separately.
Example: APA (American Psychological Association), MLB (Major League Baseball), SSW (School of Social Work).
What's the basic rule? Acronyms form words; initialisms do not.
Due to consistent incorrect usage, in some circles acronyms and initialisms are considered synonymous - but now you know there's a difference!
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