Did You Know: Armpits

I hate them. I can't stand them. I think they are gross. Even MY armpits. I can't look at them, and I don't like people looking at mine. Eww...

C'mon.... you know they are awkward.

Diane Lane & Jon Bon Jovi, 1985

{Did You Know: Hippo milk is pink…}

Did you knowin every episode of Seinfeld there is a reference to Superman

Did you knowthe fortune cookie was invented in San Francisco       (I have San Francisco on the brain)Did you knowgiraffes and rats can last longer without water than camelsDid you knowif you try to say the alphabet without moving your lips or tongue every letter will sound the same         (Go ahead, try it…)Did you knowornithophobia is the fear of birds

 

(For you Melinda) 

Now You Know

℅ Did You Know

Did You Know: Random Grammar Tip

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!