I learned a new word this week thanks to one of my favorite newsletters, Numlock News:
Backronym
Definition: An acronym deliberately formed from a phrase whose initial letters spell out a particular word or words to create a memorable name
In other words, you name the thing to create the memorable backronym instead of the other way around.
Examples include:
- SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
- MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
- CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act)
- Daylight All Year Leads to Ideal Gains in Happiness and Temperament Act (DAYLIGHT Act)
- Zeroing Out Money for Buying Influence after Elections Act (ZOMBIE Act)
- Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT Act)
Backronyms even appear in fiction. In the children’s show Spongebob Squarepants, the antagonist Plankton is married to Karen, who is his computer W.I.F.E. or “Wired Integrated Female Electroencephalograph.”
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is short for “Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division”.
I knew that legislation like the Patriot and Daylight Acts were named this way, but I had always thought that SAD and MADD were just lucky acronyms and not purposefully named to create a backronym.
With this in mind, I thought it would be amusing to create a backronym of my own name. I decided to create them in accordance with my various professions.
It didn’t take long. You should try it, too.
Teacher:
Monumental Agitator Tormenting Troublesome Humans Every Workday
Storytelling consultant:
Maniacally Attracted To Talented Humans Expounding Wildly
Author:
Methodically, Asiduously Typing Tales Hopefully Earning Wages
Storyteller:
Monomaniacally, Artfully Telling Tales, Humorously Extracting Wisdom
