N0x0nJan 28

Why do people pronounce ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) like it's a word?

https://lemmy.ml/post/42320553

Why do people pronounce ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) like it's a word? - Lemmy

Is there some hidden pronounciation rule I’m not aware of? And why do we say F.B.I and not FBI or U.S.B and not USB ? I know it seems a really silly question seeing the actual situation with the ICE eveywhere on the news… But this really bothers me on why people yell ICE when it’s actually the I.C.E :/.

Show threadApepollo11Jan 28

NASA, NATO, Radar, Sonar, Laser, Scuba, AIDS, PIN, SWAT, YOLO, CAD

The rule genuinely is “if it can be said as a word, it might be said as a word”.

They’re called acronyms.

BBC, TV, USSR etc. can’t easily be said as a word - these are just initialisations.

Show threadbold_omiMar 22
The word you are looking for is not “initialisation,” but “initialism.”
Show threadApepollo11

Good catch! You are 100% correct.

I’ll update the message, but strikethrough the original so this still makes sense.

Mar 22 at 4:27pmWeb
Show threadbold_omiMar 22
Thanks! I’m glad I could help.