I must agree about ambiguity of abbreviations. Consider the nuclear industry (Health Physics) acronym “ALARA,” which I have seen interpreted as “As Low As Reasonably Achievable” and “As Low As Readily Achievable.” To me, there is a difference: “achievement” may be difficult but extremely worthwhile. In this case, the difference could have serious consequences.
Ben
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Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L]
Abbreviations
I think it is risky. There are to many definitions of the same abbreviation or acronym out there. When I teach my class on regulations, I tell them that LEPC means Local Emergency Planning Committee, but when I was in industry, it meant that or Local Employee Participation Committee, depending on to whom I was talking.
Dr. Bill
To Everyone,
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Ellen A Scott" <mas35**At_Symbol_Here**CASE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 2:30:01 PM GMT -07:00 US/Canada
Mountain
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Abbreviations
What is your opinion of allowing laboratories to use abbreviations and short hand as long as a key to those abbreviations is kept in a conspicuous location and is clearly identified?
Thoughts? and Thanks
Mary Ellen