Pimp my English | Modifying abbreviations

By Anna Malczyk

In a previous lesson, you learned about several types of abbreviations – acronyms, truncations, initialisms and so on. This time, let’s have a look at modifying them.
Why modify?

Some abbreviations will never be modified: there will never be a plural for “USA” or a past tense form of “UCT”. Other abbreviations are used so often or in such specific contexts that they can be modified. A “TV” can be plural, for example.

Plural
To make an abbreviation plural, simply add a lowercase “s” to the end of it. Do not use an apostrophe – “ ’s ” indicates possession, not plural.
•    We rented three DVDs for the movie evening.

Present tense verb
Some abbreviations can become verbs. In the present tense, either use the infinitive form or the ongoing form, “[verb]ing”. In both cases, do not use any apostrophes.
•    Please IM me the details of the student.
•    I’m PDFing the notes again.

Past tense verb
The past tense works just like the present, except that you add “ed” to the end of the abbreviation. Again, don’t use apostrophes.
•    We SMSed the students this morning.
•    Have you RICAed your cellphone?

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