For some reason, I'm focusing on abbreviations in which there is a spelling alteration from the original word fragment. I'm not talking about things like television = TV, but more like refrigerator = fridge with the added d. I'm talking about abbreviated words where the pronunciation is simply a slice off of the original word, but with a spelling alteration from the original word fragment. For that reason, I also exclude bike = bicycle.
The ones I've noted are:
fridge = refrigerator (or Frigidaire, depending on your source)
dub = double (audio)
mike = microphone (audio)
trank = tranquilizer
UK
pram = perambulator
telly = television
Do you have any other examples, maybe in some specialized region or area of expertise?
The first I thought of was nuke for nuclear.
I would like to point out that the preferred spelling for people who work in audio is "mic." After I was corrected years ago, I thought it was the only spelling but after checking I found that both are acceptable. This really doesn't change your question since "mike" is probably more commonly used.
Dick said:
The first I thought of was nuke for nuclear.
I would like to point out that the preferred spelling for people who work in audio is "mic." After I was corrected years ago, I thought it was the only spelling but after checking I found that both are acceptable. This really doesn't change your question since "mike" is probably more commonly used.
I've never worked in the industry, but I use mic, and thought I was the only one who did. I also stand in the minority by using synch instead of sync. I have no idea why these spelling alterations are jarring to me.
I would never use doub for dub. I have little call for the word trank (or tranq). But I would probably opt for tranq in an fit of orthographic solipsism.
Glenn: Same with me … I prefer synch over sync, but spell check is OK with either. To the list that started this thread, I'd add fave for favorites, and fab for fabulous. I'm sure there's tons more.
Natch! (Aaaarghhh!)