A name becomes an acronym. And after a while, no one remembers the original. Try these out. Then see how you did. LSMFT!*

• 3M

• AFLAC

• ALS

• AT&T

• BMW

• CBS

• COVID

• EPCOT

• ESPN

• FIFA

• GEICO

• GIF

• NABISCO

• NATO

• NCIS

• QANTAS

• SCUBA

• URL

• WD-40

• ZIP

• 3M Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing

• AFLAC American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus

• ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• AT&T American Telephone & Telegraph

• BMW Bavarian Motor Works (Bayerische Motoren Werke)

• CBS Columbia Broadcasting System

• COVID Coronavirus disease

• EPCOT Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

• ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network

• FIFA Fédération Internationale de Football Association

• GEICO Government Employees Insurance Company

• GIF Graphics Interchange Format

• NABISCO National Biscuit Company

• NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service

• QANTAS Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd.

• SCUBA Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

• URL Uniform Resource Locator

• WD-40 Water Displacement 40th formula

• ZIP Zone improvement plan

*Lucky Strike means fine tobacco!

Watch this on video: https://youtu.be/JOHeh2FbItA?si=xl09xdeXPx58aZnm

Next time: We’re not here to create disorder. We’re here to preserve disorder.

Vox Populi: In our July 13, 2021, column, we commented about English not having a non-gender pronoun (he or she). And we said they or them doesn’t work because it’s a plural. But as society has become more open and considerate about non-binary people, they/them is becoming the go-to. In the mid-1980s, to deal with a related dilemma, folks adopted Ms. So we need to create a word to replace the inaccurate they/them. Readers: You’re on the clock!

Readers: "Something Went Horribly Wrong" features samples of bad writing we see nearly every day. You can participate! Be our duly deputized “grammar police.” Your motto: “To protect and correct.” Send in your photos of store signs, street signs, menus, TV news graphics, newspaper headlines, tweets, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a grammatical error. It can be just what we call “cowardly writing.” Include your name and home town so we can credit you properly. You're free to add a comment, although we reserve the right to edit or omit. Now get out there! Send to Eliot@eliotkleinberg.com

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NOTE: Eliot and Lou Ann are available for speaking engagements, and can travel. Reach us through the comments section. Just think of all of your employees getting back to work on a Monday, their heads filled with all the ways we’ve shown them to be better communicators!