NASA. ASAP. HR. Some acronyms are so familiar they seem universal. We forget how dependent they are on context and audience.
If you’re at the University of Iowa, for example, you might be referring to the school’s Native American Student Association, not the famous space agency. Or, you might cause confusion if you make an ASAP request of the American Society of Administrative Professionals.
Human resources? High resolution? Heart rate? It depends.
Acronyms Online
Acronyms can be especially troublesome online, where people skim entire pages instead of reading every word. When someone comes across an acronym as they’re skimming, they may have to pause and think about its meaning, interrupting their search for information. These interactions, though minor, can add up to frustration for users.
Acronyms on NIU Websites
NIU websites must be accessible, both by by law and in order to reach the widest possible audience with our content. Acronyms can pose barriers to accessibility and are addressed in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
According to guideline 3.1, readable, acronyms and other abbreviations can be confusing to people who “have difficulty decoding words; rely on screen magnifiers (magnification may reduce contextual cues); have limited memory; [or] have difficulty using context to aid understanding.”
In addition, when we use acronyms on NIU websites, we assume a familiarity with higher education and/or the English language some of our key audiences might not have.
How to Use Acronyms
Though they have their downsides, acronyms can be useful. They can shorten complex phrases and create a feeling of camaraderie among knowledgeable audiences. Just be sure to explain the acronym when you first use it, giving anyone unfamiliar with the term a point of reference.
Here’s an example of how to introduce an acronym: “The Center for Web Accessibility (CWA) is dedicated to improving access to online content and facilitating equitable user experiences.”
The next mention of the organization could then be “the CWA.” Or, to provide an even smoother reading experience, you could simply say, “the center.”
Further Reading
- Understanding WCAG guideline 3.1.4, abbreviations
- How to minimize abbreviations
- Higher Ed Acronyms: ICYMI They Are Getting OC IMO
