PIN Number

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Vanyatka

#289289 Sat, 04 Nov 06 05:11 PM

Hi everyone,

Could you suggest whether it is OK to say things like "PIN Number", "HTTP Protocol", etc? Sometimes, adding that last redundant word may help the understanding, but it certainly discourages people from realising what the abbreviations are all about Smile [:)]

What do you think?

Vanyatka

Joined on Tue, Aug 8 2006

New Member (43)

Abbreviations, Numbers

Clive

#289294 Sat, 04 Nov 06 05:31 PM

Hi,

Could you suggest whether it is OK to say things like "PIN Number", "HTTP Protocol", etc? Sometimes, adding that last redundant word may help the understanding, but it certainly discourages people from realising what the abbreviations are all about

You ceratinly hear both PIN and PIN number. Such usages are often idiomatic. We say what we like to say. I have no experience of talking about HTTP. It's probably the same situation.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (20,438)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Abbreviations, Numbers

Vanyatka

#289299 Sat, 04 Nov 06 05:50 PM

Thanks, Clive.

I've just been thinking about why PIN Number is more used than, for example, PC Computer, or LCD Displays... Hm... No, people actually say LCD displays! Just discovered another one sample. In case of PIN, the word itself has other meanings, used as a noun or as well as a verb. So adding Number probably clarifies the exact meaning. Thinking about LCD Displays, the only another meaning of LCD that comes to mind is connected to drugs, so it is very unlikely to be confused with an electronic device Smile [:)]

Another idiom? And how about DVD/CD Disk? Used all the time.

Vanyatka

Verbs, Nouns, Numbers, Idioms, Sample

Believer

#289368 Sun, 05 Nov 06 01:43 AM

Vanyatka wrote:
Hi everyone,

Could you suggest whether it is OK to say things like "PIN Number", "HTTP Protocol", etc? Sometimes, adding that last redundant word may help the understanding, I agree with you. but it certainly discourages people from realising what the abbreviations are all about I don't think so but rather, I think it helps people to get the right ideas of what those words are saying. What do you think?

Believer

Joined on Mon, Jan 2 2006

Contributing Member (1,968)

Abbreviations, Numbers

Vanyatka

#289373 Sun, 05 Nov 06 02:22 AM

Believer wrote:
Vanyatka wrote:
Hi everyone,

Could you suggest whether it is OK to say things like "PIN Number", "HTTP Protocol", etc? Sometimes, adding that last redundant word may help the understanding, I agree with you. but it certainly discourages people from realising what the abbreviations are all about I don't think so but rather, I think it helps people to get the right ideas of what those words are saying. What do you think?

I have to admit that these "duplicate" words may be really useful. But, IMO, it's better to avoid them where possible.

Vanyatka

Abbreviations, Numbers

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