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Re: Use of acronyms
Beware; acronyms can be a dangerous code. I recently spoke ( at
length!!! ) to a conference delegate wearing an EDF badge, thinking he
was from the French Electricity Industry. Imagine my embarrassment when
I found it meant European Development Fund. Funny, but in a different
context, it just might have had safety implications?.
Happy Christmas Radsafers.
In message <199612191835.KAA01561@dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com>, Sandy Perle
<sandyfl@ix.netcom.com> writes
>> I disagree....the whole idea here is brevity. Short, sweet, and to the
>> point. Get a glossary of health physics and nuclear engineering terms. DOE
>> (Department of Energy) was trying to put one together a few years back.
>>
>>
>> Opinions are my own
>>
>> Kelly Grahn
>> Illinois Dept of Nuclear Safety
>> West Chicago Field Office
>
>Another opinion ... there are many individuals who subscribe to this
>listserver, and while this is for professionals, it also facilitates
>"transfer of knowledge" to others. While I am a reactor physicist as
>well as a dosimetrist, there are many areas I have absolutely no
>working knowledge in. In many cases a glossary does not exist which
>defines all of the many acronyms which we all use on a daily basis.
>While being trained in media interactions, the key we were taught was
>to use terms that will be understood by the audience. This is true
>when dealing with the media, the public and amongst ourselves.
>Therefore, while I do agree that we can not always spell out what an
>acronym is, we should be sensitive to the fact that in some cases
>maybe a "spell-out" would be appropriate.
>
>Sandy Perle
>Director, Technical Operations
>ICN Dosimetry Division
>Office: (800) 548-5100 Ext. 2306
>Fax: (714) 668-3149
>
>E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com
>
>Homepages:
>
>http://www.netcom.com/~sandyfl/home.html
>http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/1205
--
Dr. Neil Utting