The term RAS syndrome refers to the use of one of the words that make up an initialism or acronym as well as the abbreviation itself, thus in effect repeating that word. It stands for "Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome," and is itself a humorous example of a redundant acronym. Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial letter or letters of words, such as NATO and XHTML, and are pronounced in a way that is distinct from the full pronunciation of what the letters stand for. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ... Self-referential humor relies on a subject making light of itself in some manner. ...

Technically, this redundancy is a form of rhetorical tautology, and in many cases a pleonasm. In language, redundancy often takes the form of phrases which repeat a concept with a different word. ... In rhetoric, a tautology is an unnecessary (and usually unintentional) repetition of meaning, utilising different words, i. ... // Pleonasm is the use of more words (or even word-parts) than necessary to express an idea clearly. ...

Origin

The term "RAS syndrome" was coined in 2001 by the New Scientist magazine.^[1] The term "PNS syndrome" ("PIN Number Syndrome syndrome," or "Personal Identification Number Number Syndrome syndrome"), coined by Usenet users,^[2] is used as commonly as RAS Syndrome,^{[original research?]} and in fact pre-dates the coining of "RAS Syndrome".^[3] Other nonce coinages continue to arise. The terms themselves are occasionally referred to as "RAP phrases" ("Redundant Acronym Phrases phrases").^[4] New Scientist is a weekly international science magazine covering recent developments in science and technology for a general English-speaking audience. ... Usenet (USEr NETwork) is a global, decentralized, distributed Internet discussion system that evolved from a general purpose UUCP architecture of the same name. ... A nonce word is a word used only for the nonce—to meet a need that is not expected to recur. ...

Examples

ATM machine

Automated Teller Machine machine

HIV virus

Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus

PIN number

Personal Identification Number number.

“Cash machine” redirects here. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a frequently mutating retrovirus that attacks the human immune system and which has been shown to cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). ... PINs are most often used for ATMs but are increasingly used at the Point of sale, especially for debit cards. ...

Reasons for use

The linguistic explanation for RAS is that acronyms (such as laser) are treated as regular words (usually nouns), not as shorthand for longer phrases. For other uses, see Laser (disambiguation). ...

Some occurrences are in the interest of clarity; for example, when discussing a mainframe computer's requirements, the initialism "AC" might refer to air conditioning or alternating current depending on the context; the redundant phrase "AC current" is used by some to distinguish them, although the phrase "alternating current" is clear, correct, and not redundant. Also, the phrase "AC current" distinguishes from "AC voltage". The phrase "CSS style sheets" can also reduce ambiguity, where in certain contexts CSS could also refer to the content-scrambling system used on DVD video titles. For other uses, see Mainframe. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... City lights viewed in a motion blurred exposure. ... Content Scramble System (CSS) is an encryption system used on some DVDs. ... Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ...

In the United Kingdom, most companies have their electrical appliances regularly checked for safety. This process is known as Portable Appliance Testing. However, it is almost universally abbreviated to "PAT testing". Presumably this is to avoid confusion with PA testing, or simply because it sounds a little ambiguous to say that one's occupation is "PAT". Sometimes similar phrases are not actually redundant; for example, a "redundant RAID" may in fact be a backup RAID in the system being described. Portable Appliane Testing is the test which must be carried out on essentially anything with a plug that employees or customers will be using to comply with health and safety regulations. ... For other uses, see Raid. ...

Acronyms and initialisms from foreign languages are also often analyzed as un-expandable nouns when they are not translated. For example, in French, "le protocole IP" (the IP protocol) is often used, and "HIV" is usually said either "le VIH" (in French, adjectives usually come after nouns) or "le virus HIV". In English, "Please RSVP" (please 'please respond') is often used.

Another justification is that many acronyms and initialisms are trademarks, and trademark law generally treats trademarks as adjectives, which should be used with a generic noun. Examples of correct usage include "SPAM luncheon meat", "AIB Bank" and "CNN network". “(TM)” redirects here. ... This article is about the canned meat product. ... Allied Irish Banks plc (AIB),ISEQ: ALBK, LSE: ALBK, NYSE: AIB, FWB:AIB is a commercial bank based in Ireland not to be mistaken for Anglo Irish Bank. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ...

Some speakers would prefer that the expansion of the acronym/initialism be used in situations where disambiguation or clarity is needed: "cascading style sheets" instead of "CSS style sheets", "alternating current" instead of "AC current", etc. However, some people may be more familiar with the acronym than the expansion, leading to potential for confusion.

See also

• Acronym
• Initialism
• Recursive acronym
• Pleonasm
• Tautology
  • List of tautological place names
• Redundancy
  • List of redundant expressions

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Backronym and Apronym (Discuss) Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations, such as NATO, laser, and ABC, written as the initial letter or letters of words, and pronounced on the basis of this abbreviated written form. ... Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations formed from the initial letter or letters of words, such as NATO and XHTML, and are pronounced in a way that is distinct from the full pronunciation of what the letters stand for. ... A recursive acronym (or occasionally recursive initialism) is an abbreviation which refers to itself in the expression for which it stands. ... // Pleonasm is the use of more words (or even word-parts) than necessary to express an idea clearly. ... In rhetoric, a tautology is an unnecessary (and usually unintentional) repetition of meaning, utilising different words, i. ... A place name is tautological if two parts of it are synonymous. ... In language, redundancy often takes the form of phrases which repeat a concept with a different word. ... This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. ...

References