RAS syndrome (where "RAS" stands for "redundant acronym syndrome", making the phrase "RAS syndrome" autological) is the redundant use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym in conjunction with the abbreviated form. This means, in effect, repeating one or more words from the acronym. Three common examples are "PIN number"/"VIN number" (the "N" in PIN and VIN stands for "number") and "ATM machine" (the "M" in ATM stands for "machine"). The term RAS syndrome was coined in 2001 in a light-hearted column in New Scientist.[1][2][3]
"ATM machine" is a common example of RAS syndrome
Many style guides advise against usage of these redundant acronyms in formal contexts,[4] but they are widely used in colloquial speech.
Although there are many instances in editing where removal of redundancy improves clarity,[12] the pure-logic ideal of zero redundancy is seldom maintained in human languages. Bill Bryson says: "Not all repetition is bad. It can be used for effect ..., or for clarity, or in deference to idiom. 'SALT talks' and 'HIV virus' are both technically redundant because the second word is already contained in the preceding abbreviation, but only the ultra-finicky would deplore them. Similarly, in 'Wipe that smile off your face' the last two words are tautological—there is no other place a smile could be—but the sentence would not stand without them."[12]
A limited amount of redundancy can improve the effectiveness of communication, either for the whole readership or at least to offer help to those readers who need it. A phonetic example of that principle is the need for spelling alphabets in radiotelephony. Some instances of RAS syndrome can be viewed as syntactic examples of the principle. The redundancy may help the listener by providing context and decreasing the "alphabet soup quotient" (the cryptic overabundance of abbreviations and acronyms) of the communication.
Acronyms and initialisms from foreign languages are often treated as unanalyzed morphemes when they are not translated. For example, in French, "le protocole IP" (the Internet Protocol protocol) is often used, and in English "please RSVP" (roughly "please respond please") is very common.[4][13] This occurs for the same linguistic reasons that cause many toponyms to be tautological. The tautology is not parsed by the mind in most instances of real-world use (in many cases because the foreign word's meaning is not known anyway; in others simply because the usage is idiomatic).
Non-examples
Sometimes the presence of repeated words does not create a redundant phrase. For example, "laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) light" is light produced by a light-amplification process. Similarly, "OPEC countries" are two or more member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, whereas "OPEC" by itself denotes the overall organization.[citation needed]
^Clothier, Gary (November 8, 2006). "Ask Mr. Know-It-All". The York Dispatch.
^Newman, Stanley (December 20, 2008). . Windsor Star. p. G4. Archived from the original on May 3, 2012.
^"Feedback" (fee required). New Scientist. No. 2285. April 7, 2001. p. 108. from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2006.
^ abGarner, Bryan A. (2000) The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
^"Why The DC Comics Name Actually Makes No Sense". Screen Rant. October 5, 2019. from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
^"What Does DC Comics Stand For?". Screen Rant. May 7, 2020. from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
^Nordquist, Richard. "RAS Syndrome: Redundant Acronym Syndrome Syndrome". ThoughtCo. from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
^Brians, Paul. "LCD display". Common Errors in English Usage. from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
^Memmott, Mark (January 6, 2015). "Do You Suffer From RAS Syndrome?". NPR.org. from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
^. rd.com. August 16, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
^"PUBG is now officially PUBG: Battlegrounds for some reason". TechSpot. August 6, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
^"LINGUIST List 4.532: Last Posting: Acronyms". Linguistlist.org. July 7, 1993. from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
External links
The dictionary definition of RAS syndrome at Wiktionary
April 12, 2024
syndrome, where, stands, redundant, acronym, syndrome, making, phrase, autological, redundant, more, words, that, make, acronym, conjunction, with, abbreviated, form, this, means, effect, repeating, more, words, from, acronym, three, common, examples, number, . RAS syndrome where RAS stands for redundant acronym syndrome making the phrase RAS syndrome autological is the redundant use of one or more of the words that make up an acronym in conjunction with the abbreviated form This means in effect repeating one or more words from the acronym Three common examples are PIN number VIN number the N in PIN and VIN stands for number and ATM machine the M in ATM stands for machine The term RAS syndrome was coined in 2001 in a light hearted column in New Scientist 1 2 3 ATM machine is a common example of RAS syndromeMany style guides advise against usage of these redundant acronyms in formal contexts 4 but they are widely used in colloquial speech Contents 1 Examples 2 Reasons for use 3 Non examples 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksExamplesExamples of RAS phrases include DC Comics Detective Comics Comics 5 6 HIV virus human immunodeficiency virus virus 7 LCD display liquid crystal display display 8 9 UPC code universal product code code 10 PUBG Battlegrounds PlayerUnknown s Battlegrounds Battlegrounds 11 Reasons for useAlthough there are many instances in editing where removal of redundancy improves clarity 12 the pure logic ideal of zero redundancy is seldom maintained in human languages Bill Bryson says Not all repetition is bad It can be used for effect or for clarity or in deference to idiom SALT talks and HIV virus are both technically redundant because the second word is already contained in the preceding abbreviation but only the ultra finicky would deplore them Similarly in Wipe that smile off your face the last two words are tautological there is no other place a smile could be but the sentence would not stand without them 12 A limited amount of redundancy can improve the effectiveness of communication either for the whole readership or at least to offer help to those readers who need it A phonetic example of that principle is the need for spelling alphabets in radiotelephony Some instances of RAS syndrome can be viewed as syntactic examples of the principle The redundancy may help the listener by providing context and decreasing the alphabet soup quotient the cryptic overabundance of abbreviations and acronyms of the communication Acronyms and initialisms from foreign languages are often treated as unanalyzed morphemes when they are not translated For example in French le protocole IP the Internet Protocol protocol is often used and in English please RSVP roughly please respond please is very common 4 13 This occurs for the same linguistic reasons that cause many toponyms to be tautological The tautology is not parsed by the mind in most instances of real world use in many cases because the foreign word s meaning is not known anyway in others simply because the usage is idiomatic Non examplesSometimes the presence of repeated words does not create a redundant phrase For example laser light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation light is light produced by a light amplification process Similarly OPEC countries are two or more member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries whereas OPEC by itself denotes the overall organization citation needed See alsoPleonasm Bilingual tautological expressions Recursive acronym TautologyReferences Clothier Gary November 8 2006 Ask Mr Know It All The York Dispatch Newman Stanley December 20 2008 Sushi by any other name Windsor Star p G4 Archived from the original on May 3 2012 Feedback fee required New Scientist No 2285 April 7 2001 p 108 Archived from the original on June 21 2015 Retrieved December 8 2006 a b Garner Bryan A 2000 The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style Oxford and New York Oxford University Press Why The DC Comics Name Actually Makes No Sense Screen Rant October 5 2019 Archived from the original on April 28 2021 Retrieved April 28 2021 What Does DC Comics Stand For Screen Rant May 7 2020 Archived from the original on April 29 2021 Retrieved April 29 2021 Nordquist Richard RAS Syndrome Redundant Acronym Syndrome Syndrome ThoughtCo Archived from the original on November 11 2020 Retrieved November 15 2019 Brians Paul LCD display Common Errors in English Usage Archived from the original on March 12 2017 Retrieved May 1 2012 Memmott Mark January 6 2015 Do You Suffer From RAS Syndrome NPR org Archived from the original on October 6 2020 Retrieved November 15 2019 15 Redundant Words That Make You Sound Ignorant rd com August 16 2018 Archived from the original on August 2 2020 Retrieved March 30 2022 PUBG is now officially PUBG Battlegrounds for some reason TechSpot August 6 2021 Retrieved July 25 2023 a b Bryson Bill 2002 Bryson s Dictionary of Troublesome Words ISBN 0 7679 1043 5 LINGUIST List 4 532 Last Posting Acronyms Linguistlist org July 7 1993 Archived from the original on September 24 2018 Retrieved May 22 2009 External links nbsp The dictionary definition of RAS syndrome at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAS syndrome amp oldid 1209261504, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
