TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: What do you call this? From:Steve Victor <svictor -at- LGC -dot- COM> Date:Wed, 19 Jul 1995 10:38:58 CDT
> I'm writing a definition of the word bit. It is "short for" binary
> digit. Is there a more formal word for "short for" here? It's not an
> acronymn or initialism or anything like this. What is it?
> Thanks in advance. - Nancy
The word "bit" is a contraction of "binary digit." (Webster's New World
Dictionary of Computer Terms, Prentice-Hall, 1983). You might also say that
"bit" is a shortened form of "binary digit" (or you could substitute "an
abbreviated form" or "a truncated form"). Just a few suggestions.
Regards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen P. Victor svictor -at- lgc -dot- com
Landmark Graphics Corporation http://www.cda.ulpgc.es/steve.html
15150 Memorial Drive
Houston, TX 77009 USA
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------