This post describes some problems related to using acronyms in typeset text and some solutions to them in the form of LaTeX packages. It does not explain acronyms related to typesetting.
Problems
I’ve noticed three main problems of acronyms:- their meanings are difficult to remember
- This is easily solved by appropriate text explaining the meaning, also by margin notes with the meaning or lists of acronyms, etc. For me its not a problem since just the acronym can be the meaning, in my opinion e.g. ‘DVI’ and ‘horse’ have the same rights as words.
- frequent use of capital letters makes text less readable
- This is easily solved by using acronyms less frequently or by using slightly smaller type for them.
- different ideas are represented by the same acronym
- Usually the context determines the meaning, for example ‘LSD’ as a substance and as a digit rarely is used in a single work (unless as an example of an acronym, but here the meaning is not significant). This may be a problem when the acronym is associated with certain emotions, for example one DRM is an evil limitation of freedom, while another DRM is a part of software enabling efficient use of GPUs in free operating systems.
Solutions
These problems can be solved in the following ways:
- rewriting text to use less acronyms – the best way, although beyond the scope of this text
- using smaller font for acronyms
- putting the definition of the acronym on first use, e.g. in a margin note or a tooltip (as usually in this blog)
- including a list of all acronyms used in the work with their definitions
LaTeX packages available on CTAN
I’ve found four related packages on CTAN:
acromake- This package supports defining commands for acronyms. Each will result in the full name and the acronym on first use. On the second use a reference to the definition will be made and next uses will put only the acronym.
acronym- This provides also commands allowing precise selection where full or short names should be used. A list of acronyms is also made. The manual of this package explains how acronyms may use smaller font.
glossaries- This package allows preparation of many glossaries and can be used for lists of acronyms.
glosstex- Another package for typesetting acronyms. It differs by using a program written in C.
My package
Since there are many packages for typesetting acronyms, and I don’t use most of their features, I wrote a new package for this. It is called acronyms and is available from my Mercurial repository. It differs by having evolved from very simple macros for typesetting just the acronym with appropriate spacing and smaller type, adding macros for specific acronyms and support for lists of acronyms. Then I wrote general macros for acronym definitions and added more incomplete features. Now it has optional support for acronym lists using the glossaries package, indexing chosen acronyms, and making margin notes with definitions on first use of each acronym.
