Redundant Acronyms and Initialisms

The problem, of course, is that PIN means Personal Identification Number, so you don't need to say "Number" afterwards. In fact, it's quite wrong to do so, for what is a Personal Identification Number Number? It's probably the telephone number you have to call if you have forgotten your PIN. (Does anyone know if there's a PIN Number Number you can call if you forget the PIN Number?)

Most of us are guilty of making such errors at sometime or other: ISBN Number, ABS System, LCD Display... Here's a list of common errors of this type. Watch out for your friends (and even people on TV) making these pleonastic mistakes.

%APR	percentage Annual Percentage Rate
A.M. in the   morning	Ante Meridiem in the morning (lit. before noon in the morning)
ABM missile	Antiballistic Missile missile
ABS system	Antilock Braking System system
AC current	Alternating Current current
ACT test	American College Test test
ADSL line	Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line line
APL programing   language	A Programming Language programming language
ATM machine	Automated Teller Machine machine
BASIC code	Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code code
CAD design	Computer-Aided Design design
CNN news   network	Cable News Network news network
DC current	Direct Current current
DMZ zone	Demilitarized Zone zone
DOS operating   system	Disk Operating System operating system
GMT time	Greenwich Mean Time time
GOP party	Grand Old Party party
GRE exam	Graduate Record Examination examination
HIV virus	Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus
HTML language	Hypertext Markup Language language
ISBN number	International Standard Book Number number
ISDN network	Integrated Services Digital Network network
LAN network	Local Area Network network
LCD display	Liquid Crystal Display display
LED diode	Light Emitting Diode diode
NATO   organization	North Atlantic Treaty Organization organization
PC Computer	Personal Computer computer
PIN number	Personal Identification Number number
Please RSVP	please Répondez S'il Vous Plaît (lit. please reply please)
RAM memory	Random-Access Memory memory
SAT test	Scholastic Assessment (or Aptitude) Test test
SCSI interface	Small Computer System Interface interface
UPC code	Universal Product Code code
VIN number	Vehicle Identification Number number

More Redundancies, Pleonasms, and Tautologies

• Redundant Expressions: Main Pleonasm Page.
• Words and phrases that contain etymological redundancy.
• Phrases and expressions that are redundant.
• Funny Redundant/Pleonasm quotes from famous people.
• Opposite of pleonasm: Oxymoron.

Do you know anyone else who would enjoy this? Email this page to a friend.
Also: Sign up for our free web site updates here.