Abbreviations are a shortened form of words and phrases whereas acronyms are a shortened form of names.
- Consequently, acronyms should be avoided on any government related website in an effort to maximize the friendliness and user-proximity of the website’s text.
- If a term is frequently used in a certain context, it may be abbreviated in the course of the content.
- However, it always must be expanded the first time it is used.
Example:
In 1997, the NTCP (National Tobacco Control Program) was established. The NTCP is a joint program between the MOPH (Ministry of Public Health) and the WHO (World Health Organization) and was the fruit of the Lebanese Republic signing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in order to counter the increasing number of smokers in Lebanon and minimize the tobacco-related diseases.