RAS syndrome

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RAS syndrome (Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome) is a term to describe a common tendency to use one of the words which make up an acronym or initialism as well as the abbreviation itself, thus in effect repeating that word. "RAS syndrome" is itself an ironic self-referential example, coined in 2001 in New Scientist magazine.^[1] The term PNS syndrome (PIN number syndrome syndrome), coined by Usenet users^[2], is used as commonly as RAS Syndrome^[3]. Other nonce coinages continue to arise. The terms themselves are occasionally referred to as RAP phrases (Redundant Acronym Phrases phrases).^[4]

Technically, this redundancy is a form of tautology, and in many cases a pleonasm. Most criticism of it is lighthearted or pedantic, and the majority of speakers find most instances unexceptionable.

[edit] Examples

Doubly redundant examples are also sometimes heard, such as "personal PIN number" or even "personal identification PIN number" and "CSS style sheets", and even more redundancy is possible. In one Dilbert comic strip, Dilbert states that the "TTP" project refers to "The TTP Project" (which is also an example of a recursive acronym).

The phenomenon also occurs with people whose initials form a nickname used in place of their forename, such as Jeb Bush: Jeb stands for John Ellis Bush; likewise the British politician Rab Butler and the American jazz trombonist JJ Johnson. Another example of this is on the television show Arrested Development, in which the character whose full name is George Oscar Bluth II goes by GOB Bluth. A questionable one is the musician KT Tunstall, whose initials, KT, are both an abbreviation of her name and a play on words with her first name, Kate. This only applies where the initials form an acronym as opposed to an initialism; nobody would say JFK Kennedy.

[edit] List

Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Some of the most common examples include:

AIDS syndrome	Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome syndrome
ABS system	Anti-lock Braking System system
AC current	Alternating Current current
ARC computing	Advanced RISC Computing computing = Advanced Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computing computing
ALJ judge	Administrative Law Judge judge
API interface	Application Programming Interface interface
APR room	All Purpose Room room
ASB Bank	Auckland Savings Bank Bank
ATI Technologies Inc.	Array Technologies Incorporated Technologies Incorporated (Note that while "ATI Technologies" is also redundant, "ATI technologies" is not. See below.)
ATM machine	Automated Teller Machine machine
Bay Area BART	Bay Area Bay Area Rapid Transit
CAC card	Common Access Card card
CAPT test	Connecticut Academic Performance Test test
CD-ROM disc	Compact Disc - Read Only Memory disc
CMS system	Content Management System system
CPL license	Common Public License license
CRC check	Cyclic Redundancy Check check
CRT tube	Cathode-Ray Tube tube
CSS style sheet	Cascading Style Sheet style sheet
DC Comics	Detective Comics Comics
DIP package	Dual In-line Package package
DC current	Direct Current current
DLT tape (or DLTtape)	Digital Linear Tape tape
DPA Account	Dell Preffered Account account
DSL line	Digital Subscriber Line line
DSW shoe warehouse	Designer Shoe Warehouse shoe warehouse
DVD disc	Digital Versatile (or Video) Disc disc
E3 Expo	Electronic Entertainment Expo Expo
EMP pulse	Electromagnetic Pulse pulse
ER Room	Emergency Room room
FAT table	File Allocation Table table
GPL license	General Public License licence
GPS system	Global Positioning System system
GOP party	Grand Old Party party
GNIDA	Greater NOIDA Industrial Development Authority, i.e. Greater New Okhla Industrial Development Authority Industrial Development Authority
GUI interface	Graphical User Interface interface
HSBC Bank	Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Bank
HDRI image	High Dynamic Range Image Image
HGV vehicle	Heavy Goods Vehicle vehicle
HIV virus	Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus
HUD Display	Heads Up Display Display
IBAN Number	International Bank Account Number number
ICBM missile	Intercontinental Ballistic Missile missile
IDC Connector	Insulation Displacement Connector Connector
IDM Music	Intelligent Dance Music music
IGBT transistor	Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor transistor
ING Group	Internationale Nederlanden Groep Group (with Groep being Dutch for Group)
IM message	Instant Message message
IP protocol	Internet Protocol protocol
IRC chat	Internet Relay Chat chat
ISBN number	International Standard Book Number number
IT technologies	Information Technology technologies
ITBS test	Iowa Test of Basic Skills test
LCD display	Liquid Crystal Display display
LED diode	Light Emitting Diode diode
LEO orbit	Lower Earth Orbit orbit
LGPL license	Lesser General Public License
London LOOP	London London Outer Orbital Path
LPG gas	Liquefied Petroleum Gas Gas
MIDI interface	Musical Instrument Digital Interface interface
MNB Bank	Malvern National Bank Bank
MRE meal	Meal Ready to Eat meal
MSDS sheet	Material Safety Data Sheet sheet
Microsoft MS-DOS operating system	Microsoft Microsoft Disk Operating System operating system
MPL license	Mozilla Public License
MPS syndrome	Multilingual PNS Syndrome = multilingual PIN Number Syndrome syndrome = multilingual Personal Identification Number number syndrome syndrome syndrome
(MMO)RPG game	(Massively Multiplayer Online) Role-Playing Game game
MMC Card	MultiMedia Card Card
Nabisco Biscuit Company	National biscuit company Biscuit Company
NAFTA Agreement	North American Free Trade Agreement Agreement
NCT test	National Car Test test
NIC card	Network Interface Card card.
NDP party	New Democratic Party party (a Canadian political party).
NEXRAD radar	Next-Generation Radar radar
NH Hoteles	Nuevos Hoteles Hoteles.
NL and Labrador	Newfoundland and Labrador and Labrador.
NT technology	New Technology technology (This is particularly interesing, as both the original acronym, and the most prominent redundant use of it are by the same company. Windows 2000 came in a box printed with the text, "Built on NT Technology".) (Note: the original acronym for 'NT' according to software developer Mark Lucovsky was Intel's i860 processor, codenamed 'N10'/'N-Ten', while 'New Technology' was a term expanded for marketing purposes. See the "'NT' designation" section of the Windows NT article.)
NTFS file system	New Technology File System file system
PACT test	Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test test
PAT testing	Portable Appliance Testing testing (sometimes the phrase 'PAT Tester' is used to describe a piece of test equipment, or a person who carries out the act of Portable Appliance Testing; in this case it is unclear whether the abbreviation in 'PAT' is for the word 'testing' or 'tester')
PDF format	Portable Document Format format (PDF file is acceptable)
PIN number	Personal Identification Number number
Personal PIN number	Personal Personal Identification Number number
PNG graphics	Portable Network Graphics graphics; PNG is Not GIF
PNS syndrome	PIN Number Syndrome syndrome = Personal Identification Number number syndrome syndrome
PPC Cement	Pretoria Portland Cement cement
RAD development	Rapid Application Development development
RAID array	Redundant Array of Independent Disks array (this is particularly ironic, given that the R in RAID stands for "redundant". The even-more-ironic phrase "redundant RAID array" is not unheard of, although as Raid-0 is not redundant it is meaningful.)
RAM memory	Random Access Memory memory
RAS service	Remote Access Service service (also ironic given that RAS can stand for Redundant Acronym Syndrome)
RAS syndrome	Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome
RDC car	Rail Diesel Car car
RIT team	Rapid Intervention Team team
RPM package manager	RPM Package Manager package manager
RSI instance	RAS Syndrome Instance instance (RSI can also mean repetitive strain injury)
RSVP please	Répondez S'il Vous Plaît please (please respond please)
SMS Text Messaging Service	Short Messaging Service Text Messaging Service.
SAM missile	Surface-to-Air Missile missile
SCUBA gear	Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus gear (since apparatus and gear are synonyms)
SCSI interface	Small Computer System Interface interface
SDI defense initiative	Strategic Defense Initiative defense initiative
STEP paper	Sixth Term Examination Paper paper
SIN Number	Social Insurance Number Number
SSN Number	Social Security Number Number
SPIN ID (on Wheel of Fortune)	Special Prize Identification Number IDentification
TAS speedrun	Tool-Assisted Speedrun run
TCBY yogurt	The Country's Best Yogurt yogurt
TGV train	Train Grande Vitesse train
TSB bank	Trustee Savings Bank bank
The New TNN	The New The National Network
The TTLB Ecosystem	The The Truth Laid Bear Ecosystem
TTF font	TrueType Font font
UPC code	Universal Product Code code
UCD Dublin	University College Dublin Dublin
VIN number	Vehicle Identification Number number
VIP person	Very Important Person person
VIPIR radar	Volumetric Image Processing of Integrated Radar radar
WAI Injection	Water Alcohol Injection Injection
Windows WDM Driver Model	Windows Windows Driver Model Driver Model
Windows NT Technology	Windows New Technology technology

[edit] Not redundant

Examples appearing here may appear to be redundant but are actually not, for the given reasons:

ABM missile	Anti-Ballistic Missile missile is disputed, as it falls in line with military terms such as anti-missile missile, a missile used to destroy other missiles.
ASCII code	American Standard Code for Information Interchange code. Although this can be considered redundant, the two uses of the word code have very different meanings. The former "Code" refers to a body of codified rules and standards (in the same sense as a code of conduct or a dress code), while the latter "code" refers to a way of giving one piece of information which will be understood as another piece of information (such as the key combination of ALT+130 yielding the é character), as in a code word or pass code.
BMW AG	Bavarian Motor Works Aktien Gesellschaft, sometimes mistaken as Bavarian Motor Works Auto Group, which would sound redundant and repetitive.
CRC code	Cyclic Redundancy Check code. The second C stands for "check", not "code".
DNS server	Domain Name System server is not redundant. The S stands for "system", not "server".
JPEG graphics	Joint Photographic Experts Group graphics.
LASER light	Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation light
MAC Address	Media Access Control Address
MOT test	Ministry of Transport test is not redundant, although the test is often referred to simply as an MOT.
PCR replication	Polymerase chain reaction replication is not redundant. The R stands for "reaction", not "replication".
PCV valve	The name of this auto part means Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve, not Pollution Control Valve valve.
PDF file	Portable Document Format file (PDF format is redundant)
POS system	Point Of Sale system is not redundant.
RAID disks	Redundant Array of Independent Disks disks is not redundant: RAID is an array, while disks are what the array consists of.
RDF format	Resource Description Framework format
SAT Reasoning Test	Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test are outmoded names for the test. SAT now no longer has any official expanded name.
SMS message	Short Message Service message is not a redundant acronym, as SMS is a service, while message is something you get out of the service.
SWAT team	Although this acronym used to stand for Special Weapons Assault Team, which is redundant, it now refers to Special Weapons and Tactics.
UPS Shipping Service	While United Parcel Service Shipping Service seems redundant, UPS is no longer known as “United Parcel Service, Inc.” but simply “UPS, Inc.” Therefore, the former meaning of the acronym is irrelevant.

[edit] Reasons for use

The most obvious reason for using an acronym in this way is that it has become (or been mistaken for) a word in its own right; the speaker may not know the original expansion, or may know it as the etymology but consider it irrelevant to modern usage. One acronym which has become a word is laser, which originally stood for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, but has become so much a part of common vocabulary that a verb form, "to lase", meaning to emit or make use of a laser beam, is in use as a product of back-formation.

All these cases conform to a specific pattern. The repeated word is the general class to which the object belongs (generally the main noun of the phrase). A "PIN number" is a type of number, an "ATM machine" a type of machine, a "RAID array" a type of array, etc. The rule for usage is both consistent and predictable. For this reason, some, including many prescriptivists, find objection to the usage to be a mere shibboleth.

One reason to deliberately use some examples is that they have become so common that not to use them would be more confusing. The sentence "I can't remember my PIN" when spoken does not distinguish between a pin and the acronym PIN (and some dialects of English even have identical pronunciations for "pin" and "pen"). People are simply more used to hearing "pin number" and, though redundant, it is widely accepted. Similarly, stylistic reasons can sometimes argue in favor of usage, such as in the sentence "I can't remember any sort of number-- telephone numbers, PIN numbers, Social Security numbers, etc." The parallelism provided by this phrasing tends to outweigh concerns about redundancy.

Some occurrences are in the interest of clarity; for example, when discussing a mainframe computer's requirements, the acronym "AC" might refer to air conditioning or alternating current depending on the context; the redundant phrase "AC current" can be used to distinguish them. Also, the phrase "AC current" distinguishes from "AC voltage" (which, incidentally, is itself an acronym of dubious meaning: "alternating current voltage"). The phrase "CSS style sheets" can also reduce confusion, where in certain contexts CSS could also refer to the content-scrambling system used on DVD Video titles. In addition, in many technical contexts, it is highly desirable to be as specific as possible, even at the cost of some off-putting redundancy. Combining the acronym with a noun identifying its class achieves clarity with economy of space and time. Also, for greater precision, a device may be specified according to its use, for example a "redundant RAID" may in fact be a backup RAID in the system being described. However, many people believe that if clarity is sufficiently important to justify the redundancy, the full phrase, rather than the acronym, should be used.

Acronyms from foreign languages are also often used this way when they aren't translated (and it works both ways: In french, "le protocole IP" (the IP protocol) is often used, especially since IP is used as a short for the IP Address. Also, the HIV is usually either said "Le VIH" or "Le virus HIV").

A final justification is that many acronyms and initialisms are trademarks, and trademark law generally treats trademarks as adjectives, which should be used with a generic noun. Examples of correct usage include "SPAM luncheon meat" and "CNN network".

[edit] Honorable mention

Along the same lines, "please RSVP", which can be seen to be redundant once it is realised that RSVP comes from the French phrase répondez s'il vous plaît, which translates as "please respond".

The expression "Thank God It's Friday", commonly abbreviated to "T.G.I.F.", is sometimes rendered instead as "T.G.I.F. Friday". Similarly, the popular restaurant chain T.G.I. Friday's is incorrectly referred to as "T.G.I.F. Friday's" on occasion.

The 1970s saw Strategic Arms Limitations Talk between the US and the USSR, aimed at producing a series of Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties, also referred to, respectively, as the SALT talks and the SALT treaties.

DC Comics is also an example, as the "DC" originally stood for Detective Comics.

Another example is FedEx's Express delivery service. The "FedEx" originally stood for Federal Express.