I love you @neiltyson but you just commited the single most annoying colloquial faux pas—it JUST FYI. not AN for your information. I’m sorry, and I hate myself for doing this, but it really grates on me.https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/980464870452740096 …
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yes an FYI is exactly that just like an RBI or a catch
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An FYI is only a noun when it’s used specifically as such.
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It's a vowel/pronunciation question it's an entity unto it's own and pronounced F Y I not for....
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You can make that argument, but it’s a separate argument. Mine is that it’s a matter of brevity—when used in a sentence typically, it’s function is to shorten the words to a concise, easily understood abbreviation. We see the word, and read the words. An article is unnecessary.
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I guess we're all entitled to our opinion but in mine an FYI is correct
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Fair enough. It makes my skin crawl. Like some people and the word moist. And ugg boots.
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Isn't it; light amplification by stimulation emissions of radiation?
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Close, Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
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Thank you sir

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But isn’t it different when “laser” has become an actual word as opposed to an acronym? FYI isn’t a word. I understand
@neiltyson’s thought process on this but tend to agree w/the initial commenter...”just (FYI) for your information” -
Scarlet is right. FYI has not made it into the dictionary as a word--it's still just an abbreviation--whereas laser has. Give it time.
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But him making it a word is the process by which such an abbreviation becomes a word.
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That might be true, but it’s not yet.
@MerriamWebster lists FYI as an abbreviation but laser is a word. Maybe someday. Interesting convo!

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The fact that you put an article in front of it indicates the acronym has become a noun. E.g.: Here's an FYI. Did you see the FYI? Where's that FYI? FYIs should be short and to the point. Now it's primed to become a verb.

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But harkening back to a.communication systems that requires numerical annotation, such as construction, each document is separate, so a "RFI" or Request for Information is often followed by an "FYI" that matches numerically. "RFI 2: is this pipe copper?" "FYI 2: No. Can be Pex."
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I am excited to see the use of TLA’s and FLA’s in this thread. I approve of their use and I agree with
@neiltyson....just sayinThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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NASA is a proper noun, so we can personify it. FYI doesn't count.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Of course that depends on the numbers of people who use it as an entity unto itself. And we don't know where that tipping point is. But your voice is more powerful than most, so I would say that you've given it a definite boost out of the entity unto itself zone.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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