Abbreviations and acronyms resolved within our pages

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Do you take a passing interest in public transport, visiting us for passenger information, or are you a ferroequinologist?  Is it helpful to you to have abbreviations explained, or needless clutter to have the full text?

"On Wednesday, I'll be popping down to MKM^» (Melksham (Station code) - next trains) for essential reasons and while there will take a look at the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) to report at the MRUG^» (Melksham Rail User Group - site) meeting that evening".  Clear to me, clear to may members and totally baffling to many guests arriving here without our regular's knowledge.

The Acronyms and abbreviations page defines many of the terms used - has done for many years, and is in the process of being updated (thanks, VickiS) but still it has required people to know about it, and to head off there.

So - new feature - our software is now giving you definitions from that acronyms and abbreviations page when you roll your cursor over some of the words defined therein.  To help you know where that resolution is available, a little right facing triangle will appear to the right of the term in the main text - two little arrows if there's a link you can follow to a relevant page.

* Only a few terms are there during testing and data updating.

* Some browsers do not support this very well - expanding the term fully every time, or never expanding it.  We are aware and continue to tune - that's why it's in a testing and tuning phase. However, it does not break the pages

* There are certain abbreviations with multiple meanings and at present we are steering clear of expanding them. WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) for Wiltshire Council, or Water Closet?

* If you are logged in as a member, you can turn this facility off - "Expand abbreviations: turn off" at the top of the page.  Once you've done that, the message changes to "Expand abbreviations: turn on".  I know that this change takes you back to the forum home page - live with that for the moment, though, please; your choice IS remembered so you only need to do it once.

[broadgage]

" There are certain abbreviations with multiple meanings and at present we are steering clear of expanding them. WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) for Wiltshire Council, or Water Closet?"

I would say Wiltshire council. The other meaning is in such widespread use as to need no explanation. Indeed WC is often misused as a term for any toilet, even those that should be called "chemical closets"

[IndustryInsider]

I wonder what percentage of teenagers know a WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) is a Water Closet which is a toilet?

[infoman]

I think I recall one of the bone heads decided to "mark" the cleaners on one of the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)'s with VD in capital letters.

The bone heads said it stands for valeting department,the majority really knew what stood for.

[Bmblbzzz]

I think the issue is that the software can't tell which meaning of WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) is intended in any one usage. So if it marks every instance of WC as 'Wiltshire Council' it will sometimes be wrong. And if someone wants to write about, say, England's performance in the Women's WC in Australia...

[grahame]

I think the issue is that the software can't tell which meaning of WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) is intended in any one usage. So if it marks every instance of WC as 'Wiltshire Council' it will sometimes be wrong. And if someone wants to write about, say, England's performance in the Women's WC in Australia...

Indeed .. I wrote the algorithm and it's typically crude but effective.  If I were to spend more time coding and putting in special cases it could be improved somewhat - at the cost of a lot of time and a flood of special cases and pedantic puzzles. As it is, it ain't badly bust and I would take considerable persuasion to fix it.

I am aware of Wiltshire Council, Water Closets and World Cups

I am away of both Reading and the Rail Delivery Group

I am aware of second open carriages and significant others

[Worcester_Passenger]

I think the issue is that the software can't tell which meaning of WC^▸ (Wiltshire Council (Unitary Authority)) is intended in any one usage. So if it marks every instance of WC as 'Wiltshire Council' it will sometimes be wrong. And if someone wants to write about, say, England's performance in the Women's WC in Australia...

Indeed .. I wrote the algorithm and it's typically crude but effective.  If I were to spend more time coding and putting in special cases it could be improved somewhat - at the cost of a lot of time and a flood of special cases and pedantic puzzles. As it is, it ain't badly bust and I would take considerable persuasion to fix it.

I am aware of Wiltshire Council, Water Closets and World Cups

I am away of both Reading and the Rail Delivery Group

I am aware of second open carriages and significant others

Why not get it to report both?
"RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) - could be Reading station or the Rail Delivery Group. You can probably tell."

[eXPassenger]

And I remember in the 70s working where senior people were known by their initials, which were also on their office door.  This was fine until Wally Clarke (no middle initial) arrived.

[grahame]

Why not get it to report both?
"RDG^▸ (Rail Delivery Group, or Reading station, depending on context) - could be Reading station or the Rail Delivery Group. You can probably tell."

Hover over the double cross symbol and it offers a resolve link already - that's reporting both or all options.

[broadgage]

AC is in general use to mean air conditioning or alternating current. Both are relevant to railways.