bearisgray

It is helpful to me when an initialism is spelled out - at least the first time it is used.

Example:

Cut strips from width of fabric (WOF).

instead of

Cut strips from WOF.

For all I know, WOF could mean

wovens or fusibles
white or fuschia
watermelons or figs

Does anyone else need "help" in knowing - for sure - what an initialism is supposed to mean in a particular context?

SusieQOH

Well, not on this board but yes, in other places. If I don't know I just ask someone
I really thought WOF meant watermelons or figs

osewme

I would love it if the meaning was put the very first time it is used. After that, I feel o.k. with them using the initialism in the text of the sentences, instructions, etc. At least if the meaning is at the beginning I can always look back to see what it means if I forget during the course of reading the entire text. (does any of what I said make sense?)

QuiltnNan

long ago, most patterns gave the meanings of the abbreviations used within the pattern

Geri B

Yes, I remember when abbreviations were *, and definition was at top or bottom of page. Now one has to decifer the meaning based on contents of what you're reading......

bearisgray

I know exactly what you mean!

dunster

In agree that everything should be spelled out at least once in a pattern or book. But on a board such as this we usually expect readers to be familiar with common quilting terms. And it's easy (and sometimes fun) to look up an acronym (or initialism). I had never heard the word 'initialism' - had to look it up.

Just for fun, I looked up WOF with google and found a whole list of meanings, including 'width of fabric' -http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/WOF

One of the meanings - 'waste of flesh' - made me think that perhaps WOF could also mean 'waste of fabric' in our world. As in "that method of making HST's is a terrible WOF" (ROFL).

Now does everyone know what ROFL means? (I had to look it up the first time I saw it.)

SusieQOH

Dunster, I know what ROFL means but some things I get in texts from younger people totally baffle me!~

Kitsie

Can't figure what to "search" for but seems to me there was a post on the QB (Quilting Board) listing a bunch of initialisms we use in quilting. Anybody else remember that?

cjsews

You should see some of the definitions I come up with sometimes. Kind of like trying to figure out what custom car tags mean.