✍🏼To future authors of [agricultural] science journal articles,
Are you thinking about using an acronym throughout your paper?
Consider this decision guide:
Is the acronym unique?
No
Don’t try to rebrand a well-established acronym. Because if I introduce something like the Novel Acronym Scholar Approach (NASA), some readers may think NASA means something different.
Yes
It’s a bold, bold move to try and set a new standard at the institutional/domain level. Good luck.
Is the acronym unique but perhaps will only be used in that one paper?
Yes
Stop. Write it out.
Is the acronym intuitive?
(at least somewhat)
No
Stop. Remember, your reader is going to have to learn it. And when they’re skimming results and they see there was a significant effect on WWY for LRCT but not for RQHBK, they are going to blacklist you in their minds.
Yes
I mean, the reader may have to work a little to learn it. Not everything can be as intuitive as ABC.
Is it a two-letter acronym?
Yes
Consider just writing out the two words.
Journals are digital and we don’t need to “save space”. If the difference between your article coming under some ~7,000 word limit is whether you use a two-letter acronym so it only counts as one word, then you need to cut out some flowery language somewhere else instead of employing the NASA.
Of course, two/three-letter acronyms are handy in table, but still consider its necessity.
No
Well it better be about 3-4, because 5-7 letters is pushing it unless it makes a nice, catchy word.
Is the acronym only used like once or twice in the whole article?
Yes
Stop. Write it out.
Is the acronym highly specific? Like it only applies to one thing in that one experiment and probably no one else (possibly including you) will encounter it again?
Yes
Stop. Write it out.
Final check
Find someone else in your field, someone with a level-head and solid intuition and ask them to read a sample of your paper with the acronym. If they nod in understanding at your explanation, you can probably still write it and avoid the acronym.
Sincerely,
Your colleague
ps - if I’ve abused acronyms, I’m so sorry.