Posted by Gordon Maney on Sunday, October 17, 2004 at 1:16PM :
I get ads for the magazine or PWA forums where they abbreviate so much, when there is no need.
An example:
1971 W300 440 4spd NP435 NP 205, Dana 70 f&r 4.88, 9.00-16, posi, ps, pb, 100A alt.
There is no need to abbreviate or use acronyms. I suspect you have plenty of time to type, or at least enough that you don’t need to abbreviate. A problem with abbreviation is that newcomers do not know what the abbreviations mean. Consider all there is to learn here. It is better if you just use the actual words. Use the entire word, we have space. You get 100 words free in the magazine, you are not charged by the line.
Most of us can read and decipher first, cryptic example. Quite a few cannot. So.... Hey, let’s just tell them what we want them to know. I am sure sales are lost because the person is confused and does not want to appear stupid..... so they don't ask. I know that none of us has ever had that fear. :-)
So, as an alternative:
1971 W300, 1-ton 4X4, New Process 435 4-speed transmission, New Process 205 transfer case, Dana 70 axles front & rear, 4.88:1 axle ratio, 9.00-16 tires, positraction, power steering, power brakes, 100 amp alternator.
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