Foreletters

Foreletters are a linguistic phenomenon referring to the initial letters of a sequence of words that, when read together, form a new word or phrase. This is distinct from an acronym, which is formed from the initial letters of words but is often pronounced as a new word itself. Foreletters, conversely, are typically pronounced as the individual letters of the original words.

For example, in the phrase "for all intents and purposes," the foreletters are F, A, I, and P. These letters are not typically pronounced as a new word like "FAIP" but are understood to represent the original phrase. Another common example can be found in informal communication, where phrases like "laughing out loud" (LOL) might be used, but the foreletters are still understood as the individual letters L, O, L.

The concept of foreletters is closely related to initialisms, which are also formed from the first letters of words. However, the term "foreletter" specifically emphasizes the initial position of these letters within their original words and their potential to be recognized as a cohesive unit, even if not pronounced as a single word. They serve as a mnemonic device or a shorthand way to refer to a longer phrase, relying on the listener or reader's familiarity with the source words. The recognition of foreletters is often context-dependent and cultural.