Do You Use an Apostrophe to Make OK Past Tense?
byMignon Fogarty
Michael B.
asked,
How would one write the past tense of an acronym?
I work in the IT industry, and we have many acronyms like NAT (Network Address Translation).
Would it be proper if, in a sentence, I were to write, I NATed the address to the outside interface?
Acronyms As Nouns and Verbs
Many abbreviations are nouns (CD,HIV,ATM); it’s less common for them to be verbs.
Examples of verbs includeOK,OD(foroverdose),ID(foridentify), andIM(forinstant message).
Nouns don't have a past tense; verbs do.
Apostrophes to Make Acronyms Past Tense
The Chicago Manual of StyleallowsOD'dforoverdosed, and theAP StylebookrecommendsOK'dforokayed.
Based on those two examples, I recommend that Michael useNAT’d.
Jargon
Michael should only useNAT’d, however, if people commonly useNATas a verb in his industry.
Typically, a translation is a thing—a noun.
Since I’m not in his industry,Network Address Translationsounds like a noun to me.
It doesn’t sound like something you should make past tense.
Make acronyms and initialisms past tense by adding an apostrophe and ad:OK'd.If Michael’s coworkers are comfortable saying something like I’ll NAT that, then they’re using it as a verb andNAT’dis appropriate to use in those circles.
If, on the other hand, the more common use ofNATis something like I’ll get you the NAT, then it’s a noun and usingNAT’dwould be a stretch that would probably sound odd to most people.
NATis definitely an abbreviation that will only be meaningful to people in certain industries, so Michael should avoid using itwith people who will find it confusing.
Source:Grammar Girl (来源：老牌的英语学习网站 http://www.2hzz.
com)