A Redundant Acronym Phrase (RAP) is a phrase containing an acronym plus a word or phrase such that, when the acronym is expanded, the phrase would contain a redundancy. This is best illustrated by an example: ATM machine. ATM is an acronym for automated teller machine. Thus, ATM machine really means Automated Teller Machine machine. Similarly, RAP phrase means Redundant Acronym Phrase phrase. The term RAP phrase was coined in 1985 and first appeared on the Internet in 1995 as a category in the IRC game Chaos. This phenomenon was later described using other terms, such as RAS syndrome (Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome), coined in 2001, or PNS syndrome (PIN Number Syndrome syndrome). Following is a list of phrases which are, or have been, used: The most common ones AC current Alternating Current current ATM machine Automated Teller Machine machine DAT tape Digital Audio Tape tape DC current Direct Current current HIV virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus IRA account Individual Retirement Account account LAN network Local Area Network network LCD display Liquid Crystal Display display PIN number Personal Identification Number number RF frequency Radio Frequency frequency SALT talks Strategic Arms Limitation Talks talks UPC code Universal Product Code code Less common ones: AFC conference American Football Conference conference ARM mortgage Adjustable Rate Mortgage mortgage BBS system Bulletin Board System system CGA adapter Color Graphics Adapter adapter CPI index Consumer Price Index index DC Comics Detective Comics Comics DOS system Disk Operating System system EGA adapter Enhanced Graphics Adapter adapter GIF format Graphic Interchange Format format GOB Bluth George Oscar Bluth Bluth

(a character from the TV show Arrested Development) IBM machines International Business Machines machines IRC chat Internet Relay Chat chat ISBN number International Standard Book Number number KFC chicken Kentucky Fried Chicken chicken LPG gas Liquid Propane Gas gas MASH hospital Mobile Army Surgical Hospital hospital MIDI interface Musical Instrument Digital Interface interface NFC conference National Football Conference conference NPR radio National Public Radio radio OPEC countries Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries countries PDF format Portable Document Format format POST test Power On Self Test test RAM memory Random Access Memory memory RISC computer Reduced Instruction Set Computer computer ROM memory Read Only Memory memory RPN notation Reverse Polish Notation notation SAT test Scholastic Assessment (Aptitude) Test test SAM missile Surface-to-Air Missile missile START talks Strategic Arms Reduction Talks talks START treaty Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty treaty TWA airlines Trans World Airlines airlines UL laboratories Underwriters Laboratories laboratories USGS survey United States Geological Survey survey VAT tax Value Added Tax tax VGA adapter Variable Graphics Adapter adapter VIN number Vehicle Identification Number number Special cases: RAP phrase Redundant Acronym Phrase phrase RAS syndrome Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome PNS syndrome PIN Number Syndrome syndrome (Personal Identification Number Number Syndrome syndrome) Some more obscure ones: ADD disorder Attention Deficit Disorder disorder AIDS syndrome Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome syndrome AM modulation Amplitude Modulation modulation ATC control Air Traffic Control control CD disc Compact Disc disc COBOL language Common Business-Oriented Language language CPU unit Central Processing Unit unit CS/DS/ES/SS segment Code/Data/Extra/Stack Segment segment EBCDIC code Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code code FM modulation Frequency Modulation modulation HTML language Hyper Text Markup Language language IP pointer Instruction Pointer pointer LEM module Lunar Excursion Module module PC circuit Printed Circuit circuit PERL language Practical Extraction and Reporting Language language PIF file Program Information File file UHF frequency Ultra-High Frequency frequency UN nations United Nations nations UNIVAC computer Universal Automatic Computer computer UPI international United Press International international VHF frequency Very High Frequency frequency

If you would like to suggest some possible redundant acronym phrases, or if you have any comments or suggestions, please, let us know.