REDUNDANT ACRONYM SYNDROME

ndrome") and acronym-assisted pleonasm.

Common examples of RAS syndrome include PIN number (personal identification number number), AC current (alternating current current) and HIV virus (human immunodeficiency virus virus).

 Such redundancies, says Bryan Garner, "may be passable in speech—especially with unfamiliar acronyms—[but] they should be avoided in formal writing" (Garner's Modern American Usage, 2009).

The term RAS syndrome first appeared in the magazine New Scientist (May 26, 2001).

Examples and Observations

• LCD display for liquid crystal display display
• CNN network for Cable News Network network
• RAM memory for random-access memory memory
• RSI injury for repetitive strain injury injury 
• SARS syndrome for severe acute respiratory syndrome syndrome
• MVUE estimator for minimum-variance unbiased estimator estimator
• CMS system for content management system system
• BBC corporation for British Broadcasting Corporation corporation
• IRA account for individual retirement account account
• PCR reaction for polymerase chain reaction reaction