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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/47855
License name: CC BY-SA 4.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

In fiction, there are several possibilities:

- Have the narrator explain the acronym outside of actual dialogue, assuming that the narrator is written in a way to express their thoughts.
- Have a character who doesn't know the acronym ask what is being talked about; the acronym can then be reasonably explained within the story.
- Don't mention the acronym, but talk around it instead. For instance, in the case of NASA, say _the space program_.

However, in the context of a story where everybody knows what NASA is, it wouldn't be normal to explain it. In fact, in the specific case of NASA, most people _do_ know what it is, so even explaining it in the story wouldn't be required for reader comprehension.

But there are normally always ways of coming up with a creative solution to problems like this. The specific contexts of some stories will also provide other possibilities.

* * *

If it's nonfiction, there are various style guides that explain how it can be done. Perhaps the most common is to write out the full name on first use, following by the acronym in parentheses, and then use the acronym after that.

Original score: 3