What is the difference between “VPN Networks” and “VPNs”?
I am writing a technical report on a topic which includes a Virtual private network (VPN). These are commonly abbreviated as VPN.
It feels strange writing something along the lines of VPNs
are often employed to… On the
other hand a formulation such as VPN networks
are often employed to… is a pure
tautology as it basically means Virtual Private Networks.
What are virtual private
networks most of us using?
- What is the best way to define a VPN?
- Is the Recursive Acronym Syndrome Syndrome normal? If not, how the internet works?
- Why do people write Virtual Private Networks?
What is the best VPN/VPN? Is it a good practice to expand an acronym at the very first time you use it in your
text?
After learning there are at least three classes of target audience, according to which I would choose one of the three formats. What is expected from the audience?
Intra-domain reader (those belonging to the domain and entirely familiar with it):
VPNs are often employed to… because
they know it and they hate being told every time what a VPN stands for.
Extra-domain technical readers:
V PSNs first reference;
VNs in subsequent references.
Non-technical, general or anonymous readers:
VPN (Virtual private networks)
at first reference; VPN networks in all subsequent references; in all media. In this case, the tautology serves to help in hiding the technical detail (type of network) within the abbreviation while reminding the reader what it is (network) (in Java). This is not incorrect and is in fact used as a convenience technique. (cf. In no
case is Virtual Private Networks repeated in the course of the document.
I would write first time Virtual Private Network is… And then use VPNs in the rest of the text. I
like having VPNs as a client.
