Acronyms and Abbreviations in Natural Sciences and Technology. By Joachim Bohm, 4th expanded and revised edition. Schweizerbart Science Publishers, 2014. Pp. 283. Price Euros 29.80. ISBN 978‐3‐510‐65293‐8.

Abstract

This book compiles 30 300 acronyms and abbreviations from the three fields of: (1) physical analytical methods, and equipment; (2) preparation techniques, building units, and structures; (3) crystals and materials. The acronyms are listed in alphabetical order in tabular form within the three columns ‘acronym’, ‘code’ and ‘english translation; german translation’. The code (greek letters , , , d, ", , , ) allows for the assignment to the categories ‘analytical methods and phenomena’, ‘equipment’, ‘terms’ for the field (1), ‘preparation techniques and phenomena’, ‘functional and structural units’, ‘electronic signal processing and techniques’ for field (2), and ‘crystals’, ‘materials’ for field (3). Some acronyms have more than one distinct meaning which are all listed in alphabetic order, e.g. for the acronym AP one finds 42 translations, ranging from ‘absorbable organic halogen; absorbierbares organisches Halogen’ to ‘all points; alle Punkte’ and ‘azimuthal projection; azimutale Projektion’ all in the category ‘terms’. As can be inferred from this example, the author does not want to prioritize or critically evaluate the acronyms, but has the intention to simply list them and provide a database for the helpless reader in front of (sometimes certainly useless) abbreviations. Completeness is not claimed by the author acknowledging the ever increasing number of such acronyms. However, the listing is quite extensive and there is a good chance of finding the acronym one is puzzled by. I agree with the author that compared to searching online for the meaning of an acronym, which often returns a flood of results, the book has the advantage of limiting explanations to those relevant to the three fields listed above. Furthermore, due to the alphabetical organization access within the book is fast. Overall this book is certainly useful to those who repeatedly encounter unexplained acronyms. It might be especially helpful for researchers needing to access literature outside their own discipline and thus often confronted with unfamiliar ‘language’.