What is the difference between abbreviation and

acronym?
Answer
An abbreviation and an acronym are both shortened forms of a word, phrase or name. There are no
strict rules about how this shortening is done. In many cases, but not all, the abbreviation or acronym is
formed from the first letters of the original phrase or word.

The difference is in whether or not the resulting abbreviation can and is articulated as word. If it
articulated as a "new" word, it is an acronym; otherwise it is a plain old abbreviation.

There are also no rules about whether the acronym or abbreviation is capitalised or not, as the examples
below show.
examples of abbreviations which are acronyms:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - UNESCO
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission from Radiation - Laser
Radio detection and ranging - Radar

Here's one to ponder: the World Health Organisation is abbreviated to WHO. However, the abbreviation
is not pronounced like the word "who"; instead it is spelled out: W - H - O. So, while it can be articulated
as a word, it generally isn't, so would not be considered an acronym.

Moral of the story: all acronyms are abbreviations but not all abbreviations are acronyms