This article is classified "Real"
An acronym is an abbreviation which sounds like it could be a word on its own. And an abbreviation is a short way of saying something longer with a smaller set of characters than was necessary without the abbreviation. Here is an example of an acronym, FUBAR = Fucked up beyond all recognition. You say FUBAR as a word on its own. Here is an example of an abbreviation, TLA = Three letter acronym. You don't say TLA as a word, instead you say the three letters one at the time. For a list of abbreviations (where some are acronyms) check out my article titled Abbreviations, List Of.