Grammar peeves, #37 in a series

[madbaker]

It's not an "ATM Machine". Nor is it a "PIN number". You're a reasonably accomplished author with professional editors and everything; get it right.

Comments

[aryanhwy.livejournal.com]

"ATM Machine": A machine for making automatic teller machines.

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

That may be the only acceptable usage.

[xrian.livejournal.com]

I could argue that yes, it is, because that's what everyone calls it.

Also, people who say "ATM machine" either (1) have momentarily forgotten exactly what the initialism stands for, or (2) are adding an extra determinant to ensure their listeners do not construe "ATM" as meaning, for instance, an abbreviation for "atmosphere".

The addition of extra determinants to clarify ambiguous meanings goes back to the ancient Egyptians.

-- Signed, another editor ;)

[madbaker.livejournal.com]

Q: "If you call a tail a leg, how many legs does a dog have?"
A: "Four. Calling a tail a leg does not make it one."

A common usage that is wrong is still wrong.