Would you say "ASAP" directly in Verbal English?

[EngFan]

Would you say "ASAP" in Verbal English?

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

NOT A TEACHER

Yes, I have heard this abbreviation (meaning "as soon as possible") used in spoken English.

 

[abaka]

Yes, it's common in the New World. The pronunciation is not A.S.A.P, but eh-SAPP.

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes, it's common in the New World. The pronunciation is not A.S.A.P, but eh-SAPP.

Some say that. Others, like me, would pronounce the letters.

 

[Barb_D]

I say ay-sap about90% of the time and ay-ess-ay-pee about 10% of the time.

 

[bhaisahab]

I say ay-sap about90% of the time and ay-ess-ay-pee about 10% of the time.

I've only very rarely used ay-ess-ay-pee and I've never used ay-sap.

 

[emsr2d2]

I have never used "ay-sapp" but frequently use "ay ess ay pee".

 

[abaka]

I would pronounce it as A Sap, or, as Dave pointed out, A.S.A.P. Are you from the eastern part of your country?

"A sap", "eh sapp", same thing. Long A + "sap". No, I live in western Canada. The spelled out A.S.A.P. exists, of course, but eh-sap is overwhelmingly more common. I'd agree off-hand with Barb D's guesstimates.

 

[Tdol]

I say ay-sap about 90% of the time and ay-ess-ay-pee about 10% of the time.

I do the opposite. ;-)

 

[BobK]

As a matter of interest I believe 'ASAP' was a replacement for the telegraphese* 'soonest' (whch meant 'as soon as possible' but cost a quarter as much to send).

*Remember telegrams, which predated Skype and e-mail? You paid for them based on the wordcount. The last I sent was in 1971.

b

 

[5jj]

*Remember telegrams, which predated Skype and e-mail? You paid for them based on the wordcount.

I am still the proud possessor of a telegram addressed to 'Five XXXX, The Half Moon Pub, Elvet, Durham'.

 

[Tdol]

I only received one telegram ever- me brother sent me one when I passed my driving test.

 

[5jj]

It used to be common to send telegrams when people got married. The best man would read them out during his speech at the wedding breakfast.

 

[emsr2d2]

I have a scrapbook containing all the telegrams sent to my parents on the joyous occasion of my birth!

 

[bhaisahab]

I have a scrapbook containing all the telegrams sent to my parents on the joyous occasion of my birth!

I think my parents burned all those that they received for me when I became a teenager. They only kept the telegrams of commiseration.;-)