A.k.a. is an abbreviation meaning “also known as” and for a writer or author, it might appear before their pen name. According to Wikipedia, it is also used to introduce pseudonyms, aliases, nicknames, working names, legalized names, maiden names and so on.
It appears that it can be capitalised and/or punctuated and the variations I have seen on Wikipedia and around the internet include a.k.a., aka, A.K.A., AKA, a/k/a (not sure I like the last one!).
Image via Wikipedia
Although the Wikipedia image to the right is not relevant to this blog, the description of the bumblebee is an example a.k.a. in use: “Bombus ternarius, a.k.a. Orange-belted Bumblebee”. (I like the picture as well!).
The Free Dictionary.com has 18 different definitions of the acronym a.k.a. with “also known as” being the first on the list. Other entries are “another known alias” and “above knee amputation”. I think I’m going to stick with “also known as”.
Hope you enjoyed today’s blog.
Until tomorrow…
Sandra
Freelance Writer
www.sandramadeira.com
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Great post, thanks for this!
A/K/A???? I’ve never seen it written this way before!
Posted by Nisha | January 26, 2012, 8:54 amMe neither – it looks a bit odd doesn’t it? Thanks for the comment
Sandra
Posted by Sandra Madeira | January 26, 2012, 2:56 pm