Académie Française condemns use of abbreviation of as soon as possible, and adoption of score as a verb

Ask a French person to get back to you and they are unlikely to do so ASAP. The abbreviation is the latest term to fall foul of the Gallic word police, the Académie Française, which says it is 21st-century rubbish.

The Immortals, as academy members are known, have published a damning condemnation of ASAP in their ongoing campaign to protect what is known as “the language of Molière”.

“This abbreviation of as soon as possible, which is far from transparent, seems to accumulate most of the defects of a language that hides its contempt and threatening character under the guise of modern junk,” the Académie writes.

“The use of developed French forms would be more relevant and would not feature this unpleasant and restraining nature. It is a safe bet that the urgency of a request would be indicated in a more refined manner, and the answer would not be any slower.”

It goes on to suggest dès que possible as the appropriate response. More.

See: The Guardian

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