What Does SOS Stand For? (Backronyms)

Welcome to the Grammar Minute, where we’re saving the English language sixty seconds at a time! I’m Lauren Smyth, and do you know what SOS stands for? Obviously, it’s a cry for help. But what do those letters stand for? Nothing. That’s right—nothing. “Save our souls” or “save our ship” are “backronyms,” meaning that they came after the abbreviation already existed. SOS is handy because it’s easy to write and understand in Morse Code. So it was chosen somewhat arbitrarily to be as easy to use and as recognizable as possible. SOS dates back to the early 1900s when the German government made it a standard part of its maritime codebook and was linked to the development of radio. That’s your Grammar Minute! Visit thegrammarminute.com for more tips and tricks.