AGO or AGOL?

[MachielVan]

I often see ArcGIS Online abbreviated in one of two manners: either "AGO" or "AGOL".

Is there any "official" way to write it in short hand? "AGO" makes much more sense to me since "Online" is a single word, but I guess using "G" for "GIS" throws this logic out the window. 

[Katie_Clark]

"Potato, Potahto", as far as I know. I've always used AGOL, but it probably just depends on what one was introduced to when they first started learning web GIS. 

[ABishop]

I always say AGOL.  "AGO" seems too close the word "ago" to me.

[I_AM_ERROR]

I've never even considered that the "L" isn't technically needed! I wonder how that started.

Now I'll think about everytime I write out AGOL even though I'll never be able to stop. 

Thanks a lot! 🙂

[MachielVan]

Kudos for the Zelda II reference

[BRENNEJM]

In college I knew it as AGOL and when I started my job I switched over to AGO. Using the google search "agol" site:esri.com -site:community.esri.com it looks like the only reference to "AGOL" is in partner documentation and user comments. If we switch up the google search to "ago" site:esri.com -site:community.esri.com we find Esri's ArcGIS Online Assistant whose URL is https://ago-assistant.esri.com/. This does appear to be the only place that Esri actually used an abbreviation for it though.

Going back to google, if we search "agol" site:esri.com we get 20,400 results and "ago" site:esri.com gets 24,500. So while pretty evenly split, it looks AGO might be slightly preferred.

[AndreaB_]

thank you for asking this! I was just wondering this myself. As a lifelong 'AGOL' user, my new coworkers use 'AGO', it's a rough transition for me. 😁

[ToddMurphy]

I will continue to say AGOL, it's clear to anyone in the know what you're referring to, even if they use AGO (and roll their eyes at you when you add the L).