If you're unfamiliar with the term "numeronym", you may not have realized that a11y isn't just a hash tag, nor is it a hip way to spell ally. Rather a11y is a shorthand for accessibility. You may have seen "a11y" used as a hash tag on Twitter, or used in a comment, article, used in a comment thread, or written in an article. Since you're reading this right now, you've likely seen it in the name of a certain website about accessibility. Ahem... How numeronyms work Unlike abbreviations like FYI (for your information), and PC (personal computer), or acronyms like HTML (hypertext markup language), and JAWS (Job Access With Speech), numeronyms are number-based words. And while you may not be familiar with the term "numeronym" itself, you've likely used them throughout your life. For instance, "9-1-1" is synonymous with "help", "24/7" means "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", and Y2K is for "year