{"id":7413,"date":"2022-08-15T22:15:56","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T22:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=7413"},"modified":"2022-08-15T22:15:56","modified_gmt":"2022-08-15T22:15:56","slug":"pfa-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/pfa-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"PFA \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you receive an email with \u2018PFA<\/em>\u2019 in the message body? You better check it for attachments. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this acronym.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The acronym \u2018PFA<\/em>\u2019 has two meanings. The first and most common use of the acronym pertains to professional business writing. In this case, PFA stands for \u2018Please find Attached<\/em>.\u2019 It refers to an email attachment and includes Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, PDFs, and other attached documents relevant to the email communication. Typically, the attachment is for the recipient's eyes only.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The second most common use of \u2018PFA<\/em>\u2019 is to describe the Navy\u2019s \u2018Physical Readiness Test<\/em>.\u2019 The Navy uses this assessment for all branches, including SEALs, SWCC, Navy Divers, EODs, and other Special Operations Forces. The test involves a range of physical exercises, including running and calisthenics.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"Hi Mike, PFA is our annual report for the company financial statements. Please review them, and we'll be in touch to discuss the coming year's budget with you on Friday.\"<\/p>\n

\"Hi, Kim, PFA the invoice for the work we did on the renovation last week. You'll find the banking details in the invoice footer. Please make payment within 48 hours. Thanks for your business.\"<\/p>\n

\"The navy PFA is brutal. It's almost as bad as the SEAL training during hell week. You just have to suck it up and push through, don't focus on the pain.'<\/p>\n

\"There is no way that guy is passing the PFA. He's like 300 pounds. How did them even let him apply for the navy?\"<\/p>\n

\"The Navy PFA was the single hardest experience of my life. I've never felt that drained after exercise. They really push you to your limits.\"<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The acronym \u2018PFA\u2019 has unknown origins. Language experts believe the professional use of the term comes from the advent of email and its spread through the business world in the late 1990s and early 2000s. No information is available on who coined the term or its first use in business communications.<\/p>\n

The Navy PFA or Physical Readiness Test is much older than the advent of email, and it\u2019s been a standard acronym for the test since its inception in the 1930s. Recently, the Navy changed the parameters of its PFA test to make it more inclusive for women, much to the amusement of other nations, like Russia, that doesn\u2019t allow women to apply for military service.<\/p>\n

The first mention of \u2018PFA\u2019 in the Urban dictionary concerning business writing was on November 29, 2004.<\/p>\n