An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase or a series of words. For example, NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Acronyms are pronounced as words themselves, like NASA or LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation).
An acrostic, on the other hand, is a form of writing where the first letter of each line or paragraph spells out a word or message. For example, in poetry, the first letter of each line might spell out a word related to the theme of the poem. Acrostics are often used as mnemonic devices or for artistic expression.
In summary, the main difference is that an acronym is a word formed from initials and pronounced as a word, while an acrostic is a form of writing where the initial letters spell out a word or message.