Begum ji,
I am reproducing the relevant page of the Teeka of Sahib Singh ji for reference purpose.
You are right that 'Akhar' in Gurmukhi can be used in twin sense that is alphabets and words.

May like to go thru. the following as well.
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ਅਖਰੀ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਖਰੀ ਸਾਲਾਹ ॥ ਅਖਰੀ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਗੀਤ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਹ ॥ ਅਖਰੀ ਲਿਖਣੁ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਬਾਣਿ ॥ ਅਖਰਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਸੰਜੋਗੁ ਵਖਾਣਿ ॥ ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹਿ ਲਿਖੇ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਨਾਹਿ ॥ ਜਿਵ ਫੁਰਮਾਏ ਤਿਵ ਤਿਵ ਪਾਹਿ ॥
pdArQ:- AKrI-A`KrW dI rwhIN hI[ swlwh-is&iq[ gux gwh-guxW dy gwhux vwly, guxW dy vwk&[ bwix ilKxu-bwxI dw ilKxw[ bwix-bwxI, bolI[ bwix bolxu-bwxI (bolI ) dw bolxw[ AKrw isir-A`KrW dI rwhIN hI[ sMjogu-BwgW dw lyK[ vKwix-vKwixAw jw skdw hY, d`isAw jw skdw hY[ ijin-ijs Akwl purK ny[ eyih-sMjog dy ieh A`Kr[ iqsu isir-aus Akwl purK dy m`Qy au~qy[ nwih-(koeI lyK) nhIN hY[ ijv-ijs qrHW [ Purmwey-Akwl purK hukm krdw hY[ iqv iqv-ausy qrHW[ pwih-(jIv) pw lYNdy hn, Bogdy hn[
ArQ:- (BwvyN Akwl purK dI kudriq dw lyKw l&z ‘AsMK’ qW ikqy irhw, koeI BI Sbd kw&I nhIN hY, pr) Akwl purK dw nwm BI A`KrW dI rwhIN hI (ilAw jw skdw hY), aus dI isi&q-swlwh BI A`KrW dI rwhIN hI kIqI jw skdI hY[ Akwl purK dw igAwn BI A`KrW dI rwhIN hI (ivcwirAw jw skdw hY)[ A`KrW dI rwhIN hI ausdy gIq Aqy guxW dw vwk& ho skIdw hY[ bolI dw ilKxw qy boxw BI A`KrW dI rwhIN hI d`isAw jw skdw hY[ (ies krky Sbd ‘AsMK’ vriqAw igAw hY, auNJ) ijs Akwl purK ny (jIvW dy sMjog dy) ieh A`Kr ilKy hn, aus dy isr au~qy koeI lyK khIN hY (Bwv, koeI mnu`K aus Akwl purK dw lyKw nhIN kr skdw)[ ijs ijs qrHW auh Akwl purK hukm krdw hY ausy qrHW (jIv Awpxy sMjog) Bogdy hn[
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/gurmat-vichaar/18064-part-iii-liberation-mukti-niravan.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=18064
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