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Lesson 12: Abbreviations and Acronyms

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Abbreviations and acronyms

Abbreviations and acronyms are shorter versions of existing words and phrases. They're designed to save fourth dimension and take upwards less infinite (whether you're typing or writing by hand), and can even make your writing easier to read.

What is an abbreviation?

Abbreviations are all around united states of america, from common titles similar Dr. and Prof. to the abbreviations yous see on street signs. Specifically, abbreviations are shorter spellings of words and expressions nosotros use every 24-hour interval.

What is an acronym?

You might already know some acronyms, like NASA (National Helmsmanship and Space Assistants) and ATM (automated teller machine). An acronym is a stand-in for a string of words, commonly an system name, slogan, or something else equally wordy. Unlike abbreviations, they aren't shorter spellings of words—they're made upwards of the words' initials.

Using abbreviations

Abbreviations are usually formed using the about recognizable letters from the give-and-take or expression. This makes them easier to remember, and like shooting fish in a barrel for others to read. It's almost like the letters are clues that signal to the original word or expression.

Some abbreviations expect like acronyms (for example, mph and NY), just it's actually just a coincidence. Technically, these are initialisms, which is a blazon of abbreviation. Thankfully, yous don't accept to know whether something is an abbreviation, initialism, or acronym to use information technology properly. You lot just take to know what the term means, and how to spell it—everything else will usually fall into place.

Now that you know how abbreviations are formed, you may exist wondering how they're pronounced. Near of the time, they're pronounced the same as the original word—whether you're reading it aloud or in your head.

For example, Prof. Snape would be pronounced Professor Snape (not Prof Snape). The abbreviation etc. would exist pronounced et cetera (not e-t-c). The important affair to remember is that abbreviations aren't words in the true sense—they're more like shorthand.

In that location are some exceptions that are pronounced differently. For instance, AM, PM, i.due east., and PhD are pronounced exactly the way they're spelled. This happens when the abbreviation becomes more popular than the original term—usually because the original is also long or outdated. For case, AM stands for Ante Meridiem. (That's Latin for earlier noon. Who knew?)

Luckily, in that location aren't many exceptions like this, so you don't accept to worry too much about making a mistake. About abbreviations are pronounced the aforementioned every bit the word they're based on, like hr, min, and sec (that's hr, minute, and 2nd).

Period vs. no period

This is one of the most mutual questions people have near abbreviations: Do you accept to apply a period at the end when writing it out? In that location's no strict rule that says you lot do—it's kind of upwardly to you.

Sometimes adding a period is expected and can make the abridgement easier to read. Take the example below. Pop . is the abbreviation for the give-and-take population—without a catamenia, information technology might just wait similar pop (as in pop goes the weasel).

On the other mitt, some abbreviations never employ a menses; for example, country postal abbreviations like NY, CA, and TX. The abbreviation for The states tin be written with a period between each alphabetic character, but it's much more common without. The same goes for measurement abbreviations like ft, in, and cm.

Common abbreviations

In that location are abbreviations for so many different things, it would be impossible to list them all here. Here are some of the most common abbreviations you'll run into and use:

You may take noticed that the abbreviations for ounce (oz) and pound (lb) are a little different from the remainder. They're spelled using letters that aren't part of the original discussion. This is because the abbreviations are based on older forms of each give-and-take—ounce comes from the Italian word onza, and pound from the Roman discussion libra.

What about chat terms like LOL (laugh out loud), BRB (be correct back), and plz (please)? Many mistiness the line between abbreviations and acronyms, but they're abbreviations nonetheless. In other words, they abbreviate something in a contemporary way, using initials, slang, and other shorthand. They brand information technology possible to communicate quickly, and that'due south what makes them a form of abridgement.

Is information technology OK to use abbreviations?

Look closely at the heading in a higher place, and you may find your answer. Believe it or not, OK is an abbreviation as well, and we utilise it on the site all the fourth dimension.

A expert rule for abbreviations is to put the reader first. Ask yourself: Will the abbreviation make the sentence easier to read, or will information technology confuse the reader (for example, if the abbreviation is besides obscure)? If an abbreviation nonetheless sounds like a practiced idea, next consider the context. Abbreviations are perfectly OK in personal and coincidental writing—they're often OK in formal writing as well. You might want to ask your boss or your teacher if you're unsure.

Using acronyms

As you read before, acronyms are used in place of a phrase or string of words. They're almost always made up of the words' initials and are spelled in all caps. They can stand for all kinds of things, from organizations to mnemonics to sandwiches.

Similar abbreviations, there's a lot of overlap between acronyms and initialisms—but recollect, this doesn't really matter when it comes to using them. Information technology might assistance to recollect of acronyms every bit something catchier than abbreviations (subsequently all, they stand for longer phrases, so it helps if they're memorable). They don't simply shorten words; they stand for organizations, ideas, and other things yous desire people to remember.

Acronyms are read differently from abbreviations. Take the discussion BLT. If you saw that on the menu at your favorite restaurant, there'south a good gamble you'd just order a BLT, not a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. Yous wouldn't pronounce information technology built or belt either; you would say B-L-T. This is what makes acronyms unique—you tin read them as they appear, fifty-fifty though they stand for something else.

The pronunciation of acronyms tin can vary, notwithstanding. While some are pronounced literally similar the example above, others can actually be pronounced every bit a word, like UNICEF, POTUS, and NASA.

Sometimes information technology's only a question of, "Tin the acronym be pronounced as a discussion?" A lot of acronyms can't considering they don't have the correct combination of vowels and consonants. However, there'southward no set up rule that governs this. Knowing how to pronounce acronyms depends a lot your awareness of the globe around you, but it'southward not the end of the world if you make a error.

When and how to use acronyms

Sometimes you may need to explicate the acronym when using information technology in writing. Way guides advise that you write the acronym first, followed past the total name or phrase in parentheses. Y'all can as well write them in the contrary order—any makes more sense. In brusk, if the acronym is more than widely known, list it beginning; if information technology's more obscure, you may desire to get-go with the unabridged phrase.

A lot of contemporary acronyms might need to exist explained for different reasons (this also applies to the conversation abbreviations that nosotros discussed earlier). Non everyone will be familiar with slang similar NIMBY (non in my back thou) and TGIF (thank goodness it's Fri). As always, this type of slang can exist OK in sure contexts, only it might leave some readers feeling confused.

Equally you now know, abbreviations and acronyms can save time and space, and they tin make your writing easier to read. Below is a sample that contains the full class of several different words, phrases, and expressions. Do you know which acronyms and abbreviations could be used equally substitutes?

Likewise known as = AKA

AKA is an acronym for also known as . Fifty-fifty though information technology could be pronounced as a word (it has the right combination of consonants and vowels), information technology'south e'er pronounced literally— A-K-A .

Junior = Jr.

Jr. is the abridgement for Junior . It can exist used to refer to someone who is a inferior in proper noun (for example, Martin Luther King, Jr. ), or a junior in high schoolhouse or higher.

Sr. ( Senior ) is a related abridgement—as in Martin Luther Rex, Sr.

Répondez s'il vous plaît = RSVP

RSVP stands for répondez s'il vous plaît . If you lot've heard the acronym before, only never knew what it stood for, that'southward OK.

This is ane of those special cases where the acronym is now more mutual than the original phrase. Not but is répondez due south'il vous plaît long and sort of onetime-fashioned—it's too in a completely unlike language!

Orange juice = OJ

OJ stands for orange juice —even so another term that we didn't cover in this lesson, simply it's easy to encounter the connection. Did you go this 1 right?

OJ is more than of a slang term than an official abbreviation or acronym. It'south used near exclusively in conversation and casual writing (and your weekly shopping list).

Peanut butter and jelly = Pb&J

PB&J stands for peanut butter and jelly . Like OJ , it'due south more than like slang than an official acronym.

The interesting thing nearly PB&J is that it'south sort of its own "matter," considering the acronym is so memorable and symbolic. In other words, you don't have to say "Atomic number 82&J sandwich"—you lot can only say PB&J .

Miscellaneous = misc.

Misc. is the abbreviation for miscellaneous . Good judge if you got this i right.

Misc. is a very common substitute for miscellaneous —fifty-fifty in formal writing—only because the original word is and then long.

Infinitesimal = min

Min is the abridgement for minute . Notice that it's not capitalized in the sentence, and information technology doesn't use a period either.

This is common for certain types of abbreviations (peculiarly those related to fourth dimension and measurement ). However, in your ain writing, feel costless to add a period if it makes the abridgement easier to read.

Captain = Capt.

Capt. is the abbreviation for Captain . Maybe you've seen it spelled a different way on a certain cereal box—ever heard of Cap'north Crunch ?

That's more of a slang abridgement, used in conversation and casual writing (sometimes as a joke). Capt. is the official abbreviation; information technology's used in the military, constabulary, and other organizations.

Incorporated = Inc.

Inc. is the abbreviation for Incorporated . It'south ane of the few abbreviations that can be pronounced literally (as in rhymes with "ink" ), or the aforementioned as the discussion information technology's based on.

It often depends on the business organisation' branding, and how they adopt to be known to the public.

Post Meridiem = PM

PM is the abbreviation for Post Meridiem . Practiced task if you got this ane correct! If y'all didn't, that's OK—the abridgement is far more than common than the expression it'southward based on.

Luckily, you don't have to remember exactly what PM stands for. It's much easier to think of information technology as an abridgement for afternoon .

February = Feb.

Feb. is a common abbreviation for Feb . Nosotros didn't hash out this in the lesson, but if you look closely at the abbreviation, you tin can probably run across where it comes from—it'southward simply the first three letters of the word.

There's an abbreviation for most every month, from January ( Jan. ) to December ( Dec. ). Some months don't take an abbreviation because the spelling is already then brusk ( May , June , and July ).

Very important person = VIP

VIP is an acronym for very important person(s) . It's common for clubs to take VIP lounges or services, but people can be VIPs too (i.e., the person is a very of import person ).

VIP is pronounced literally ( Five-I-P ) rather than "vip" or "veep."

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Source: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/grammar/abbreviations-and-acronyms/1/

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