Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases.
Abbreviations:
-
are usually two to four letters long
-
sometimes contain capital letters*
-
sometimes contain numbers or symbols
-
sometimes end with a period*
*Capitalization and punctuation in abbreviations vary depending on the writing style. If you are unsure about a word’s abbreviated form, check with your teacher.
Abbreviations are usually used when we want to:
-
write a lot of text in a small space
-
write text quickly (for example, when taking notes)
-
exchange text messages with someone
-
shorten text to simplify reading
Abbreviations are mostly used in informal situations. However, certain abbreviations can be used in formal writing as well.
For example:
|
Informal situation |
Justification |
| “LOL, I keep thinking about that joke you told me the other day.” | The abbreviation “LOL’’, meaning “laughing out loud,” is used in casual situations. |
|
Formal situation |
Justification |
| Dear Mr. Jones, I am writing to you today to inform you that … | The abbreviation “Mr.,” meaning, “Mister,” is used in official situations such as cover letters. |
There are different ways to form abbreviations.
Some are formed with the first and last letter of a word.
For example:
|
Words |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Doctor |
Dr. |
|
Junior |
Jr. |
|
Apartment |
Apt. |
Some are formed with the first letter of the word followed by other letters from that word or phrase.
For example:
|
Words |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Station |
Stn. |
|
Master of Education |
M.Ed. |
|
Avenue |
Ave. |
Some are formed as acronyms. They contain the initial letter of each word.
Some are pronounced as words.
For example:
|
Words |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
NASA |
|
As soon as possible |
ASAP |
|
Fear of missing out |
FOMO |
Some are pronounced letter by letter.
For example:
|
Words |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Federal Bureau of Investigation |
FBI |
|
Royal Canadian Mounted Police |
RCMP |
|
Central Intelligence Agency |
CIA |
Below are lists of common abbreviations.
|
People titles |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
any adult male |
Mr. |
|
any adult female |
Ms. |
|
unmarried female |
Miss |
|
married female |
Mrs. |
|
Senior |
Sr. |
|
Junior |
Jr. |
|
Doctor |
Dr. |
|
Honourable |
Hon. |
|
Professor |
Prof. |
|
Reverend |
Rev. |
|
Detective |
Det. |
|
Saint |
St.* |
These abbreviations must be followed by the person’s name.
*When used before naming people considered holy, use the full form Saint.
|
Academic degrees |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Science |
B.S. |
|
Bachelor of Arts |
B.A. |
|
Master of Education |
M.Ed. |
|
Master of Business Administration |
M.B.A. |
|
Doctor of Philosophy |
Ph.D. |
|
Continents |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
North America |
NA |
|
Europe |
EU |
|
Asia |
AS |
|
Africa |
AF |
|
Oceania |
OC |
|
South and Central America |
SA |
|
Countries |
Abbreviations |
Currencies |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Canada |
CA |
Canadian $ |
CAD |
|
United States |
US |
American $ |
USD |
|
United Kingdom |
UK |
Pound sterling £ |
GBP |
|
France |
FR |
Euros € |
EUR |
|
Mexico |
MX |
Pesos $ |
MXN |
|
Japan |
JP |
Yen ¥ |
JPY |
|
Cardinal directions |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
North |
N |
|
South |
S |
|
East |
E |
|
West |
W |
|
Provinces & States |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Quebec |
QC |
|
Ontario |
ON |
|
British Columbia |
BC |
|
New-York |
NY |
|
Florida |
FL |
|
California |
CA |
|
Addresses |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Apartment |
Apt. |
|
Street |
St. |
|
Road |
Rd. |
|
Square |
Sq. |
|
Avenue |
Ave. |
|
Boulevard |
Blvd. |
|
Place |
Pl. |
|
Station |
Stn. |
|
Months of the year |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
January |
Jan. |
|
February |
Feb. |
|
March |
Mar. |
|
April |
Apr. |
|
May |
— |
|
June |
Jun. |
|
July |
Jul. |
|
August |
Aug. |
|
September |
Sep. |
|
October |
Oct. |
|
November |
Nov. |
|
December |
Dec. |
|
Days of the week |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
Monday |
Mon. |
|
Tuesday |
Tue. |
|
Wednesday |
Wed. |
|
Thursday |
Thu. |
|
Friday |
Fri. |
|
Saturday |
Sat. |
|
Sunday |
Sun. |
|
Times of day |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
second |
sec. |
|
minute |
min. |
|
hour |
hr. |
|
Eastern Standard Time (US & Canada) |
EST |
|
before noon (ante meridiem) |
a.m. |
|
afternoon (post meridiem) |
p.m. |
|
Metric measurements |
Abbreviations |
Imperial measurements |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|---|---|
|
millimetre |
mm |
inch |
in or " |
|
centimetre |
cm |
foot |
ft or ' |
|
metre |
m |
yard |
yd |
|
kilometre |
km |
mile |
mi |
|
Celsius |
°C |
Fahrenheit |
°F |
|
Cooking measurements |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
teaspoon |
tsp. |
|
tablespoon |
tbsp. |
|
millilitre |
ml |
|
ounce (onza) |
oz. |
|
gram |
g |
|
pounds (libra pondo) |
lbs |
|
kilogram |
kg |
|
Text Messages |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
I love you |
ily |
|
direct message |
dm |
|
be right back |
brb |
|
just kidding |
jk |
|
do it yourself |
DIY |
|
because |
bc |
|
I don’t know |
idk |
|
in my opinion |
imo |
|
laughing out loud |
LOL |
|
as soon as possible |
ASAP |
|
no problem |
np |
|
nevermind |
nvm |
|
on my way |
omw |
|
oh my God |
omg |
|
thanks* |
thx |
These abbreviations are most often used in informal writing.
*“thx’’ is spelled with an “x.” The ‘‘x’’ represents the sound [ks].
|
Expressions coming from other languages |
Abbreviations |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Réservez s'il vous plaît — French |
RSVP |
Please respond (to a written invitation) |
|
Versus — Latin |
vs. |
Against |
|
Id est — Latin |
i.e. |
That is (used before providing specific information about something mentioned) |
|
Exempli gratia — Latin |
e.g. |
For example |
|
Nota bene — Latin |
N.B. |
Note well (used before important information) |
|
Requiescat in pace — Latin |
R.I.P. |
Rest in peace |
|
Et cetera — Latin |
etc. |
And other similar things (used at the end of listed elements to avoid providing a complete list) |
gfsdgf
|
Words |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
approximately |
approx. |
|
before |
b/4 |
|
department |
dept. |
|
definition |
def. |
|
different |
diff. |
|
education |
ed. |
|
each |
ea. |
|
numero |
No. |
|
page |
p. |
These abbreviations should only be used in informal writing.
For more note-taking abbreviations, visit the concept sheet Taking Notes.
|
Science and technology terms |
Abbreviations |
|---|---|
|
carbon dioxide |
CO₂ |
|
dihydrogen monoxide (water) |
H₂O |
|
deoxyribonucleic acid |
DNA |
|
genetically modified organism |
GMO |
|
ultraviolet radiation |
UV |
|
sun protection factor |
SPF |
|
personal computer |
PC |
|
portable document format |
|
|
virtual private network |
VPN |
|
artificial intelligence |
AI |
|
downloadable content |
DLC |
|
high-definition multimedia interface |
HDMI |
|
universal serial bus |
USB |