abbreviations

abbreviations
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word, compound, or phrase, made by leaving out some of the letters or by using only the first letter of each word. For example, `g' is an abbreviation for `gram' in an expression of weight such as `25g', and `BBC' is an abbreviation for `British Broadcasting Corporation'. Some abbreviations are more commonly used than the full form.
\
You have to follow the accepted way of abbreviating, although with certain words there can be more than one way. For example, you can use either `cont.' or `contd.' as an abbreviation for `continued'.
\
In general, if a word begins with a capital letter, its abbreviation also begins with a capital letter. For example, the title `Captain' is written with a capital letter when used in front of a name, so the abbreviation `Capt' is also written with a capital letter.
\
There are five basic types of abbreviation.
\
◊ abbreviating one word
The first three types are used for abbreviating a single word.
\
• The first type consists of the first letter of the word. When read aloud, the abbreviation is usually pronounced like the full word.
m = metre, p. = page, F = Fahrenheit, N = North
\
• The second type consists of the first few letters of the word. When read aloud, the abbreviation is usually pronounced like the full word.
cont. = continued, usu. = usually, vol. = volume, Brit. = British, Hon. = Honourable, Thurs. = Thursday
\
• The third type consists of the word with several letters missed out. When read aloud, the abbreviation is pronounced like the full word.
asst. = assistant, dept. = department, jct = junction, km = kilometre, tbsp. = tablespoonful, Sgt = sergeant
\
Note that the abbreviations for `headquarters', `television', and `tuberculosis' are of this type but consist of capital letters: `HQ', `TV', and `TB'. You say each letter separately. In the case of some units of measurement, the second letter is a capital. For example, the abbreviation for `kilowatt' or `kilowatts' is `kW'.
\
◊ abbreviating more than one word
The fourth and fifth types of abbreviation are used for abbreviating a compound noun or a phrase.
\
• The fourth type consists of the first letter of each word. You usually say each letter separately, with the main stress on the last letter.
MP = Member of Parliament, CD = compact disc, HRH = His/Her Royal Highness, USA = United States of America, VIP = very important person, rpm = revolutions per minute
\
The choice of `a' or `an' before an abbreviation of this type depends on the pronunciation of the first letter of the abbreviation. For example, you say `an MP' not `a MP' because the pronunciation of `M' begins with a vowel sound: .
\
Note that abbreviations of compound nouns usually consist of capital letters even when the full words do not begin with capital letters. However, abbreviations of phrases usually consist of small letters.
\
A few abbreviations of this type also include the second letter of one of the words, which is not written as a capital. For example, the abbreviation for `Bachelor of Science' (someone who has a science degree) is `BSc'.
\
• The fifth type of abbreviation uses the first letter of each word to form a new word. This type of abbreviation is called an acronym. You pronounce an acronym as a word, rather than saying each letter.
BASIC = Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, OPEC = Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries, TEFL = teaching English as a foreign language
\
Most acronyms consist of capital letters. When an acronym is written with small letters, for example `laser' (= light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation), it is regarded as an ordinary word.
\
◊ full stops with abbreviations
You can put a full stop at the end of the first three types of abbreviation, or after each letter of the fourth kind of abbreviation.
b. = born, Apr. = April, St. = Saint, D.J. = disc jockey
\
However, people often do not put in full stops nowadays, especially between capital letters. Full stops are less commonly put at the end of abbreviations in British writing than in American writing.
BA = Bachelor of Arts, CBI = Confederation of British Industry, Mr = Mister
\
Full stops are not usually used when writing abbreviations that are pronounced as words.
NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization, AIDS = acquired immune deficiency syndrome
\
◊ plurals of abbreviations
If you want to make an abbreviation plural, you usually add a small `s' to the singular abbreviation.
hr, hrs, MP, MPs, UFO, UFOs
\
With words which refer to units of measurement, you usually use the same abbreviation for the singular and the plural. For example, `ml' is the abbreviation for both `millilitre' and `millilitres'.
\
The plural of `p' (= page) is `pp', and the plural of `St' (= Saint) is `SS'.
\

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • abbreviations — There are several kinds of abbreviations: shortenings, contractions, initialisms, and acronyms. 1. Shortenings of words, though formerly condemned by literary figures such as Addison and Pope (18c), are now a common convention, with varying… …   Modern English usage

  • ABBREVIATIONS — The abbreviation of words originated in antiquity, probably soon after the alphabet developed from ideographic pictures. While originally rare, their use increased with the general growth in the transmission of ideas by writing. They relieved the …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Abbreviations — An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word, compound, or phrase, made by leaving out some of the letters or by using only the first letter of each word. For example, g is an abbreviation for gram in an expression of weight such as 25g , and… …   Useful english dictionary

  • abbreviations — abbreviature ит. [аббрэвиату/рэ] abbreviations англ. [эбривиэ/йшнз] Abbreviaturen нем. [абрэвиату/рэн] знаки сокращ. нотн. письма; то же, что Abkürzungen …   Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов

  • abbreviations — Shortened forms of words obtained by omitting one or more letters or syllables, or by using various signs, symbols, and characters. The abbreviations more commonly used in modern times consist of initial letters or syllables, the omissions of… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • Abbreviations, Ecclesiastical — • Latin abbreviations commonly seen in documents of the Catholic Church, the full Latin words or phrases, and their English meaning Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • abbreviations, contractions, acronyms —    Abbreviation is the general term used to describe any shortened word. Contractions and acronyms are types of abbreviation. A contraction is a word that has been squeezed in the middle, so to speak, but has retained one or more of its opening… …   Dictionary of troublesome word

  • Abbreviations, prescription — A prescription, as is well known, is a physician s order for the preparation and administration of a drug or device for a patient. What may be less well known is that a prescription has several parts: {{}}The superscription (or heading) with the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Abbreviations for International Organizations and Groups — Note: Not all international organizations and groups have abbreviations. A ABEDA Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa ACC Arab Cooperation Council ACCT Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique; see Agency for Cultural and Technical… …   Universalium

  • Abbreviations for Selected International Environmental Agreements — A Air Pollution Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution Air Pollution Nitrogen Oxides Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”