Abbreviations

Discover a comprehensive list of common abbreviations in English with our detailed guide! Perfect for students, professionals, and language enthusiasts, learn how to use and understand abbreviations with examples, usage tips, and more. Enhance your vocabulary and communication skills today!

What Are Abbreviations?

Both in formal and informal speech, we don’t always write the whole word or phrase and use a shortened form instead. For example, it’s common to come across an “etc.” or “i.e.” in an essay and an “OMG” or “FYI” in a text message you receive from a friend. All of these are abbreviations.

Even though it might seem that abbreviations are a rather modern phenomenon that exploded due to technology and text messages, they’ve actually been around for thousands of years. In fact, in ancient Greece and Rome, it was common to shorten words by their first letter. As for the English language, it’s been full of abbreviations from the very beginning. Beowulf, an Old English epic poem from some time around the tenth century, is only one example of works that had shortened forms of words in them.

Why Do We Use Abbreviations?

The reason why abbreviations have been popular hundreds of years ago and why they still remain so today is that they help us save space and time. Obviously, it takes a lot less effort to write SARS than it would if you were to write “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome”, the whole phrase that it stands for. In addition, in the modern world, there sometimes is the need to fit as much information as possible into one message while having a limited amount of characters. For instance, Twitter doesn’t allow tweets to be longer than 280 characters. It’s natural to shorten all the words that can be shortened, to make sure that everything you want to say fits into a single tweet.

Abbreviations can take various forms, and there isn’t a rule that would strictly define how words can or can’t be shortened. One option is representing the word by its first letter or by the first few letters, e.g. v. for verb and Co. for company. Some abbreviations take the most important letters of the word, such as Ltd. that stands for limited, or Revd that stands for Reverend. A single word can also be shortened by taking only the first and the last letter, e.g. Dr. for Doctor, Rd. for road. It’s also common that first letters of the words in a phrase are used instead of a whole phrase. Examples are BTW for by the way and RSVP for répondez s’il vous plaît.

Many abbreviations appeared at the end of the 20th century when people started sending each other text messages. These are most commonly first letters of the words in a phrase, such as TMI that stands for too much information. Sometimes letters are replaced with numbers to make an abbreviation; thus, L8r stands for later.

Often quite a few questions arise when it comes to abbreviations. Do I use a full stop after the shortened version of the word? Do I use lowercase or uppercase letters? What do I do if I need a plural form? These are just some of those questions. However, just as it is with the majority of English grammar, practice makes perfect. If you keep using abbreviations in your writing, you soon will have no problems with them.

Common Abbreviations

NATO

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an international military alliance that has its own set of standard abbreviations to facilitate clear communication among its members. Some common examples include:

ACO: Allied Command Operations
ACT: Allied Command Transformation
CAS: Close Air Support
MIA: Missing in Action
WIA: Wounded in Action

Company Names

In the business world, it is quite common for companies to use abbreviations for their names to save space and increase readability. Here are some well-known examples:

Abbreviation	Company Name
IBM	International Business Machines
3M	Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
GE	General Electric

Organizations

Various organizations, particularly those in the non-profit and governmental sectors, often use abbreviations to represent their names. This helps to reduce the length of their titles and make them more recognizable. Here are a few examples:

UN: United Nations
WHO: World Health Organization
EU: European Union
WTO: World Trade Organization
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

By familiarizing oneself with these common abbreviations, it becomes easier to navigate the complex world of acronyms and abbreviations across different fields and industries.

Types of Abbreviations

Abbreviations are a shortened form of words or phrases, which can be achieved through various methods. This section covers two main types of abbreviations: acronyms and initialisms.

Acronyms

Acronyms are formed by combining the initial letters of each word in a longer name or phrase, creating a new word. Examples include NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). In acronyms, the initial letters are pronounced as a single word, making it easier to remember and refer to the original phrase.

Some well-known acronyms include:

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

Initialisms

Initialisms, on the other hand, are a type of abbreviation where the initial letters of each word in a long phrase are taken and pronounced individually, not spoken as a word. For example, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and ATM (Automated Teller Machine) are initialisms because the individual letters are pronounced separately.

Here are some common initialisms:

CNN (Cable News Network)
DOB (Date of Birth)
BTW (By The Way)

Abbreviations, both acronyms and initialisms, are used extensively in various fields and industries to simplify communication and save time. The use of Latin abbreviations, such as “e.g.” (exempli gratia, meaning “for example”) and “i.e.” (id est, meaning “that is”), has become a common practice in writing as well. It’s essential to familiarize oneself with these abbreviations to ensure clear and concise communication.

Abbreviation Usage in Different Contexts

Time

Abbreviations are particularly useful when it comes to denoting time. For instance:

A.M. (ante meridiem) refers to the time before noon.
P.M. (post meridiem) denotes the time after noon.
B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini) are commonly used to indicate years before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, respectively.

Abbreviation	Full Term
A.M.	Ante Meridiem
P.M.	Post Meridiem
B.C.	Before Christ
A.D.	Anno Domini

Space

In spatial contexts, abbreviations can simplify measurements or designate locations. For example:

Km denotes kilometers, used as a unit of distance.
N, S, E, and W represent cardinal directions (North, South, East, and West), often used in navigation.

Abbreviation	Full Term
Km	Kilometer
N	North
S	South
E	East
W	West

Countries

Abbreviations are also utilized for the names of countries, often in the form of two- or three-letter codes. These codes follow the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 and alpha-3 standards. Examples include:

US (United States)
AU (Australia)
CAN (Canada)
BE (Belgium)
JP (Japan)

Abbreviation	Full Country Name
US	United States
AU	Australia
CAN	Canada
BE	Belgium
JP	Japan

In summary, abbreviations play a significant role in conveying information efficiently in a variety of contexts, such as time, space, and countries. They help simplify and streamline communication, allowing for better understanding and clarity.

Abbreviation Forms

Omitting

Omitting refers to the practice of leaving out certain letters or parts of a word to create an abbreviation. This is commonly done to save space or make the writing process more efficient. For example, “Apt.” is an abbreviation for the word “apartment,” where several letters have been omitted in the middle of the word.

In some cases, abbreviations may also be formed by omitting syllables from a word. This is especially common in technical jargon and scientific terminology.

Shortened Form

A shortened form of a word is created when one or more syllables are removed, and the remaining letters still represent the original word. These forms are often used in informal writing, but they can also be found in more formal contexts. Examples of shortened forms include “info” for “information,” “approx.” for “approximately,” and “hrs” for “hours.” Some shortened forms are so commonly used that they have become universally recognized, such as “TV” for “television” and “U.S.” for “United States.”

Capital Letters

Capital letters are used in abbreviations to indicate the first letter of each word in a phrase or to represent an entire word. Acronyms are a common example of this type of abbreviation, where the initial letters of a phrase are combined to form a new word. For instance, “NASA” stands for “National Aeronautics and Space Administration.”

In addition to acronyms, capital letters may also be used to create initialisms, which are abbreviations where the individual letters are pronounced separately, such as “URL” for “Uniform Resource Locator.”

When using capital letters in abbreviations, it is essential to follow proper guidelines and conventions to ensure clear and effective communication.

Punctuation and Plurals

When dealing with abbreviations, proper punctuation and plural formation are crucial to ensure clarity and maintain standard writing practices. In this section, we will discuss the appropriate ways to punctuate and form plurals of abbreviations.

Periods are often used at the end of abbreviations. For instance, “a.m.” (ante meridiem) and “p.m.” (post meridiem) both require periods after each letter. However, not all abbreviations require periods, such as acronyms where the initial letters form a pronounceable word. For example, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) does not need periods between the letters.

Creating plurals for abbreviations can be achieved by simply adding an “s” at the end. For example:

ATMs (Automated Teller Machines)
DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs)
ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers)

It is important to note that no apostrophe is needed when forming plurals of abbreviations.

Nevertheless, there are exceptions to this rule. When an abbreviation already ends in “s,” add another “s” or “es” to form the plural. For instance:

CMSs or CMSes (Content Management Systems)

Regarding possessive forms of abbreviations, an apostrophe followed by “s” can be used. For instance, “the CEO’s decision” is the correct possessive form and refers to the decision made by the Chief Executive Officer.

In summary, remember the following key points when working with abbreviations:

Use periods for certain abbreviations, but not for acronyms.
Add an “s” to form the plural of most abbreviations, without an apostrophe.
When an abbreviation ends in “s,” add another “s” or “es” to form the plural.
Use an apostrophe followed by “s” for possessive forms of abbreviations.

Abbreviations List

List of different types of abbreviations with meaning in English.

Business & Finance Abbreviations

Examples of common business abbreviations in English.

Assoc. = Association
Corp. = Corporation
Inc. = Incorporated
Ltd. = Limited
BKPR = Bookkeeper
LET = Leaving Early Today
FTE = Full-time Employee
OTP = On The Phone
WOM = Word of Mouth
IAM = In A Meeting
NIM = No Internal Message
PTE = Part-time Employee
NRN = No Reply Necessary
WIIFM = What’s In It For Me
WFH = Work From Home
HQ = Headquarters
LLC = Limited Liability Corp.

Marketing & Sales Acronyms

Examples of sales and marketing acronyms in English.

B2B = Business to Business
B2C = Business to Customer
BR = Bounce Rate
CMS = Content Management System
CPC = Cost Per Click
CTA = Call to Action
CTR = Click Through Rate
CR = Conversion Rate
DM = Direct Message
SEO = Search Engine Optimization
SM = Social Media
SWOT = Streng, Weekness, Opportunity, Threat
CX = Customer Experience
FB = Facebook
POS = Point of Sale
PV = Page Views
RTD = Real Time Data
SEM = Search Engine Marketing
SMM = Social Media Marketing
SMS = Short Message Service

Medical Abbreviations

a.c. = Before meals
a/g ratio = Albumin to globulin ratio.
b.i.d. = Twice daily
bld = Blood
BP = Blood Pressure
C/O = Complaint of
ETOH = Alcohol
ECT = Electro Conclusive Therapy
g = gram
GvHD = Graft vs. Host Disease
gtt = Drops
h.s. = At bedtime
HA = Headache
ICU = Intensive Care Unit
ITU = Intensive Therapy Unit
in vitro = In the laboratory
in vivo = In the body
IU = International Units
JT = Joint
LBP = Low Back Pain
mg = Milligrams
ml = Milliliters
M/H = Medical History
MVP = Mitral Valve Prolapse
N/V = Nausea or Vomiting
NCP = Nursing Care Plan
npo = Nothing by mouth
NSR = Normal sinus rhythm of the heart
O.D. = Right eye
O.S. = Left eye
O.U. = Both eyes
P = Pulse
p.o. = By mouth
p.r.n. = As needed
PD = Progressive disease
PT = Physical therapy
q.d. = Each day
q2h = Every 2 hours
qAM = Each morning
qhs = At each bedtime
qod = Every other day
qPM = Each evening
s/p = Status post
SOB = Shortness of Breath
T = Temperature
tab = Tablet
Wt = Weight

Title Abbreviations

P = President
VP = President
SVP = Senior Vice President
EVP = Executive Vice President
CMO = Chief Marketing Officer
CFO = Chief Financial Officer
CEO = Chief Executive Officer
PA = Personal Assistant
Dpt. = Department
Gov. = Government
Mgmt. = Management
Pol. = Politics
Capt. = Captain
Col. = Colonel
Dr. = Doctor
Gen. = General
Lt. = Lieutenant
MD = Medical Doctor
Mr. = Mister
Prof. = Professor
RN = Registered Nurse
St. = Saint
Sgt. = Sergeant
Sr. = Senior

Note-Taking/ Writing Abbreviations

Examples of common abbreviations for note taking.

Etc. = And more
E.g. = For example
I.e. = For example
W/= With
W/O = Without
B/c = Because
B/4 = Before
Ea. = Each
Fr. = From
S/t = Something
Gen. = Generally
E/o = Either/ or
Max = Maximum
Min = Minimum
Diff = Difference
Approx = Approximately
Cf = Compared to
V. = Very
Vs. = Against
K = thousand
Subj. = Subject
Int’l = International
<= Less than
>= Greater than
& = And
@ = At

Time Abbreviations

AM = Ante Meridiem (before noon)
PM = Post Meridiem (afternoon)
AD = After the Year 0
BC = Before the Year 0
hr = Hour
min = Minute
sec = Second

Postal Terms & Direction Terms

Apt. = Apartment
Ave. = Avenue
Ct. = Court
Dr. = Drive
Hwy. = Highway
Ln. = Lane
Mt. = Mountain/ Mount
Rd. = Road
St. = Street
Ste. = Suite

N = North
S = South
E = East
W = West

Measurement Abbreviations

Gal. = Gallon
Lb. = Pounds
Pt. = Pints
Qt. = Quarts
G = Gram
Kg = Kilogram
Cm = Centimeter
M = Meter
ft. = foot
in. = inch
mi. = mile
mph. = miles per hour
mg. = milligram
mm = milimeter
no. = number
oz = ounce
sq = square
vol. = volume

State Abbreviations

Calif. = California
Colo. = Colorado
D.C. = District of Columbia
Ga. = Georgia
Ind. = Indiana
Mich. = Michigan
Mont. = Montana
N.M. = New Mexico
N.J. = New Jersey
N.Y. = New York
S.C. = South Carolina

English Teaching Abbreviations

Examples of abbreviations for English language teaching.

BC: British Council
BE: Business English
BVT: Bilingual Vocational Training
CALI: Computer Assisted Language Instruction
CALL: Computer Assisted Language Learning
CanE: Canadian English
EAP: English for Academic Purposes
EFL: English as a Foreign Language
EGP: English for General Purposes
EIP: English as an International Language Programme
EL: English Learner
ELA: English Language Arts
ELD: English Language Development
ELT: English Language Teaching
ERIC: Educational Resources Information Center
ESL: English as a Second Language
ESLP: English as a Second Language Programme
ESOL: English for Speakers of Other Languages
IEP: Intensive English Programme (usually university programmes)
NEP: Non-English Proficient
NES: Non-English Speaking
NNEST: Non-Native English Speaking Teacher
OE: Old English
SAE: Standard American English
SAP: Student Assistance Program
SLL: Second Language Learner
TEFLA: Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults
TEIL: Teaching English as an International Language
TESL: Teaching English as a Second Language
TYLE: (Teaching) Young Learners English
VESL: Vocational English as a Second Language

Internet Acronyms & Text Abbreviations

Examples of text abbreviations and internet slang words.

SMH = Shaking my head
BRB = Be right back
IMO = In my opinion
CYA = Cover Your A** or See Ya
DIKY = Do I Know You?
IDK / IDKE = I Don’t Know / I Don’t Know Either
ILY = I Love You
HBU = How About You?
LMAO = Laughing My A** Off
LMK = Let Me Know
NVM = Nevermind
OFC = Of Course
PNL = Peace and Love
ROFL = Rolling on the Floor Laughing
SNMP = So Not My Problem
STFU = Shut the F*** Up
TAY = Thinking About You
TBH = To Be Honest
TTP = To the Point
QAP = Quick as Possible
YGTI = You Get the Idea
AMA = Ask Me Anything
DAE = Does Anyone Else?
ELI5 = Explain Like I’m 5
TIL = Today I Learned
FTFY = Fixed That For You
BAE = Babe or Before Anyone Else
Facepalm = Seriously?
HIFW = How I Feel/Felt When
MFW/MRW = My Face When / My Reaction When
ICYMI = In Case You Missed It
JSYK = Just So You Know
Lulz = Laughs
IRL = In Real Life
MIRL = Me in Real Life
PAW = Parents Are Watching
QFT = Quoted for Truth
TBT = Throwback Thursday
TL;DR = Too Long; Didn’t Read
YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary
YOLO = You Only Live Once
DOKY = Do I Know You?
Noob = Newbie
NSFW = Not Safe For Work