Once you’re writing one thing in a proper, enterprise model, it may be tempting to only say no to all abbreviations.
However abbreviations could make it simpler on your viewers to learn your piece moderately than getting misplaced in a tangle of lengthy firm names or wordy trade phrases.
Nonetheless, there are proper methods and incorrect methods to make use of abbreviations on every little thing from months to tutorial levels to firm names.
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Let’s take a tour by means of how AP model, the gold normal for communicators, approaches quite a lot of completely different abbreviations. This listing shouldn’t be inclusive however ought to assist you cowl a number of the commonest conditions you may run into.
Keep in mind: It’s OK to develop your individual home model that deviates from AP model. Simply ensure you’re constant — that is the proper factor to incorporate in your in-house model information.
A word on acronyms
An acronym is a sort of abbreviation the place moderately than shortening a single phrase — assume “co.” as a substitute of “firm” — every phrase in a phrase is lowered to a letter or two. Examples of this may embrace an organization title — Hewlett Packard on first reference, then HP thereafter — or a time period, like return on funding turning into ROI.
The necessary factor to recollect with these shortenings is that it isn’t mandatory to place the acronym after your first use of the phrase in both parentheses or offset with commas. AP says it ought to be apparent what the acronym stands for on second reference otherwise you shouldn’t use it.
Intervals
Normally, two-letter acronyms ought to have intervals, as in U.S., U.Okay. or U.N. Nonetheless, frequent exceptions embrace AP (because it’s a trademark) and ID. In most different circumstances, omit intervals until it will spell one other phrase.
Names
Typically, AP model avoids using courtesy titles like “mister” or “missus” earlier than a reputation, until in a direct quote. The one exception is using “Dr.” on the primary reference — however that is reserved for medical medical doctors, not these with different superior tutorial levels. These, AP model says, ought to be designated with one thing just like: Jane Doe, who holds a doctorate in physics.
If an individual has a suffix after their title, it ought to be styled as Jr. or Sr.
State names
Normally, state names usually are not abbreviated and ought to be spelled out in full, both alone or together with a metropolis title. Nonetheless, this can be a comparatively latest change, so don’t beat your self up in case you’ve nonetheless been abbreviating.
There are two main exceptions: in datelines (which you in all probability aren’t utilizing) or in tables, which you will be. If you’re abbreviating, don’t use postal code abbreviations — use these.
Time
If you wish to point out one thing occurred within the morning or at night time, use a.m. or p.m., lowercase and with intervals.
When referring to a month by itself, write it out in full. Nonetheless, if used together with a date, abbreviate these months, with a interval: Jan., Feb., Aug, Sept., Oct, Nov., Dec. All others ought to be written out in full.
Except in a desk, don’t abbreviate days of the week.
Addresses
Right here we get to a few of AP’s weirder guidelines the place it’s laborious to find out a rhyme or motive behind what’s abbreviated and what’s not.
Spell out avenue, boulevard and road when they’re used with out a road quantity: He lives on Pine Avenue. Abbreviate these as ave., blvd. and st. when used with a quantity: He lives at 123 Pine St.
Nonetheless, all different road names — alley, drive, highway, courtroom, lane, terrace, you title it — are at all times spelled out.
This can be a case the place you need to standardize round at all times utilizing abbreviations, it doesn’t matter what the highway title is.
Cardinal instructions ought to be abbreviated when used with a numbered deal with: He lives at 123 N. Pine St.
Allison Carter is govt editor of PR Each day. Observe her on Twitter or LinkedIn.
