What Is an Abbreviation? Definition, Types and Examples

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase used for convenience, brevity, or to fit space constraints. Abbreviations are common in many types of writing, including informal notes, business correspondence, technical documents, and academic texts. When used properly, abbreviations save time and effort, but it’s important to ensure that they are clear to your intended audience, especially if the abbreviation isn’t widely known.

Table of contents

What Is an Abbreviation?

An abbreviation is a condensed form of a word or phrase created by omitting letters or syllables. Most abbreviations maintain the original pronunciation or are easily recognizable forms of the longer word, phrase, or name.

Key Points:

• Abbreviations often appear in dictionaries or style guides.
• They can be formed from the first letters of words, from the initial letters and first few letters of words, or by truncating the end of a word.
• Some abbreviations are well-known and do not require explanation, while others should be defined upon first use.

Types of Abbreviations

1. Initialisms

These are formed using the first letters of a group of words, where each letter is pronounced individually.
Example:

• FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation
• HTML – HyperText Markup Language
• ATM – Automated Teller Machine

2. Acronyms

Acronyms are also made from the first letters of words but are pronounced as a single word.
Example:

• NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• COVID – Coronavirus Disease
• SCUBA – Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

3. Shortenings

These abbreviations are created by cutting off parts of the word, typically the beginning, end, or middle.
Example:

• App – Application
• Info – Information
• Doc – Document

4. Contractions

Contractions combine two words by omitting certain letters and replacing them with an apostrophe.
Example:

• Don’t – Do not
• It’s – It is
• They’re – They are

5. Clipped Words

These are shortened versions of longer words but without any added punctuation.
Example:

• Gym – Gymnasium
• Prof – Professor
• Math – Mathematics

6. Portmanteaus

These are formed by blending two words together to create a new term.
Example:

• Brunch – Breakfast + Lunch
• Motel – Motor + Hotel
• Smog – Smoke + Fog

7. Symbols and Shortcodes

Abbreviations often use symbols or letters as shortcuts, especially in texting and online communication.
Example:

• @ – At
• # – Number or hashtag
• LOL – Laughing Out Loud

8. Latin Abbreviations

These are derived from Latin and are commonly used in academic or professional contexts.
Example:

• etc. – Et cetera (and so on)
• e.g. – Exempli gratia (for example)
• i.e. – Id est (that is)

9. Technical and Scientific Abbreviations

Specific industries use specialized abbreviations to represent complex terms.
Example:

• DNA – Deoxyribonucleic Acid
• AI – Artificial Intelligence
• PC – Personal Computer

10. Custom/Slang Abbreviations

People often create casual abbreviations in social or cultural contexts.
Example:

• YOLO – You Only Live Once
• TBH – To Be Honest
• BFF – Best Friends Forever

When and How to Use Abbreviations

1. Clarity and Audience: Use abbreviations your audience will understand. If the abbreviation is not widely recognized, define it at the first mention.
   • Example: “The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded in 1948. The WHO is responsible for international public health.”
2. Formal vs. Informal Context:
   • In formal academic or business writing, introduce the full term before using an abbreviation.
   • In informal writing (emails, notes, texting), many abbreviations are acceptable without explanation.
3. Consistency: Once you’ve introduced and defined an abbreviation, use it consistently throughout the document. Do not switch back and forth between the full form and the abbreviation unnecessarily.
4. Style Guides: Different style guides (APA, MLA, Chicago) have rules on using abbreviations. Consult these if you’re writing academically or professionally.

Common Abbreviations and Their Meanings

General/Common Abbreviations:

• Mr. (Mister)
• Mrs. (Missus)
• Ms. (Used for women regardless of marital status)
• Dr. (Doctor)
• St. (Street or Saint, depending on context)
• Ave. (Avenue)
• Blvd. (Boulevard)
• Rd. (Road)
• etc. (et cetera = and so forth)
• e.g. (exempli gratia = for example)
• i.e. (id est = that is)
• vs. (versus = against)
• approx. (approximately)
• min. (minute)
• hr. (hour)
• dept. (department)
• tel. (telephone)
• no. (number)
• fig. (figure)
• Oct. (October), Nov. (November), etc.

Measurement & Technical Abbreviations:

• kg (kilogram)
• cm (centimeter)
• mm (millimeter)
• km (kilometer)
• lb. (pound)
• oz. (ounce)
• sq. (square), as in “sq. ft.” (square feet)
• vol. (volume)
• yr. (year)
• min. (also used for minute as a unit of time)
• sec. (second)

Organization & Institutional Abbreviations:

• USA (United States of America)
• UK (United Kingdom)
• UN (United Nations)
• FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
• CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)
• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
• EU (European Union)

Computing & Internet:

• URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
• HTML (HyperText Markup Language)
• PDF (Portable Document Format)
• FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Academic and Professional:

• Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)
• M.A. (Master of Arts)
• B.S. (Bachelor of Science)
• MBA (Master of Business Administration)
• Inc. (Incorporated)
• Corp. (Corporation)
• Ltd. (Limited)
• Co. (Company)

Texting and Informal:

• ASAP (As Soon As Possible)
• FYI (For Your Information)
• LOL (Laughing Out Loud)
• BRB (Be Right Back)
• OMG (Oh My God)
• BTW (By The Way)
• IDK (I Don’t Know)

Tips for Using Abbreviations Properly

1. Define Unfamiliar Abbreviations: At first mention in formal documents, write the full term followed by the abbreviation in parentheses.
   • Example: “According to the World Health Organization (WHO),…”
2. Use Periods Consistently (Where Applicable): Some abbreviations still use periods (e.g., “U.S.” for United States). Check style guides for consistency.
3. Avoid Overusing Abbreviations: Too many abbreviations can confuse readers. Use them sparingly and only when they enhance readability.
4. Check for Case Sensitivity: Some acronyms and initialisms are always capitalized, while others might be lowercase or a mix (e.g., “eBay,” “iPhone”). Follow the official style.

Examples in Sentences

1. Introducing an Abbreviation:
   • “The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established in 1958. NASA is responsible for the U.S. civilian space program.”
2. Using Abbreviations for Units:
   • “The box weighs 5 kg.”
   • “We need 10 cm of wire.”
3. In Formal Writing (After Definition):
   • “We collected data from the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s reports indicate a rise in global health issues.”
4. Informal Context:
   • “FYI, the meeting starts at 3 p.m.”
   • “He lives on Elm St. near the new cafe.”

Practice Exercise

1. Identify the abbreviated forms and write their full forms:
   • “We need to check the FAQ before calling support.”
   • “The U.S. is conducting research on Mars.”
   • “She has a Ph.D. in Chemistry.”
2. Rewrite the sentence introducing the abbreviation properly:
   • “WHO studies global health issues.” (Assume no prior mention of WHO)
3. Choose the correct abbreviation for the United Nations:
   • (A) Un.
   • (B) U.N.
   • (C) UN

Suggested Answers

1. Full Forms:
   • FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
   • U.S.: United States
   • Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy
2. Introducing the abbreviation:
   • “The World Health Organization (WHO) studies global health issues. The WHO has many ongoing initiatives.”
3. Correct abbreviation for the United Nations:
   • (C) UN