Formal writing Types of abbreviations

Latin abbreviations

Latin abbreviations in English include a number of various abbreviations; some of them are quite common in written English. For example: a.m., p.m., e.g., i.e., etc.

Some Latin abbreviations are always read as abbreviations. For example, "a.m." ['ei'em] and "p.m." ['pi:'em]: He got up at 7:00 a.m. (read as "at seven a.m.")

Some other Latin abbreviations are always read as full words of their English equivalents. For example, "e.g." is read as "for example"; "i.e." is read as "that is".

(Read more about Latin abbreviations in "Latin abbreviations in formal text" below. Also, various Latin abbreviations are described in Latin Expressions in Englishin the section Idioms.)

Abbreviations of names of countries, states, streets, months

Generally, the names of countries should not be abbreviated. Names of some countries may be abbreviated in tables, footnotes, and the like. There may be variants of spelling, as well as preferences in use. For example, "U.S." is used as an adjective or noun; "U.S.A." and "USA" are used as nouns; "USA" is used mostly in mailing addresses. The noun "United States" can be used in most cases.

Abbreviations of the names of the states of the United States exist in two variants: two-letter postal abbreviations and older traditional state abbreviations. For example: AL and Ala. (Alabama); CA and Calif. (California); KS and Kans. (Kansas); NC and N.C. (North Carolina); TN and Tenn. (Tennessee); WY and Wyo. (Wyoming). Abbreviated state names are read in the same way as their unabbreviated names. State abbreviations are usually spelled out in formal writing.

Abbreviations on road signs and in mailing addresses, for example, "Ave., Blvd., Hwy., Rd., R.R., St.; Apt., Bldg.", are said as their full words: "avenue, boulevard, highway, road, railroad, street; apartment, building".

Abbreviations of the names of months and days of the week, for example, "Jan., Feb., Mar., Jul., Sept., Dec.; Mon., Tues., Fri., Sat.", are said as their full words: "January, February, March, July, September, December; Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday". Such abbreviations may be used where space is really tight (for example, in tables) or in informal writing (for example, in short messages to friends).