Abbreviations-homographs
There are many homographs among English abbreviations. Their spelling may be the same or almost the same, but they stand for different words and have different meanings. For example, compare the following abbreviations: L.A., LA, La.; St., St.
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"L.A." may stand for "Latin America" or "Los Angeles"; "LA" and "La." stand for "Louisiana". "St." after a name stands for "Street" (for example, Franklin St., Beacon St.); "St." before a name stands for "Saint" (for example, St. Peter, St. Louis).
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These abbreviations are used in writing; they are pronounced as their full words in speech: Latin America; Los Angeles; Louisiana; Street; Saint. Note: In colloquial usage, L.A. (Los Angeles) may be pronounced ['el'ei].
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Many other abbreviations (especially one-letter abbreviations) may have many more variants; it may be difficult to recognize and understand them even with the help of a good dictionary. It is advisable to use only those abbreviations in texts of general character that readers can recognize and understand easily.
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Abbreviations in formal writing
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As mentioned above, abbreviations are rarely used in formal writing of general character. Stylebooks usually recommend avoiding abbreviations in formal and ordinary writing of general character, with the exception of certain standard abbreviations.
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Standard abbreviations that are considered appropriate for use in formal writing are described below. (Of course, standard abbreviations acceptable in formal writing can also be used in tables, footnotes, lists, and the like.)
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