Abbreviations

Abbreviations are used to make long titles or phrases shorter and quicker to say, read and spell. We use abbreviations all the time without actually acknowledging or recognising them for what they are, and often we mistake one form of abbreviation for another.

Strictly defined, an abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase created by removing the end of a word or words, leaving the initial letter and sometimes some subsequent ones. Dip Ed, e.g., PhD.

A contraction is a shortened form that has both the first and last letters of a word or words, with other letters sometimes used too. Mrs, St, Dr.

An acronym is made from the first letters of a phrase and pronounced as a single word. NASA, radar, NATO.

An initialism is similar to an acronym but is pronounced letter by letter. SPCA, BMI, KPI.

In writing, when using an abbreviation for the first time it is important to spell out the entire phrase and have the abbreviation in parenthesis to remove any confusion when the abbreviation is used on its own later on. “Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.” Some abbreviations are so well known that they do not require an explanation, but if in doubt always use caution and fully explain the first instance of an abbreviation.