Abbreviations are shortcuts for long words and phrases. It helps read tough and complex words easier. Abbreviations are shortened as abbr., abbrv., or abbrev. Acronyms are similar to abbreviations; however, there is a distinction between the two. When writing in shorthand, abbreviations come in handy.
One thing to keep in mind concerning abbreviations is that many of them are non-standard or informal. As a result, many abbreviations are not defined consistently among dictionaries, and others aren’t described at all, implying that they aren’t regarded as genuine words. In this article, we will discuss the importance and some general full forms that are used in our day-to-day life.
Rules of Abbreviations
Rule 1
When employing an abbreviation for the first time, the abbreviation must be enclosed in parentheses following the word. Take the Indian Institute of Technology as an example (IIT).
Rule 2
Proper nouns are capitalised, but common nouns are not. The Reserve Bank of India, for example, is abbreviated as RBI.
Rule 3
Use abbreviations for common terms. Take the following examples: USA – the United States of America, TV – Television, FBI, IAS, and so on.
Rule 4
The titles or professions can be abbreviated while still being used with the full name or initials. One such person is Dr Mehta.
Rule 5
Some abbreviations do not require periods (.) to represent dates. Examples include 400 BC and 400 AD.
Rule 6
Months and days of the week can be abbreviated while still being used with the full date, for instance, on December 5, 1924.
Rule 7
The clock time can be abbreviated. A person can employ capital letters and periods together or separately. When utilising lowercase letters, you must use periods. When there is no time associated with an abbreviation, it cannot be used. For instance, at 8 a.m., 7 p.m., and so on.
Rule 8
Abbreviations without periods can be used for time zones. IST is Indian Standard Time, whereas EST denotes Eastern Standard Time.
Rule 9
Some scientific or measuring words can be abbreviated. Kilogram, for example, is shortened as kg. Kilometres per hour is abbreviated as Kmph.
Types of Abbreviations
In scientific writing, there are two sorts of acronyms that are often employed. There are both standard and non-standard abbreviations in this category.
Standard abbreviations
Standard abbreviations, such as units of measurement, do not need to be spelt out at all. These widely established acronyms can be used straight in the document. Measurement units (g for grams, m for metre, s for seconds, and so on) and abbreviated versions of chemical components are examples (Na for sodium, Ca for calcium, K for potassium, etc.).
Non-standard abbreviations
These are non-standard, field-specific acronyms that the author must specify in the manuscript’s initial introduction.
There are several non-standard acronyms that do not require a definition, such as ‘LASER’ (full form: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) or ‘RADAR’ (full form: Radio Detection and Ranging). Because of their popularity and extensive use, they are listed as terms in several prominent dictionaries.
Examples of Full forms
Here are some examples of full forms. We have provided a full form list that we use in our daily life as well as in our professional life.
- ASAP – As soon as possible
- CFL – Compact fluorescent lamp
- NCR – National Capital Region
- DP – Display Picture
- IPL – Indian Premier League
- DSLR – Digital Single-lens reflex
- PS – PostScript
- AM – Ante Meridiem
- PM – Post Meridiem
- ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning
- FYI – For Your Information
- MLA – Member of Legislative Assembly
- BA – Bachelor of Arts
- BAE – Before Anyone Else
- BAMS – Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery
- BARC – Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
- BASIC – Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code
Importance of Using Abbreviations
The brief version of a word or phrase is called an abbreviation. It’s a collection of letters derived from a word or phrase. Abbreviations are sometimes read as whole words. In basic terms, an abbreviation is a word or phrase that has been abbreviated, reduced, or contracted. The majority of acronyms begin with a capital letter and conclude with a period (full stop).
- An abbreviation is a short, simple, and expedient method to express something.
- It reduces the amount of time, effort, and space required.
- It’s more convenient to use in everyday writing.
- The use of an abbreviation facilitates reading.
The article is composed with the goal to go about as an introduction for first time financial backers to become familiar with putting resources into NFTs and to teach them on what to search for while selecting the popular NFTs for sale.
