Abbreviations, acronyms, contractions, initialisms
Abbreviations
Abbreviations comprise the first letter or letters of a word. Readers can misunderstand abbreviations, so avoid using them in general text. Don’t add a full stop after abbreviations, except for Latin abbreviations.
Examples
- p for page
- cont for continued
- et. al.
Acronyms and initialisms
Abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms are shortened-word forms.
An acronym is a string of initial letters pronounced as a word, such as CHIRI.
An initialism is a string of initials letters individually pronounced, such as FBL.
When using an acronym/initialism, spell the word in full in the first instance and add the acronym/initialism in brackets after the word. Use the acronym/initialism for subsequent mentions. If there is only one instance of the word, do not include the acronym in brackets.
Initialisms are often preceded by the definite article the.
Example
The World Health Organization (WHO) has boosted its malaria screening program in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The PNG government has welcomed the WHO’s additional resources.
Some acronyms/initialisms are better known than the full name and are the preferred reference in general text. They don’t need to be written in full in the first instance.
Examples
CSIRO; CAT scan; DNA; HTML
Do not precede an acronym with the definite article the.
Write
Dr da Silva spent six weeks at CSIRO.
Don’t write
Dr da Silva spent six weeks at the CSIRO.
Contractions
In conversational and informal text, use contractions such as you’ll and you’re to improve readability and flow. Spelling the word in full in the first instance and using the contraction in the subsequent instance helps to minimise word repetition.
Example
This year, you will complete 35 hours of practical experience. Next year, you’ll complete 70 hours of practical experience.
Keep in mind, though, that words spelled in full may be better for an international readership that doesn’t have English as their first language. For them, punctuation for shortened forms may add to the cognitive load.
Countries
Abbreviate the United Kingdom and the United States of America, to UK and US respectively. For all other countries, write the names in full in the first instance and add the initialism in brackets if there is a subsequent mention. Do not include full-stops in the abbreviation.
Example
It’s often assumed that New Zealand (NZ) is Australia’s closest neighbour, yet Papua New Guinea is almost 2,000 km closer to our border than NZ.
Latin abbreviations
Do not use Latin abbreviations in general text (for example, i.e., e.g.). but they are fine for tables.
Names and initials
Don’t insert full stops and spaces between initials.
Write
Dr William LP Sanders
Don’t write
Dr William L.P. Sanders