Shortened forms checklist
Term | Example | Short for | Style convention |
Abbreviation | Inc. | Incorporated | Use the first few letters of the word, followed by a fullstop. |
Contraction | Dr, Ltd | Doctor Limited |
Use the first and last letters of the word, with no fullstop. |
Acronym | Qantas | Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services | The first letters from a phrase are pronounced as a new word. Sometimes the original meaning is forgotten (scuba, sonar). |
Initialism | FAQ | Frequently asked question | Similar to acronyms, but each letter of the initialism is pronounced, rather than being read as a single word. |
Symbol | cm | centimetre | Set by international standards for units of measurement and concepts. |
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