An abbreviation is a shortened type of a phrase or phrases; as a result of there are alternative ways to shorten phrases, there are a number of several types of abbreviations. For instance, you could possibly do away with a syllable or two, create a contraction, or use the primary letters of a number of phrases to create a wholly new phrase.

If you wish to make an abbreviation, you have got a number of choices. On this information, we clarify the varieties of abbreviations, describe how they work, and supply loads of abbreviation examples so you possibly can see the way it’s achieved.

What are abbreviations in English?

An abbreviation is only a quick model of an extended phrase or a phrase. For instance, the phrase advert is an abbreviation of commercial, and the phrase don’t is an abbreviation of don’t. Abbreviations are prevalent in each talking and writing. They’re current in most languages as properly, so abbreviations in English aren’t the one ones.

The aim of abbreviations is to make communication extra environment friendly through the use of smaller phrases. That is most obvious in acronyms, one of many varieties of abbreviations we talk about beneath. An acronym takes the primary letter (or letters) of a set of phrases and provides them collectively to create a brand-new phrase. On this means, an acronym replaces a protracted string of phrases with only a single one, making communication that a lot simpler.

Varieties of abbreviations: What are the 5 abbreviation sorts?

There are a number of alternative ways to shorten phrases, and never all of them can be utilized on each phrase. Earlier than we talk about the varieties of abbreviations individually, right here’s a fast checklist of them so you realize what to anticipate. We’ll describe how every of those phrases is usually used, however try to be conscious that precise definitions typically fluctuate.

1
Clipping: eradicating complete syllables to make phrases shorter

2
Contractions: eradicating sure letters to make phrases shorter, and typically combining two or extra phrases, with lacking letters changed by an apostrophe

3
Initialism: combining the primary letters of a number of phrases, with the end result pronounced as particular person letters

4
Acronyms: combining the primary letters of a number of phrases, with the end result pronounced as a brand new phrase

5
Textese (on-line slang): a contemporary type of communication that makes use of particular person letters, numbers, and symbols to scale back typing time

Under we clarify how every kind of abbreviation works, together with some frequent examples for every.

1
Clipping

Clipping refers back to the removing of complete syllables from phrases, often from the top. What’s left is often one or two syllables that individuals can nonetheless simply acknowledge. Clipping is so frequent that always the abbreviation is far more widespread than the total model of the phrase. It’s additionally ceaselessly used with individuals’s names to create nicknames.

Clipping doesn’t often require extra punctuation. In formal writing like analysis papers, spelling out your complete phrase is most well-liked, and clipping is averted; this usually applies to contractions as properly.

Clipping abbreviation examples

• advert (commercial)
• examination (examination)
• app (software)
• rhino (rhinoceros)
• flu (influenza)
• Liz or Beth (Elizabeth)

2
Contractions

Contractions are one of the frequent varieties of abbreviations. It entails eradicating particular person letters, as a substitute of complete syllables as in clipping. You could be accustomed to contractions that use the apostrophe, like can’t or you’re, however these aren’t the one contractions.

Loads of contractions use punctuation to point out {that a} phrase has been shortened, often a interval or apostrophe. Formal titles usually use a interval to type a contraction, similar to Dr. for physician, and months usually do the identical, like Jan. for January (which additionally incorporates clipping).

Contractions are additionally regular when writing addresses, like St. for Road or Apt. for Condo. Sometimes abbreviations are used for correct names in addresses, whereas they don’t seem to be used to switch phrases used generically. For instance, it’s incorrect to put in writing, “What st. do you reside on?”

Not all contractions use punctuation, nonetheless. For instance, cm for centimeter doesn’t use any punctuation, whereas in. stands for inches. The punctuation used with a unit of measurement is expounded to the fashion being follwed, so all the time double-check the correct approach to write a contraction in case you are unsure.

It’s additionally price noting that some contractions use letters that aren’t even within the authentic phrase. For instance, the contraction lbs. for the unit of mass kilos makes use of letters from the outdated Latin phrase libra.

Contraction abbreviation examples

• can’t (can’t)
• may’ve (may have)
• it’s (it’s or it has)
• I’ll (I’ll)
• Mr. and Mrs. (Mister and Missus)
• Dr. (physician)
• Jan. (January)
• Ave. (Avenue)
• Apt. (Condo)
• pt (pint)
• in (inch)
• lbs (kilos)
• ft (foot or ft)

3
Initialisms

An initialism is just using initials—utilizing the primary letter of a phrase to characterize your complete phrase. Initialism is kind of frequent for names, each of individuals and organizations, as a approach to shorten lengthy strings of phrases, particularly in writing. For instance, the creator of The Lord of the Rings, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, is extra popularly often called J. R. R. Tolkien.

When talking, pronounce initialisms by saying the identify of every letter. That is the first distinction between initialisms and acronyms, with acronyms pronounced like phrases.

Initialisms could or could not use durations after the letters. Historically durations have been used to sign an abbreviation, similar to U.S.A., however extra trendy writing tends to desert the durations for the sake of brevity, as in USA.

If initials are used to abbreviate your complete identify of an individual, don’t use durations; for instance, when you’re abbreviating Martin Luther King, use MLK, not M. L. Okay.

Initialism abbreviation examples

• FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
• UFO (Unidentified Flying Object)
• CEO (Chief Govt Officer)
• CCTV (Closed Circuit TeleVision)
• FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt)
• MBA (Grasp of Enterprise Administration)
• FAQ (Incessantly Requested Questions)

4
Acronyms

Identical to initialism, acronyms mix the primary letters of a number of phrases. Nonetheless, the large distinction is that these letters are pronounced collectively like a brand-new phrase, as a substitute of claiming every letter individually.

Abbreviations in English use acronyms greater than you may assume. For instance, do you know the phrase laser is an acronym for Mild Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation? Acronyms like laser are used so usually, individuals are inclined to neglect the phrases they’re alleged to characterize.

Acronyms could be both capitalized or lowercase, relying on the phrase. In the event you’re not sure about which type to make use of, seek the advice of a dictionary.

Acronym abbreviation examples

• PIN (Private Identification Quantity)
• NASA (Nationwide Aeronautics and House Administration)
• RAM (Random Entry Reminiscence)
• scuba (Self-Contained Underwater Respiration Equipment)
• radar (RAdio Detection And Ranging)
• zip code (Zone Enchancment Plan code)

5
Textese (on-line slang)

Final is the newest addition to the varieties of abbreviations: on-line slang, or textese because it’s generally identified. Textese was born out of a necessity to hurry up typing time on computer systems, cellphones, and comparable units. The thought is to make use of minimal characters to characterize phrases so you possibly can ship a message quicker, similar to typing U as a substitute of you.

Textese is a broad time period that covers any type of typed communication, from telephone texting to e-mail acronyms. Textese attracts on the opposite varieties of abbreviations, typically utilizing initialism (irl for in actual life), typically utilizing contractions (bc for as a result of), and typically inventing solely new phrases by combining letters and numbers primarily based on sounds (gr8 for nice).

As a result of it’s a sort of slang, there are not any actual grammar or formality guidelines—the extra you follow it, the quicker you be taught it.

Textese abbreviation examples

• lol (snort out loud)
• btw (by the way in which)
• imo (for my part)
• idk (I don’t know)
• wat (what)
• bc (as a result of)
• wknd (weekend)

What are the highest 10 abbreviations in English?

Right here’s a listing of ten of the most typical abbreviations in English, loosely primarily based on a listing by Go Pure English.

1
 don’t (don’t)

2
 can’t (can’t)

3
 received’t (won’t)

4
 he/she/it’s (he/she/it’s or has)

5
 I’m, you/we/they’re (I’m, you/we/they’re)

6
 I/you/we/they’ve (I/you/we/they have)

7
 Mr. (Mister)

8
 PM (put up meridiem)

9
 AM (ante meridiem)

10
 okay (okay)