Questions tagged [abbreviations]
For questions about the shortened forms of words or phrases.
112
questions
0
votes
0answers
25 views
“Section 2 and 3” or “Sections 2 and 3”?
Consider the following sentence, "In Section 2 and Section 3 of the report, we have seen ...".
If I want to omit the second "Section", should I make the first "Section" plural and say "In Sections 2 ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
How to write an abbreviation of a plural form of the term
If I am writing text which contains plural form of a term that I include its abbreviation in brackets, should I include the s in the term itself inside the brackets or outside or not include the s in ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Can I shorten the word “subtitles” to “sub's”?
I wanted to use the form of colloquial speech in my writing, having the word abbreviation in context to simplify speech.
"It's cool that you to create english sub's"
and
"It's cool that you to ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Is it approperiate to use months abbreviations in academic writing?
Is it appropriate to use months abbreviations in academic writing? For example:
As of Aug. 2015, the program usage hit 50%
-1
votes
2answers
49 views
What is the meaning of a.k.a. abreviation?
I have saw this expression been used very often in colloquial textual conversations (as in this question for example), but I don't know what it means.
0
votes
1answer
52 views
What do the abbreviations “Ms.” and “Mrs” stand for?
What do the abbreviations "Ms." and "Mrs." stand for? and why do they have a capital letters?
I mean, we use to pronounce them totally different from what we write and see, and we add them a full ...
-1
votes
1answer
85 views
Is the use of '1991-9' annoying/confusing?
As a native, do you understand what '1991-9' means? Do you find it annoying or confusing?
Maybe, '1991-99' would be better? '1991-1999' contains too many symbols, I would like to shorten it a bit.
1
vote
2answers
49 views
Is it correct to use “cetera” by itself, replacing “et” with “and”?
I've always preferred variations of "etc" and "et cetera":
"and cetera"
"&c"
"Cetera" is Latin and though we may borrow the Latin phrase in English, it might not be correct in formal settings to ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views
Which one is correct? Docs or Doc?
An abbreviated word for 'documentary' would be doc. However, it could be also reffered as doctor as well. Should I use 'docs' instead? Is there any chances people might misunderstand or confuse it ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
Where should one use tl;dr?
As I understand, tl;dr stands for too long didn't read. However I came across this post, in which the op said tl;dr at the beginning. What does that mean? Exactly what did the op not read?
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Should “a” vs “an” be chosen based on an expanded abbreviation? [duplicate]
The indefinite article "an" is used when the following word starts with a vowel sound. For example one write "an adjective" but "a noun".
However, when an abbreviation is used, should this be based ...
0
votes
1answer
312 views
Why is between abbreviated as b/w?
I saw such usages many times(including one in this blog post I saw just now) especially when we are writing on the blackboard, but I don't know why between is simplified as b/w. It seems very strange ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
Write '-(e)s' in italic or not?
When using certain abbreviations in italic, should '-(e)s' representing plural form written in italic?
For example,
We call a mobile node that senses the surrounding information MN.
Blah, ...
0
votes
2answers
26 views
What does the letter X (=times) stand for?
In many places we meet the letter X as a sign for times. Whether it's in primary school (5x5=25) or when we use lenses of camera or microscope we see the letter X in meaning of times (10X, 1000X etc.)....
0
votes
2answers
56 views
Is there a rule of thumb for simplifications like “it looks like rain today”
I am wondering if there's any rule to know when or where we can simplify sentences like
It looks like rain again today
Which I think it's the short version of
It looks like that it's gonna rain ...
1
vote
1answer
288 views
What does the acronym “btf” mean? [closed]
What does the acronym "btf" mean in the following sentence:
This project was a labour of love that took developers btf five years to
accomplish.
1
vote
2answers
48 views
Are abbreviations “proper” words? [closed]
As a consequence of a different discussion, I realized this:
Are abbreviations "proper" words?
(I use the broad meaning for abbreviation, not the strictest meaning)
E.g.:
C.I.A.
abbr.
Prof.
Dr.
.....
2
votes
1answer
43 views
Is it okay to use IS like this in informal writing?
Ronnie's a bad influence on her. Keep him away.
Can we use an apostrophe and "S" to say is at the end of a name to say somebody is when writing informally?
0
votes
3answers
106 views
Irregularity allowance?
In The Netherlands it is possible that you get paid extra (above your hourly wage) if you have 'irregular' working hours, e.g. you work at uncommon times, like Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
use of the word they're
Proper use of the word they're in a sentence. Example
They're camping out
or
They are camping out
or
Their camping out
Which usage is correct? Is using the word "they're" ...
0
votes
1answer
470 views
What do “ed:XXX” meaning in translated manga?
For example(8 page):
http://mangahasu.se/onii-chan-wa-oshimai/vol-6-chapter-17-mahiro-and-the-onsen-
panic-first-part-c590411.html#8
I can't find a tool to query such abbreviations word.
1
vote
2answers
130 views
Bae stands for?
If bae stands for 'before anyone else', when somebody mention salt bae (Nusret Gokce-the meat guy), does it mean he is the one doing that salting move before anyone else?
0
votes
1answer
858 views
Is it acceptable to use “etc.” in IELTS Writing Exam?
Someone told me that "etc." is not formal. However, based on my research in internet, some people said that it is acceptable to use "etc." in academic paper.
How about IELTS writing exam then? Is "...
-2
votes
1answer
54 views
Should I start abbreviations with capital letters in titles?
The title of a section in my paper is
Bipolar Disorder Def.
Should it be "Def." or "def."?
1
vote
1answer
183 views
Abbreviation for supervisor
The simple version of my question would be: "What is the abbreviation of 'Supervisor'"?
However, I will add some explaining. I am abbreviating the word "operator" as "Op" already (size constraints) ...
0
votes
1answer
352 views
can the abbreviation for “Schedule” be used for “scheduled”?
I read in writing explained.org that "schedule" can be abbreviated as Sched or Skd.
Can these abbreviations be used for "Scheduled"? (as in a task scheduled for 5.30pm)
Any suggestions for ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
BSc, MSc, PhD vs. B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D
ODO prefers Ph.D. over PhD in US English. But at the same time, there is no B.Sc. and no M.Sc. entry in OED, which leads me into thinking that there is a mismatch: Ph.D. is typically written with ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views
What is RA abbreviation for?
In a joke image (second image from top), there's mentioning of preparing for RA inspection.
Googling leads to medical material on rheumatism and disambiguitization produces way too many different ...
0
votes
2answers
104 views
Can “A.K.A” be used also in speech or in writing only?
Can "A.K.A" abbreviation be used also in the speech language or in the writing only?
If it can be used in speech, then are there another abbreviations (not of companies of course, or science) that ...
44
votes
10answers
49k views
What does “call BS” mean in the sentence “We call BS”?
What does BS mean in the sentence "We call BS"?
I saw an article about protests in the US that said the following (see here the video):
Florida student Emma Gonzalez to lawmakers and gun advocates:...
2
votes
1answer
12k views
What's wrong with saying “I am watching TV” instead of “I am watching television”?
I was told that I could only say or write "TV" when it is accompanied with a word like "show" or "program", but if I refer just to TV, I should say or write "television".
For example:
I am ...
0
votes
1answer
78 views
How to shorten “communications”
I have to put the word "communications" in a graphic. For design reasons I have to make the word shorter. How can eliminate some letters and make it still understandable, is there any correct way to ...
32
votes
4answers
7k views
Should I use “a” or “an” when I abbreviate a word?
Taking notes, I was going to write this:
therefore p′ is a shortest path.
But the topic is APSP which stands for "all pairs shortest paths" so I decided to just write SP instead and...
Is it ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
What does the keyword 'w/' mean?
I read about VM in MIT OCW 6.828 (the lecture at https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-828-operating-system-engineering-fall-2012/lecture-notes-and-readings/...
2
votes
1answer
894 views
How should I write the abbreviation for “okay”? (ok, Ok, OK) [duplicate]
How should I write abbreviation for "okay"?
The options are: ok, Ok, OK.
I've never took any notice of it, but recently someone (that he's not a native English speaker) told me that I should write ...
0
votes
1answer
118 views
What does VP mean in job titles? [closed]
What does "VP" mean in job titles?
It goes with different titles "VP of Acquiring", "VP of Strategic Alliances", "VP of Sales", "VP of Sales and Marketing" or "VP of Events".
1
vote
1answer
3k views
“H.E. Donald J. Trump” in Apec 2017 - H.E stands for?
I have scratched my head and think but don't know what "H.E" stands for in this situation, I guess Host Environment?
0
votes
2answers
225 views
Does eng stand for engineering?
Is it correct to use eng as a shorthand for engineering? For example, can we use this form of introduction for a master's student?
MSc student in hardware eng
If so, should we put a . after eng? I ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
“in US English” vs “in the US English”
I saw a usage of "in US English" in a dictionary, which I think it should be "in the US English" instead. The reason is that the full version should be "the United States" and not "United States". I'm ...
0
votes
2answers
572 views
Abbreviation of “In contrast”
What word can I use as an abbreviation of the phrase "in contrast" or "on the contrary" or "directly opposite"?
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Use of metric prefixes for small numbers
These days many I see many websites shortening large numbers with the metric prefixes, for example Twitter does it like this:
replacing 35 400 with 35.4K, and 34 700 000 with 34.7M. One might also ...
2
votes
1answer
4k views
Best acronym/abbreviation for the word “template”
What would be the proper way to shorten the word "template" down to maximum of 3 symbols for use in busy diagrams and schemes in (bio)chemical context?
From here and there I only found TPL and TML ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
If John does ten pushups, does that mean he does nine reps?
When talking about pushups, we know the word rep comes from repetition.
But is rep really the same as repetition in this context?
If John does ten pushups, he does nine repetitions, plus the first ...
3
votes
1answer
390 views
What's meaning of “I KNOW FFS THANKS SOO MUCH , exucse my language”?
There is a question on Server Fault: Job for httpd.service failed. Here is the answer and a comment.
Answer:
The key error message appears to be:
SSLCertificateFile: file '/etc/httpd/ssl/...
0
votes
1answer
138 views
“A MMU” or “An MMU”? [duplicate]
If I use an abbreviation like MMU ("memory management unit" in computers), should I write "A MMU" or "An MMU"? Is it the pronunciation or the letter that decides?
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Can 'PS' be used as a verb in English?
In my native language 'PS' borrrows the meaning of the process when you edit a photo with the help of Photoshop. It could be used as a verb, For example, 'Could you help me to Ps this photo to make ...
1
vote
2answers
158 views
What is the expanded form of “Tom's visit to the United States”
We know, 's is the abbreviation for is or has
But i just read a sentence
Tom's visit to the United States provided him with an opportunity to learn English
So we generally use 's for is or his So ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Meaning of “h/t to reader “Mr. D””
see title; mostly: what does h/t mean?
(Google is awful at finding text with slashes and recommended to replace it for "hot", and ignores the slash when explicitly told to search for h/t)
Note that ...
0
votes
2answers
761 views
What does MA ACA stand for?
This abbreviation MA ACA often appears after names on letters. What does it stand for?
I have seen it next to the signature on formal letters in this format: [First Name] [Surname] MA ACA.
The last ...
0
votes
1answer
151 views
C as “c” in all abbreviations or acronyms
Does letter "c" read as [c] in all abbreviations or acronyms?
BBC - company [k]
PC - computer [k]
RC - compiler [k]
Are there any abbreviations or acronyms where the letter C doesn't read as [c]?
