States: The names of certain states and the United States are abbreviated with periods in some circumstances. He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. See addresses. In numbered addresses: Abbreviate avenue, boulevard and street in numbered addresses: He lives on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Right: Early this morning he asked for the number of your room. The abbreviations are correct only with figures. Wrong: Early this a.m., he asked for the No. With dates or numerals: Use the abbreviations A.D., B.C., a.m., p.m., No., and abbreviate certain months ( Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.) when used with the day of the month. Abbreviate company, corporation, incorporated and limited when used after the name of a corporate entity.Īcademic degrees: In some cases, an academic degree may be abbreviated after an individual's name. and certain military designations.Īfter a name: Abbreviate junior or senior after an individual’s name. An abbreviation is not an acronym.īefore a name: Abbreviate titles when used before a full name: Dr., Gov., Lt. Guidance on how to use a particular abbreviation or acronym is provided in entries alphabetized according to the sequence of letters in the word or phrase.Īn acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words: laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). Do not use abbreviations or acronyms the reader would not quickly recognize. Some others are acceptable, depending on the context.

A few universally recognized abbreviations are required in some circumstances. In general avoid abbreviations and acronyms.

Abbreviations for words on facebook