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UniWiki:Manual of Style/Abbreviations: Difference between revisions

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{{UMoS guideline}}
{{UMoS guideline}}
This guideline covers the use of [[Wikipedia:Abbreviation|abbreviations]], including initialisms, [[Wikipedia:Acronym|acronyms]], [[Wikipedia:Contraction (grammar)|contractions]] and [[Wikipedia:Shortening (grammar)|shortenings]], in the UniWiki]. An initialism is usually formed from some or all of the initial letters of words in a phrase. In some variations of English, an acronym is considered to be an initialism which is pronounced as a word (e.g. [[Wikipedia:NATO|NATO]]), as distinct from the case where the initialism is said as a string of individual letters (e.g. "UN" for the [[Wikipedia:United Nations|United Nations]]). Herein, the term ''acronym'' applies collectively to initialisms, without distinction that an acronym is said as a word.
This guideline covers the use of [[Wikipedia:Abbreviation|abbreviations]], including initialisms, [[Wikipedia:Acronym|acronyms]], [[Wikipedia:Contraction (grammar)|contractions]] and [[Wikipedia:Shortening (grammar)|shortenings]], in the UniWiki. An initialism is usually formed from some or all of the initial letters of words in a phrase. In some variations of English, an acronym is considered to be an initialism which is pronounced as a word (e.g. [[Wikipedia:NATO|NATO]]), as distinct from the case where the initialism is said as a string of individual letters (e.g. "UN" for the [[Wikipedia:United Nations|United Nations]]). Herein, the term ''acronym'' applies collectively to initialisms, without distinction that an acronym is said as a word.


Maintaining a consistent abbreviation style will allow the UniWiki to be read, written, edited, and navigated more easily by readers and editors alike. The style should always be consistent within a page. If a guideline conflicts with the correct usage of a [[Wikipedia:Proper name|proper name]], ignore it. The abbreviation style used in quotations from written sources should always be written ''exactly'' as in the original source, unless it is a UniWiki-made translation.
Maintaining a consistent abbreviation style will allow the UniWiki to be read, written, edited, and navigated more easily by readers and editors alike. The style should always be consistent within a page. If a guideline conflicts with the correct usage of a [[Wikipedia:Proper name|proper name]], ignore it. The abbreviation style used in quotations from written sources should always be written ''exactly'' as in the original source, unless it is a UniWiki-made translation.
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== Use sourceable abbreviations ==
== Use sourceable abbreviations ==
{{hatnote|For shortening long titles of works, see {{section link|UniWiki:Manual of Style/Titles|Abbreviation of long titles}}}}
{{hatnote|For shortening long titles of works, see {{section link|UniWiki:Manual of Style/Titles|Abbreviation of long titles}}}}
Avoid making up new abbreviations, especially acronyms. For example, "{{xtn|International Feline Federation}}" is good as a {{em|translation}} of {{xt|Fédération Internationale Féline}}, but neither the anglicization nor the reduction {{!xt|IFF}} is used by the organization; use the original name and its official abbreviation, {{xt|FIFe}}.
Avoid making up new abbreviations, especially acronyms. For example, "{{xt|International Feline Federation}}" is good as a ''translation'' of {{xt|Fédération Internationale Féline}}, but neither the anglicization nor the reduction {{!xt|IFF}} is used by the organization; use the original name and its official abbreviation, {{xt|FIFe}}.


If it is necessary to abbreviate in "small spaces" ([[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Infoboxes|infoboxes]], [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Navigation templates|navboxes]] and [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Tables|tables]]), use widely recognized abbreviations. As an example, for {{xt|New Zealand gross national product}}, use {{xt|NZ}} and {{xt|GNP}}, with a link if the term has not already been written out: {{xt|NZ [[Wikipedia:Measures of national income and output|GNP]]}}; do not use the made-up initialism {{!xt|NZGNP}}).
If it is necessary to abbreviate in "small spaces" ([[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Infoboxes|infoboxes]], [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Navigation templates|navboxes]] and [[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Tables|tables]]), use widely recognized abbreviations. As an example, for {{xt|New Zealand gross national product}}, use {{xt|NZ}} and {{xt|GNP}}, with a link if the term has not already been written out: {{xt|NZ [[Wikipedia:Measures of national income and output|GNP]]}}; do not use the made-up initialism {{!xt|NZGNP}}).
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Prefix titles such as {{!xt|Mr}} and {{!xt|Dr}} should not be used. Prefixes of royalty and nobility should be used, however (in accordance with a relevant style guide), but should not be abbreviated. ''(See [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Naming conventions (people)#Titles and styles|Wikipedia:Titles and styles]] and [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Naming conventions (royalty and nobility)|Wikipedia:Naming conventions (royalty and nobility)]].)''
Prefix titles such as {{!xt|Mr}} and {{!xt|Dr}} should not be used. Prefixes of royalty and nobility should be used, however (in accordance with a relevant style guide), but should not be abbreviated. ''(See [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Naming conventions (people)#Titles and styles|Wikipedia:Titles and styles]] and [[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Naming conventions (royalty and nobility)|Wikipedia:Naming conventions (royalty and nobility)]].)''
==Initials==
{{merge to|section=y|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Biographies#Names|discuss=Wikipedia talk:Manual of Style/Biographies#Section merge}}
{{See also|Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Biographies#Names|Wikipedia:Naming conventions (people)#Middle names and initials}}
{{shortcut|MOS:INITIALS|MOS:SPACEINITS}}
Use initials in a personal name only if the name is commonly written that way. See [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Biographies]] for when to use full names and other formats.
An initial is followed by a full stop (period) and a space (e.g. [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]), unless:
* The person had or has a different, consistently preferred style for his or her own name. In that case: treat as a [[WP:SPNC|self-published name change]]; examples include [[k.d. lang]] and [[Jeb Bush]].
* An overwhelming majority of reliable sources do otherwise for that person {{crossref|(see [[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (people)]])}}; examples include [[CC Sabathia]].
In article text, a space after [a full stop following] an initial should be a non-breaking space: <code>J.&amp;nbsp;R.&amp;nbsp;R. Tolkien</code> (or use the {{tlx|nbsp}} template).


==Shortenings==
==Shortenings==
A shortening is an abbreviation of a word for which at least the last letter has been removed (e.g. ''etc.'' and ''rhino''). Some shortenings also contain letters that are not present in their expansion (e.g. ''bike''). Whether or not to follow a shortening with a full stop often comes down to individual cases, but, as a general rule, use a full stop after a shortening that only exists in writing (e.g. {{xt|etc.}}) but not for a shortening that is used in speech (e.g. {{xt|rhino}}). Common sense should be applied to judge whether a shortening is acceptable in prose or not. Words such as {{xt|rhino}} and {{xt|bike}} should be avoided; {{xt|etc.}} should be used over ''{{!xt|et cetera}}'', and informal terms, such as {{!xt|wanna}}, are not used in Wikipedia articles. Uncommon shortenings should be linked on the first use on a page.
A shortening is an abbreviation of a word for which at least the last letter has been removed (e.g. ''etc.'' and ''rhino''). Some shortenings also contain letters that are not present in their expansion (e.g. ''bike''). Whether or not to follow a shortening with a full stop often comes down to individual cases, but, as a general rule, use a full stop after a shortening that only exists in writing (e.g. {{xt|etc.}}) but not for a shortening that is used in speech (e.g. {{xt|rhino}}). Common sense should be applied to judge whether a shortening is acceptable in prose or not. Words such as {{xt|rhino}} and {{xt|bike}} should be avoided; {{xt|etc.}} should be used over ''{{!xt|et cetera}}'', and informal terms, such as {{!xt|wanna}}, are not used in UniWiki articles. Uncommon shortenings should be linked on the first use on a page.
 
===Song-writing credits===
Outside of prose, {{xt|trad.}} and {{xt|arr.}} may be used in song-writing credits to save space. On first usage, use {{tl|trad.}} and {{tl|arr.}}, which will display a mouse-over tooltip expanding the abbreviation.


===Miscellaneous shortenings===
===Miscellaneous shortenings===
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! Shortening !! Expansion !! Notes
! Shortening !! Expansion !! Notes
|-
|-
| approx. || [[Approximation|approximately]] || It should only be used in small spaces. It does not need to be linked.
| approx. || [[Wikipedia:Approximation|approximately]] || It should only be used in small spaces.
|-
| c. || ''{{lang|la|[[circa]]}}'' ("around") || In dates, to indicate ''around'', ''approximately'', or ''about'', the unitalicised abbreviation {{xt|c.}} is preferred over ''circa'', ''ca'', ''ca.'', ''approximately'', or ''approx.'' It should not be italicised in normal usage. The template {{tlx|circa}} may be used.
|-
| ''cf.'' || ''{{lang|la|[[confer]]}}'' ("compare"&nbsp;/ "consult") || It should be linked on first use.
|-
| Co. || [[Company]] || It should only be used in the names of companies (like: "PLC", "LLC", "Inc.", "Ltd.", "GmbH" etc.), and can usually be omitted unless an ambiguity would result. It does not need to be linked.
|-
| ed. (eds.) || [[edition (book)|edition]]/[[editor]] (editions/editors) || This shortening (and its plural contraction) should only be used in references. It does not need to be linked.
|-
| et al. || ''{{lang|la|[[et alii]]}}'' ("and others") || It should normally only be used in references and where it is part of a name, such as of a legal case, e.g. ''United States v. Thompson et al.''
|-
|-
| fl. || ''{{lang|la|[[floruit]]}}'' ("flourished") || It should be linked on first use. Do not use ''{{!xt|flor.}}'' or ''{{!xt|flr.}}''
| c. || ''[[Wikipedia:circa|circa]]'' ("around") || In dates, to indicate ''around'', ''approximately'', or ''about'', the unitalicized abbreviation {{xt|c.}} is preferred over ''circa'', ''ca'', ''ca.'', ''approximately'', or ''approx.'' It should not be italicized in normal usage.
|-
|-
| rev. || [[Revision|revised]] || It should only be used in references. It does not need to be linked.
| et al. || ''[[Wikipedia:et alii|et alii]]'' ("and others") || It should normally only be used in references and where it is part of a name, such as of a legal case, e.g. ''United States v. Thompson et al.''
|-
|-
| vs./v./v || [[wikt:versus|versus]] (against&nbsp;/ in contrast to) || They do not need to be linked. Prefer "vs." except in legal contexts, where the usage is "v." or "v", depending on jurisdiction.  They should not be italicised since they have long been assimilated into the language as an English word.  The full word should be used in most cases, but it is conventional to use an abbreviation in certain contexts, including law and sports.
| vs./v./v || [[wikt:versus|versus]] (against&nbsp;/ in contrast to) || They do not need to be linked. Prefer "vs." except in legal contexts, where the usage is "v." or "v", depending on jurisdiction.  They should not be italicized since they have long been assimilated into the language as an English word.  The full word should be used in most cases, but it is conventional to use an abbreviation in certain contexts, including law and sports.
|-
|-
| ''viz.'' || ''{{lang|la|[[videlicet]]}}'' ("that is to say"&nbsp;/ "namely") || It should be linked on first use.
| ''viz.'' || ''[[Wikipedia:videlicet|videlicet]]'' ("that is to say"&nbsp;/ "namely") || It should be linked on first use.
|}
|}


==Symbols==
==Symbols==
===Unit symbols===
===Unit symbols===
{{Main section|Wikipedia:Manual of Style|Units of measurement}}
{{hatnote|The main section for this topic is on the page [[UniWiki:Manual of Style]], in the section [[UniWiki:Manual of Style#Units of measurement|Units of measurement]].}}


===Miscellaneous symbols===
===Miscellaneous symbols===
*The '''[[ampersand]]''' ({{xtg|&}}), a replacement for the word ''and'', should only be used in small spaces such as tables and infoboxes, but, preferably, should be avoided even there.  However, it is common in many trademarks and titles of published works, and should be retained when found in them.
*The '''[[Wikipedia:ampersand|ampersand]]''' ({{xt|&}}), a replacement for the word ''and'', should only be used in small spaces such as tables and infoboxes, but, preferably, should be avoided even there.  However, it is common in many trademarks and titles of published works, and should be retained when found in them.
*The '''[[at sign]]''' ({{!xt|@}}) should not be used in the place of the word ''at'' in normal text.
*The '''[[Wikipedia:at sign|at sign]]''' ({{!xt|@}}) should not be used in the place of the word ''at'' in normal text.


==Latin abbreviations==
==Latin abbreviations==
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Do not use {{!xt|&c.}} in the place of {{xt|etc.}}
Do not use {{!xt|&c.}} in the place of {{xt|etc.}}
== Abbreviations widely used in Wikipedia ==
Wikipedia has found it both practical and efficient to use the following abbreviations, although some can often be replaced by unabbreviated equivalents (''that is'' for ''i.e.'', ''namely'' for ''viz.'', and so on). Versions of non-acronym abbreviations that do not end in stops (periods) are [[WP:ENGVAR|more common in British than North American English]], and are always abbreviations that compress a word while retaining its first and last letters, rather than truncating. That said, US military ranks are often given without this punctuation. The Manual of Style on abbreviations, above, eschews the use of periods with acronyms ({{!xt|M.D.}}, {{!xt|Ph.D.}}).
<!-- This is not an index of every abbreviation, merely a guide on how and which abbreviations should be used in Wikipedia articles. -->
{| class="wikitable"
! Word(s) !! Abbreviation
|-
! colspan="2"| Places
|-
| [[Avenue (landscape)|Avenue]] || Ave.
|-
| [[Boulevard]] || Blvd. or Blvd
|-
| [[East]] || E. or E {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| [[Freeway]] || Fwy. or Fwy {{small|(the term is not generally used outside of North America)}}
|-
| [[Highway]] || Hwy. or Hwy {{small|(the term is not generally used outside of North America)}}
|-
| [[Motorway]] || Mwy {{small|(the term is not generally used in North America)}}
|-
| [[Mountain]] || Mtn. or Mtn
|-
| Mount || Mt. or Mt
|-
| [[North]] || N. or N {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| North East or [[Northeast]] || N.E. or NE {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| North West or [[Northwest]] || N.W. or NW {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| [[Road]] || Rd. or Rd
|-
| [[South]] || S. or S {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| South East or [[cardinal direction#Additional points|Southeast]] || S.E. or SE {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| South West or [[cardinal direction#Additional points|Southwest]] || S.W. or SW {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
| [[Street]] || St. or St
|-
| [[West]] || W. or W {{Small|(use only in street addresses, not in other text)}}
|-
! colspan="2"| Organisation name elements
|-
| [[Academy]] || Acad.
|-
| [[Association]] || Assn. or Assn
|-
| Associates || Assoc.
|-
| [[College]] || Coll.
|-
| [[Company]] || Co.
|-
| [[Corporation]] || Corp.
|-
| [[Doing business as]] || d.b.a. or DBA (avoid {{!xt|d/b/a}} and {{!xt|D/B/A}}; these are obsolete)
|-
| [[Incorporation (business)|Incorporated]] || Inc.
|-
| [[Institute]]/[[Institution]] || Inst.
|-
| [[Limited]] || Ltd. or Ltd
|-
| &nbsp;[[Limited liability company]] (or partnership) || LLC (LLP)
|-
| &nbsp;[[Public limited company]] || PLC
|-
| [[Manufacturing]] || Mfg. or Mfg
|-
| Press || Pr.
|-
| Publications || Pub., Pubs., Pubs
|-
| [[Publisher|Publishing]] || Pubg. or Pubg
|-
| [[University]] || Univ., U. or Uni.
|-
! colspan="2"| Academic degrees, military ranks, professional titles, etc., used with personal names
|-
| [[Bachelor of Arts]] {{small|(''Artium Baccalaureus'')}} || BA or AB
|-
| [[Bachelor of Laws]] {{small|(''Legum Baccalaureus'')}} || LLB
|-
| [[Bachelor of Science]] || BS or BSc
|-
| [[Master of Arts]] || MA or AM
|-
| [[Master of Science]] || MS or MSc
|-
| [[Captain]] || Capt.
|-
| [[Colonel]] || Col. or Col
|-
| [[Commander]] || Cmdr., Cmdr, Cdr or Comdr
|-
| [[Corporal]] || Cpl. or Cpl
|-
| [[Doctor]] || Dr. or Dr
|-
| &nbsp;[[Doctor of Medicine]] {{small|(''Medicinæ Doctor'')}} || MD
|-
| &nbsp;[[Doctor of Philosophy]] {{small|(''Philosophiæ Doctor'')}} || PhD
|-
| [[General]] || Gen.
|-
| [[Honorable]] || Hon.
|-
| &nbsp;[[Right Honourable]] || Rt. Hon. or Rt Hon.
|-
| [[Junior]] || Jnr (not to be confused with [[WP:JR|Jr.]])
|-
| [[Lieutenant]] || Lt. or Lt
|-
| [[Monsignor]] || Mons., Msgr. or Msgr
|-
| [[Registered nurse]] || RN
|-
| [[Reverend]] || Rev. or Revd
|-
| [[Saint]] || St. or St
|-
| [[Senior]] || Snr (not to be confused with [[WP:JR|Sr.]])
|-
| [[Sergeant]] || Sgt. or Sgt
|-
| &nbsp;[[Master sergeant]] || MSgt. or MSgt
|-
| &nbsp;[[Staff sergeant]] || SSgt. or SSgt
|-
| &nbsp;[[Technical sergeant]] || TSgt. or TSgt
|}
==Special considerations==
{{shortcut|MOS:POSTABBR}}
*[[Postal code]]s and abbreviations of place names (e.g. {{!xt|Calif.}} (California), {{!xt|TX}} (Texas), {{!xt|Yorks.}} (Yorkshire) should not be used to stand in for the full names in normal text. The practice is common when specifying places of publication in source citations, especially after the first occurrence.
*"Saint[e]" versus "St" or "St." in placenames should depend upon the official usage.
*Abbreviations should be written in the same fashion each time they are used within the same page (e.g. "US" and "U.S." should not be alternated). Any special cases should have a natural reason (perhaps a list of officers in a joint British&ndash;American taskforce) that should be obvious to the reader; stating such a reason in an HTML comment will help other editors to maintain it.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[American and British English differences#Punctuation]]
*[[Wikipedia:American and British English differences#Punctuation]]
*[[Wikipedia:Edit summary legend]]
*[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia:Edit summary legend|Wikipedia:Edit summary legend]]
*[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style#Acronyms and abbreviations]]
*[[UniWiki:Manual of Style#Acronyms and abbreviations]]
*[[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Capital letters#Acronyms]]
*[[UniWiki:Manual of Style/Capital letters#Acronyms]]
*[[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (aircraft)]]
*[[Wikipedia:Naming conventions (ships)]]


[[Category:UniWiki Manual of Style]]
[[Category:UniWiki Manual of Style]]
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