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August 15, 2000
ABBREVIATIONS--PART I
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This week we will begin a series on the correct use of abbreviations. In this issue we'll look at abbreviations used in titles, time, and dates,
as well as Latin abbreviations commonly used in English writing. Next week we'll talk about acronyms and initialisms.
The abbreviated forms of single words generally use periods:
tsp. (teaspoon)
vol. (volume)
ed. (editor, edited, edition)
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The majority of abbreviations ending in lowercase letters use periods:
Mr. (Mister)
St. (Saint or Street)
Rd. (Road)
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Capitalize the letters of words that are normally capitalized when written out:
Sr. Bernadette (Sister Bernadette)
USA (United States of America)
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Use abbreviated titles, such as Doctor (Dr.), Father (Fr.), Reverend (Rev.), or Professor (Prof.), only before a person's full name (first
and last):
Dr. Benjamin Phipps gave his patient a new prescription.
Fr. Russell Brannigan is the new priest at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Rev. Damon Kinsell gave the opening prayer at this morning's prayer
breakfast.
Prof. Roberto Garcia has a reputation of being a challenging instructor.
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Spell out titles that precede only the person's last name:
Doctor Phipps
Father Brannigan
Reverend Kinsell
Professor Garcia
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Do not use both titles before and degrees after a person's name:
WRONG:
Dr. Philip Smith, M.D.
Attorney Janet Keyes, Esquire
CORRECT:
Dr. Philip Smith
-or-
Philip Smith, M.D.
Attorney Janet Keyes
-or-
Janet Keyes, Esquire
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Abbreviations should be used after times and dates:
350 BC ("before Christ") or 350 BCE ("before the common era")
AD 675 ("anno Domini" or "year of our Lord") or 675 CE ("common era")
In time references, a.m. stands for "ante meridiem" and p.m. refers to "post
meridiem."
6 a.m.
9 p.m.
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Do not abbreviate holiday names or the names of months or days in formal writing:
January 14 (NOT Jan. 14)
Christmas vacation (NOT Xmas vacation)
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Do not overuse Latin abbreviations:
cf. = confer (Latin) = compare (English)
e.g. = exempli gratia (Latin) = for example (English)
et al. = et alii (Latin) = and others (English)
etc. = et cetera (Latin) = and so forth (English)
i.e. = id est (Latin) = that is (English)
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Another Latin word commonly used, though not an abbreviation, is "sic," meaning "thus." Use "sic" [which should be enclosed in brackets] to
point out a quoting error noted in the primary text. Avoid quoting the error unless you must; instead, paraphrase the primary text, omitting
the mistake.
EXAMPLE:
"Then she sate [sic] down, having finished her work." (quote with error)
BETTER:
After finishing her work, the girl sat down. (paraphrase)
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Use abbreviations only when there is good cause to do so and when readers will understand their intended use.
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
Answers to last week's quiz on abstract v. concrete nouns:
life = abstract or concrete
feather = concrete
wholesome = abstract
needle = concrete
honesty = abstract
terror = abstract
jacket = concrete
Remember to use concrete nouns to describe tangible items and abstract nouns for ideas.
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NEW WORD OF THE WEEK:
dif-fi-dent (adjective) Lacking confidence; timid.
The diffident girl would not argue with her boss.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Good day. Here is my question:
Is a community (of people) a 'who' or a 'that' as in
This book is dedicated to the North Stream community . . . the community who/that loves to sing. Thank you.
GRAMMARCHECK: People-related words generally take "who" in a statement of this nature:
Jim is the star quarterback who excelled in English.
Do you know Penny, the girl who lives upstairs?
However, you can use the relative pronoun "that" to refer to collective nouns (like "community") which refer to anonymous groups of people:
This book is dedicated to the North Stream community . . . the community that loves to sing.
She belongs to the dancing troupe that recently traveled to Ireland.
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QUESTION: In last week's column (8/8/00) on 'how should I punctuate,' I noticed that "the number of clubs" was treated as singular. Doesn't the
sentence imply that several clubs are drawing heavily from the school's fund? I got the impression that this sentence didn't talk about a
specific club but rather many clubs. Please comment; it's really bugging me. To me, the sentence should be written as follows:
One thing is certain, however, the number of clubs already in existence draw heavily from the school's limited funds.
GRAMMARCHECK: The word "number" is a collective noun which does refer to several clubs. However, because it is a singular word in structure,
it takes a singular verb. To check this in other sentences, remove the items to which "number" refers and see how the sentence reads without
that phrase:
. . . the number . . . draw heavily
-or-
. . . the number . . . draws heavily
As you can see, the second example is correct.
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QUESTION: I have an additional suggestion for punctuating the following sentence from last week's example:
Last Week: One thing is certain, however. The number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
Additional Example: One thing is certain, however: The number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
Thanks. Robert
GRAMMARCHECK: Bravo, Robert, for utilizing the often misunderstood colon! Indeed, your example is another good way to punctuate the example
in question.
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QUESTION: I was just reading your newsletter and it brought a question to mind:
However, formal writing avoids the use of coordinating conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence, so much depends on style.
The above sentence begins with the word 'however.' It was one of those rules pounded into my brain. Never begin a sentence with however,
though, etc. It should be set off at the first pause. Which is correct? Thanks. Debi
GRAMMARCHECK: To our knowledge, no grammar rule currently forbids starting a sentence with however or though. Consider the following:
However you look at it, Jim was late twice.
Though Carol waited up for him, Peter never came home.
Well, readers, is anyone else aware of such a rule?
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QUESTION: I am in doubt about "causative form":
"The secretary doesn't type letters."
Using "by," is it correct to say, "The letters aren't typed by the secretary"?
Also, when changing from present to future tense, which is correct:
"You may smoke a cigarette."
Is it correct to say "You will be able to smoke a cigarette" or "You shall smoke a cigarette"?
Thank you. Marc, Brasil
GRAMMARCHECK: With regards to the secretary examples above, either sentence is correct. The first one uses active voice with a focus on the
secretary as the subject:
The secretary doesn't type letters.
The second sentence uses passive voice, with emphasis on the letters:
The letters aren't typed by the secretary.
In general, writers should use active voice except when the object of the sentence needs to be emphasized instead of the subject.
In the second part of your question, the following is appropriate for future tense, though it also may be used in present tense:
You may smoke a cigarette now. (present tense)
You may smoke a cigarette when the plane lands. (future tense)
However, the following sentence depicts future tense only:
You will be able to smoke a cigarette [when the plane lands].
Your final example is more complex. Traditionally, "shall" has been used to show future tense with "I" and "we," but now "will" is widely
accepted with all persons. Today "shall" is used mainly for emphasis ("I shall leave when I'm ready") or in questions suggesting a preference
("Shall we get started?").
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