ABBREVIATIONS
DATES
DATES are not usually abbreviated in writing or in regular text matter; but when necessary the following rules may be followed:
1. Do not use st, d, rd, or th after a date given in figures; e.g., June 3, not June 3d or 3rd. If a date is spelled out, the rule is as follows: e.g., June the third, not June three.
2. Do not use ult., inst., or prox., but always name the month: e.g., Oct. 25, not 25th ult., Nov. 10, not 10th inst.
3. Use generally accepted abbreviations for the names of months when the day of the month is also given, and prefer dates in order of day, month, and year: e.g., 7 Jan., 1912. When the name of the month is used alone or followed only by the year, do not abbreviate: e.g., February, 1912, not Feb., 1912.
4. For ordinary purposes use these as the generally accepted abbreviations for the months and days of the week:
- Jan.
- Feb.
- Mar.
- Apr.
- May
- June
- July
- Aug.
- Sept.
- Oct.
- Nov.
- Dec.
- Sun.
- Mon.
- Tues.
- Wed.
- Thurs.
- Fri.
- Sat.
5. In tables and wherever matter must be greatly condensed use the Dewey dates, {66} which are the briefest possible without ambiguity, in the order of (a) day of week, (b) day of month, (c) month, (d) year. These abbreviations are not desirable except in tabular matter.
- Ja.
- F.
- Mr.
- Ap.
- My.
- Je.
- Ju.
- Ag.
- S.
- O.
- N.
- D.
- Sn.
- M.
- Tu.
- W.
- Th.
- F.
- St.
PROPER NAMES
1. Abbreviate company in firm names: e.g., John Brown & Co.
2. Spell out names of companies, railroads, etc., using the ampersand (&) only between proper names: e.g., Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company; Norfolk & Western Railroad; but American Smelting and Refining Company. If names of railroads are abbreviated, use no space between the letters: e.g., N.Y., N.H. & H.R.R.
3. Abbreviate United States when immediately associated with the name of an officer of the army or navy, as Lieut. John Doe, U.S.A.; when it is the name of an organization of the army or navy, as First Regiment U.S.V.; when preceding the name of a government vessel, as U.S.S. Brooklyn.
4. In referring to plays, specify act, scene, and line, also part if necessary: e.g., 2 Henry IV, I, ii, 1–7.
5. Christian names should be spelled in full, as John, George, Charles, except in an {67} original signature, or when following copy in a quotation.
6. When necessary to abbreviate Christian names, use the forms Dan., Edw., Sam., Thos., etc. Alex, Ben, Ed, and Sam are not always abbreviations, and copy should be followed as regards period. Use the following list:
| Alex. | Alexander |
| And. | Andrew |
| Anth. | Anthony |
| Ap. | Appius |
| Arch. | Archibald |
| Aug. | August, Augustus |
| Benj. | Benjamin |
| C. | Caesar |
| Caes. Aug. | Caesar Augustus |
| Cath. | Catherine |
| Chas. | Charles |
| Dan. | Daniel |
| Eben. | Ebenezer |
| Edm. | Edmund |
| Edw. | Edward |
| Eliz. | Elizabeth |
| Esd. | Esdras |
| Esth. | Esther |
| Ez. | Ezra |
| Ezek. | Ezekiel |
| Ferd. | Ferdinand |
| Fran. | Francis |
| Fred. | Frederic, Frederick |
| Geo. | George |
| Herbt. | Herbert |
| Hos. | Hosea |
| Jas. | James |
| Jona. | Jonathan |
| Jos. | Joseph |
| Josh. | Joshua |
| Matt. | Matthew |
| Nath. | Nathaniel |
| Pet. | Peter |
| Phil. | Philip, Philander |
| Philem. | Philemon |
| Reg. | Reginald |
| Richd. | Richard |
| Robt. | Robert |
| Sam. | Samuel |
| Theo. | Theodore |
| Thos. | Thomas |
| Tim. | Timothy |
| Wm. | William |
TITLES
1. In ordinary body matter use generally accepted abbreviations of titles when they are immediately prefixed to names.
2. Do not abbreviate a title used as part of a name: e.g., Bishop Lawrence, not Bp. Lawrence.
3. Such titles as Mr., Mrs., Messrs., Gen., Dr., Hon., Rev., when prefixed to names, may be abbreviated; but Colonel, Major, Professor, President, ex-President, etc., are better spelled in full. Compound titles, such as Major-General, Lieutenant-Colonel, Rear-Admiral, etc., should also be spelled and both {69} words capitalized. Where a person has been mentioned by name and title, and is afterward mentioned by title only, the title should be capitalized. Where initials of a name are used, abbreviate the title: e.g., Col. T. G. Benson, of the Second Illinois Regiment, has returned from Havana. The Colonel’s friends gave him a warm reception.
4. When the names of sovereigns of a country are mentioned only occasionally, such names may be given in full: e.g., George the Fifth, Charles the First. When such names occur frequently, they may be printed with roman numerals without a period: e.g., George V, Charles I
5. The following is a full list of the usual abbreviations:
| A.B. or B.A. | (Artium Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Arts |
| Abp. | Archbishop |
| A.C. | Archchancellor |
| A.D. | Archduke |
| A.D.C. | Aide-de-camp |
| Adjt. | Adjutant |
| Adm. | Admiral |
| Admr. | Administrator |
| Admx., Admrx. | Administratrix |
| Adv. | Advocate |
| Agt. | Agent |
| Aldm. | Alderman |
| A.M. or M.A. | (Artium Magister) Master of Arts |
| Amb. | Ambassador |
| A.P.A. | American Protective Association |
| Asst. | Assistant |
| A.T. | Archtreasurer |
| Atty. | Attorney |
| B.A. or A.B. | Bachelor of Arts |
| Bart. | Baronet |
| B.C.L. | Bachelor of Civil Law |
| B.D. | (Baccalaureus Divinitatis) Bachelor of Divinity |
| B.LL. | (Baccalaureus Legum) Bachelor of Laws |
| B.M. | (Baccalaureus Medicinae) Bachelor of Medicine |
| Bp. | Bishop |
| B.R. | (Banco Regis or Reginae) the King’s or Queen’s Bench |
| Brig.-Gen. | Brigadier-General |
| Bro(s). | Brother(s) |
| B.S. | Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Surgery |
| B.V. | (Beata Virgo) Blessed Virgin |
| Cantab. | (Cantabrigia) Cambridge |
| Capt. | Captain |
| Capt.-Gen. | Captain-General |
| Cash. | Cashier |
| C.B. | Companion of the Bath |
| C.C.P. | Court of Common Pleas |
| C.E. | Civil Engineer |
| C.J. | Chief Justice |
| C.M.G. | Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George |
| Col. | Colonel |
| Com. | Commander, Commodore |
| Cor. Sec. | Corresponding Secretary |
| Corp. | Corporal |
| C.S. | Court of Sessions |
| C.S. | (Custos Sigilli) Keeper of the Seal |
| D.C.L. | Doctor of Civil Law |
| D.D. | Doctor of Divinity |
| D.D.S. | Doctor of Dental Surgery |
| Dea. | Deacon |
| Dep. | Deputy |
| D.F. | Defender of the Faith |
| D.M. | Doctor of Music |
| Dr. | Doctor |
| D.Sc. | Doctor of Science |
| D.T. | (Doctor Theologiae) Doctor of Divinity |
| D.V.M. or M.D.V. | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
| E. | (after titles) Edinburgh |
| Esq. | Esquire |
| F.D. | (Fidei Defensor) Defender of the Faith |
| F.G.S. | Fellow of the Geological Society |
| Fr. | Father |
| F.R.G.S. | Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society |
| F.R.S. | Fellow of the Royal Society |
| F.R.S.A. | Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts |
| F.S.A. | Fellow of the Society of Arts |
| G.C.B. | Knight of the Grand Cross of the Bath |
| G.C.H. | Knight of the Grand Cross of Hanover |
| G.C.M.G. | Knight of the Grand Cross, Order of St. Michael and St. George |
| Gen. | General |
| Gov. | Governor |
| Govt. | Government |
| G.R. | (Georgius Rex) King George |
| H.B.M. | His or Her Britannic Majesty |
| H.M. | His or Her Majesty |
| H.M.S. | His or Her Majesty’s Service |
| Hon. | Honorable |
| H.R. | House of Representatives |
| H.R.E. | Holy Roman Emperor |
| H.R.H. | His or Her Royal Highness |
| H.S.H. | His or Her Serene Highness |
| I.N.R.I. | (Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum) Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews |
| Insp. | Inspector |
| Insp. Gen. | Inspector General |
| I.O.O.F. | Independent Order of Odd Fellows |
| J.A. | Judge-Advocate |
| J.P. | Justice of the Peace |
| J. Prob. | Judge of the Probate |
| Jr. or Jun. | Junior |
| K. | King |
| K.A. | Knight of St. Andrew, in Russia |
| K.A.N. | Knight of Alexander Newski, in Russia |
| K.B. | King’s Bench; Knight of the Bath |
| K.B.A. | Knight of St. Bento d’Avis, in Portugal |
| K.B.E. | Knight of the Black Eagle, in Prussia |
| K.C. | King’s Council; Knight of the Crescent, in Turkey |
| K.C.B. | Knight Commander of the Bath |
| K.C.H. | Knight Commander of Hanover |
| K.C.M.G. | Knight Commander of Order of St. Michael and St. George |
| K.C.S. | Knight of Charles III, in Spain |
| K.E. | Knight of the Elephant, in Denmark |
| K.F. | Knight of Ferdinand of Spain |
| K.F.M. | Knight of Ferdinand and Merit, in Sicily |
| K.G. | Knight of the Garter |
| K.G.C. | Knight of the Grand Cross |
| K.G.C.B. | Knight of the Grand Cross of the Bath |
| K.G.F. | Knight of the Golden Fleece |
| K.G.H. | Knight of the Guelph of Hanover |
| K.G.V. | Knight of Gustavus Vasa of Sweden |
| K.H. | Knight of Hanover |
| K.J. | Knight of St. Joachim |
| K.L.H. | Knight of the Legion of Honor |
| K.M. | Knight of Malta |
| K. Mess. | King’s Messenger |
| K.M.H. | Knight of Merit, in Holstein |
| K.M.J. | Knight of Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria |
| K.M.T. | Knight of Maria Theresa of Austria |
| K.N.S. | Knight of the Royal North Star, in Sweden |
| K.P. | Knight of St. Patrick |
| K.R.E. | Knight of the Red Eagle, in Prussia |
| K.S. | Knight of the Sword, in Sweden |
| K.S.A. | Knight of St. Anne of Russia |
| K.S.E. | Knight of St. Esprit, in France |
| K.S.F. | Knight of St. Fernando of Spain |
| K.S.F.M. | Knight of St. Ferdinand and Merit, in Naples |
| K.S.G. | Knight of St. George of Russia |
| K.S.H. | Knight of St. Hubert of Bavaria |
| K.S.J. | Knight of St. Janarius of Naples |
| K.S.L. | Knight of the Sun and Lion, in Persia |
| K.S.M. & S.G. | Knight of St. Michael and St. George of the Ionian Isles |
| K.S.P. | Knight of St. Stanislaus of Poland |
| K.S.S. | Knight of the Southern Star of the Brazils; Knight of the Sword, in Sweden |
| K.S.W. | Knight of St. Wladimir of Russia |
| Kt. | Knight |
| K.T. | Knight of the Thistle |
| K.T.S. | Knight of the Tower and Sword, in Portugal |
| K.W. | Knight of William of the Netherlands |
| K.W.E. | Knight of the White Eagle, in Poland |
| L. | (after titles) London |
| L.C. | Lord Chancellor |
| L.C.J. | Lord Chief Justice |
| Leg. | Legate |
| Legis. | Legislature |
| Lieut. | Lieutenant |
| Lieut.-Col. | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Lieut.-Gen. | Lieutenant-General |
| Litt.D. | (Litterarum Doctor) Doctor of Literature |
| LL.B. | (Legum Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Laws |
| LL.D. | (Legum Doctor) Doctor of Laws |
| M. | Monsieur |
| M.A. | Master of Arts |
| Maj. | Major |
| Maj.-Gen. | Major-General |
| M.B. | (Medicinae Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Medicine; (Musicae Baccalaureus) Bachelor of Music |
| M.C. | Member of Congress |
| M.D. | (Medicinae Doctor) Doctor of Medicine |
| Messrs. | Messieurs |
| Mgr. | Manager; Monsignor |
| Min. Plen. | Minister Plenipotentiary |
| Mlle. | Mademoiselle |
| Mme. | Madame |
| M.P. | Member of Parliament |
| M.R. | Master of the Rolls |
| Mr. | Mister or Master |
| Mrs. | Mistress |
| Mus. Doc. | Doctor of Music |
| Oxon. | (Oxonensis) Oxford |
| P.C. | (Patres Conscripti) Conscript Fathers; Senators; Privy Counsellor |
| Ph.D. | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Ph.G. | Graduate in Pharmacy |
| P.M. | Postmaster |
| P.M.G. | Postmaster-General |
| P.R.A. | President of the Royal Academy |
| Pres. | President |
| Prof. | Professor |
| Prov. | Provost |
| P.R.S. | President of the Royal Society |
| Q. | Queen |
| Q.M. | Quartermaster |
| R.A. | Royal Academician |
| R.E. | Royal Engineers |
| Reg. Prof. | Regius Professor |
| Rev. | Reverend |
| R.M. | Royal Marines |
| R.N. | Royal Navy |
| R.N.O. | (Riddare af Nordstjerneorden) Knight of the Order of Polar Star |
| R.S.S. | (Regiae Societatis Socius) Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Rt. Hon. | Right Honorable |
| Rt. Rev. | Right Reverend |
| Rt. Wpful. | Right Worshipful |
| R.W. | Right Worthy |
| R.W.O. | (Riddare af Wasa Orden) Knight of the Order of Wasa |
| Sec. | Secretary |
| Sec. Leg. | Secretary of Legation |
| Serg. | Sergeant |
| Serg.-Maj. | Sergeant-Major |
| S.J. | Society of Jesus |
| S.J.C. | Supreme Judicial Court |
| Sol. | Solicitor |
| Sol.-Gen. | Solicitor-General |
| Sr., Sen. | Senior |
| S.R.S. | (Societatis Regiae Socius) Fellow of the Royal Society |
| S.T.D. | (Sacrae Theologiae Doctor) Doctor of Divinity |
| S.T.P. | (Sacrae Theologiae Professor) Professor of Divinity |
| St. | Saint, Street |
| Supt. | Superintendent |
| Tr(s). | Trustee(s) |
| Treas. | Treasurer |
| U.J.C. | (Utriusque Juris Doctor) Doctor of both Laws |
| V.C. | Vice-Chancellor |
| V.D.M. | (Verbi Dei Minister) Preacher of the Word |
| Vice-Pres. | Vice-President |
| Visc. | Viscount |
| W.S. | Writer to the Signet |
|
{76}
6. COMMERCIAL ABBREVIATIONS | |
|---|---|
| A1 | Highest class or grade |
| Acct. | Account |
| Advt., Ad. | Advertisement |
| Agt. | Agent |
| Amt. | Amount |
| Anon. | Anonymous |
| Ans. | Answer |
| Art. | Article |
| Av., Ave. | Avenue |
| Bal. | Balance |
| Bd. | Bound |
| Bdl. | Bundle |
| Bds. | Boards |
| Bldg. | Building |
| B.O. | Buyer’s Option |
| Bro(s). | Brother; Brothers |
| Chap. | Chapter |
| C.I.F. | Cost, insurance, freight |
| Co. | Company |
| C.O.D. | Cash on Delivery |
| Cr. | Creditor |
| Dept. | Department |
| Do. | Ditto, the same |
| Dr. | Debtor |
| E.E. | Errors excepted |
| E.O.D. | Every other day |
| E. & O.E. | Errors and omissions excepted |
| Etc. | (Et cetera) and so forth |
| Ex., Exch. | Exchange |
| Exp. | Express |
| Fgt. | Freight |
| F.O.B. | Free on board |
| H. | Hour |
| H.P. | Half pay, horse-power |
| Incor. | Incorporated |
| Ins. | Insurance |
| K.D. | Knock down (of furniture, etc.) |
| L.P. | Large paper |
| Memo. | Memorandum |
| Mfg. | Manufacturing |
| Mfr. | Manufacturer |
| Min. | Minute |
| No. | (numero) number |
| O.K. | All right |
| Payt. | Payment |
| Pd. | Paid |
| Per an. | (Per annum) by the year |
| Per cent. | (Per centum) by the hundred |
| Pkg. | Package |
| Pl. | Plate, plates |
| Pref. | Preface |
| Rd. | Road |
| Rem. | Remarks |
| Rep. | Reports |
| R.R. | Railroad |
| Ry. | Railway |
| Ser. | Series |
| Sq. | Square |
| S.S. | Steamship, steamer |
| T.F. | Till forbidden |
7. GEOGRAPHICAL ABBREVIATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Ala. | Alabama |
| Alaska | Alaska |
| Ariz. | Arizona |
| Ark. | Arkansas |
| Austral. | Australasia |
| B.A. | British America |
| Br. Col. | British Columbia |
| Cal. | California |
| Can. | Canada |
| C.B. | Cape Breton |
| Colo. | Colorado |
| Conn. | Connecticut |
| C.W. | Canada West (Ontario) |
| D.C. | District of Columbia |
| Del. | Delaware |
| Den. | Denmark |
| E. | East (London Postal District) |
| East Isl. | Eastern Islands |
| E.C. | East Central (London Postal District) |
| E.I. | East Indies |
| Eng. | England, English |
| Fin. | Finland |
| Fla. | Florida |
| Ga. | Georgia |
| G.B. | Great Britain |
| Glas. | Glasgow |
| H.I. | Hawaiian Islands |
| Ia. | Iowa |
| Idaho | Idaho |
| Ill. | Illinois |
| Ind. | Indiana |
| Ind. Ter. | Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) |
| Ire. | Ireland |
| It. | Italy |
| Jam. | Jamaica |
| Jap. | Japan |
| Kan. | Kansas |
| Ky. | Kentucky |
| La. | Louisiana |
| L.C. | Lower Canada |
| Man. | Manitoba |
| Mass. | Massachusetts |
| Md. | Maryland |
| Me. | Maine |
| Mex. | Mexico |
| Mich. | Michigan |
| Minn. | Minnesota |
| Miss. | Mississippi |
| Mo. | Missouri |
| Mont. | Montana |
| N. | North (London Postal District) |
| N.A. | North America |
| N.B. | New Brunswick; North Britain (Scotland) |
| N.C. | North Carolina |
| N. Dak. | North Dakota |
| N.E. | New England; Northeast (London Postal District) |
| Neb. | Nebraska |
| Neth. | Netherlands |
| Nev. | Nevada |
| N.F. | Newfoundland |
| N.H. | New Hampshire |
| N.J. | New Jersey |
| N. Mex. | New Mexico |
| N.S. | Nova Scotia |
| N.W. | Northwest (London Postal District) |
| N.Y. | New York |
| N.Y.C. | New York City |
| N. Zeal. | New Zealand |
| O. | Ohio |
| Okla. | Oklahoma |
| Ont. | Ontario |
| Ore. | Oregon |
| Pa. | Pennsylvania |
| Pal. | Palestine |
| P.D. | Postal District (London) |
| P.E.I. | Prince Edward Island |
| Per. | Persia |
| Phila. | Philadelphia |
| P.I. | Philippine Islands |
| Port. | Portugal |
| P.R. | Porto Rico |
| Prus. | Prussia |
| Que. | Quebec |
| R.A. | Russian America (now Alaska) |
| R.I. | Rhode Island |
| Russ. | Russia |
| S. | South (London Postal District) |
| S.A. | South America |
| S.C. | South Carolina |
| Scot. | Scotland |
| Sc. Pen. | Scandinavian Peninsula |
| S. Dak. | South Dakota |
| S. E. | Southeast (London Postal District) |
| Sic. | Sicily |
| S. Isl. | Sandwich Islands |
| Soc. Isl. | Society Islands |
| S. lat. | South latitude |
| Sp. | Spain |
| Sw. | Sweden |
| Switz. | Switzerland |
| Syr. | Syria |
| Tenn. | Tennessee |
| Tex. | Texas |
| U.C. | Upper Canada (Ontario) |
| U.K. | United Kingdom |
| U.S. | United States |
| U.S.A. | United States of America |
| Utah | Utah |
| V. | Victoria |
| Va. | Virginia |
| Vt. | Vermont |
| W. | Welsh, West; West (London Postal District) |
| Wash. | Washington |
| W.C. | West Central (London Postal District) |
| W.I. | West Indies |
| W. lon. | West longitude |
| W. Va. | West Virginia |
| Wis. | Wisconsin |
| Wyo. | Wyoming |