Which (if any) is correct: est., estd., or est'd.?

Question

A business founded (or a building built or a monument dedicated) in 1854 might have a sign or plaque reading "EST'D 1854" or "EST 1854" or "ESTD 1854", or some other combination I haven't seen or heard of.

What is the correct way to abbreviate the word "established" in this manner? What is the correct way to capitalize this abbreviation?

Answer 1

There is no single correct way to write it. Estd seems more common on older signs, or things that were established longer ago.

I've seen Estd written in many different ways:

• ESTḌ 1862

• ESTD 1824

• EST^D 1817

• Estd. 2001

Likewise for Est:

• EST. 1946

• Est. 2002

• EST 1937

The capitalisation usually depends if the accompanying name or text is capitalised.

Answer 2

Heinz factories buildings (some are no longer producing) that are now Apartment Lofts in Pittsburgh has the abbreviation for Established as EST'B'D.

Answer 3

I have seen both

EST 1854

and

Est. 1854

though I tend to think Est. 1854 is more common.

Answer 4

In most of the advertisements and signs, it is Capital, with no period

EST 1854