An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word, or phrase.
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When to use “a” vs “an” [duplicate]
I know the general rule is to use "a" if the word following starts with a consonant, and "an" if it starts with a vowel. I found this page that lists some exceptions: ...
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2answers
126 views
What is the students’ jargon or abbreviation to mean a report made up by only putting data downloaded from internet together in English, if it exists?
Japanese students call a report and essay made up by only putting data downloaded from internet e.g. Wikipedia together without including their own thought or creative ideas a “コピペ-Kopipe,” which is ...
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3answers
117 views
Correct usage of lbs. as in “pounds” of weight
What is the correct way to say:
"All items over 5 lbs. are excluded."
I'm specifically asking about "lbs." or is it "lb."? American English if it matters.
Also is "5lbs." ever correct? Or is it "5 ...
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57 views
Should a sentence ending with “Ph.D.” end with one or two periods? [duplicate]
Should a sentence ending with the word Ph. D. end with one or two periods?
He has a Ph.D.
He has a Ph.D..
Is there some established formatting rule for this situation? It might be a ...
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1answer
67 views
Proper to add tense to acronyms, abbreviations and initialisms
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym? asked about pluralising acronyms, abbreviations and initialisms, but is there a standard way to add verb endings e.g. -ing and -ed (what are these ...
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2answers
54 views
How would we punctuate a sentence which ends in an abbreviation and exclamation mark or question mark? [duplicate]
I was wondering what to do if I have abbreviation at the end of a sentence which ends in a question mark.
What is Google inc.?
What is Google inc.
What is Google inc?
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1answer
116 views
General Rules for Creating Abbreviations
Can you create an abbreviation for any word that has no commonly accepted abbreviation simply by dropping some or all the vowels (i.e., restore: rstr or restr; replace: rplc or replc)?
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101 views
Capitalization of biological abbreviations at the beginning of a sentence
In the beginning of a sentence, should I capitalize abbreviations such as the following:
hPSC (human pluripotent stem cell)
mESC (mouse embryonic stem cell)
rDNA (recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid)
...
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1answer
87 views
Height and weight written out
In formal writing I like to do this (in British style):
The infant weighed 10lb 5oz;
a 10lb 5oz infant
He was 6ft 3in tall;
a 6ft 3in man
My question is about the plural usage: do we ...
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1answer
99 views
Which abbreviation for the world wars is more correct; WWI or WW1?
At my daughter's school, there is an exercise in general knowledge; this term's is about " The World Wars". The question posed is which abbreviation is correct, the first with Roman numerals or the ...
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1answer
84 views
What is the proper way to spell “inspiraysh”?
I've noticed a trend among "younger people" to shorten words by simply cutting the ending off.
For example, instead of inspiration they might say something like inspiraysh.
What is the proper way ...
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1answer
97 views
Singular and plural forms of abbreviations of expressions with “of” in the middle
Is it grammatically correct to abbreviate expressions with of in the middle? If so, what will be the singular and plural forms of such abbreviations if the word that changes is not the last one in the ...
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3answers
160 views
What would be the proper abbreviation for an event that has yet occur?
I am looking for an abbreviation for an event that is expected to occur in the future, but has yet to occur. Similar to TBD for to be determined and TBA for to be announced.
My events are a series ...
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2answers
80 views
Can “R&D” be used as a verb?
Is "We do R&D" or "We do hardware R&D", where "R&D" is used as a noun, more correct than "We R&D hardware", where "R&D" is used as a verb?
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3answers
109 views
“This is actually true” vs. [sic]
I often find myself in need of a short expression, to emphasize that what I just wrote (not quoted) is actually true. In cases of paradoxes or illogical truths for instance, like The Monty Hall ...
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2answers
173 views
What does the abbreviation “con” mean in the following context? [closed]
I have no idea what con means reading through this profile.
Pro : Java, Design patterns, Quick learner (API, SDK, etc.), PHP, Javascript.
Con : C++ skills for gaming industry
Love : ...
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1answer
326 views
What's the correct way of writing a higher education title (MSc or M.Sc.) [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Should I write “PhD” or “Ph.D.”?
I see that PhD is written PhD while the undergraduate degree is written B.Sc.
What's the reason for this?
Should I write the Master of ...
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2answers
174 views
Should the abbreviation for “identifier” be capitalized?
I'm a programmer and I often see the abbreviation ID (capitalized) in technical documents and code. Is this correct, or should it be id?
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3answers
85 views
“VPN Networks” vs. “VPNs”
I am writing a technical report on a topic which includes a Virtual Private Network. These are commonly abbreviated as VPN.
However it feels strange writing something along the lines of
VPNs are ...
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2answers
123 views
“Al” as a reduction of “Alexander” [closed]
Can I use Al as a reduction of the name Alexander?
Is this reduction clear to native English speakers?
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3answers
232 views
Meaning of abbreviated vulgarity
Preface: Despite the fact that this question includes vulgar language, it is not intended to be offensive, unprofessional, or humorous, but rather is a serious question.
In the statement, "F**king ...
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2answers
115 views
When is an example not an example?
I have a question about writing in journals.
I would like to learn more Spanish words. Rojo means red.
Should there be something before the meaning of rojo is given? I've thought of using e.g., ...
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4answers
413 views
What is the meaning and usage of the abbreviation “v. a.”?
At the time of this writing there is no explanation on wiktionary, and searching the web does not yield an answer, only more instances of its use:
A random entry at the Etymological Dictionary of ...
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1answer
97 views
Is “… et al. data.” proper grammar? [closed]
Would it be proper grammar to use the Latin phrase in the following way?
The items inserted came from departments, employees et al. data.
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1answer
203 views
When to use or omit periods in acronyms, abbreviations, and initials [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to drop the periods in abbreviations?
I don't understand when or where to use or discard a period when writing short forms.
For example, my college is the ...
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3answers
549 views
Is it appropriate to write RIP for expressing grief?
I came to this question after I saw a Facebook post about someone who passed away with everyone posting rip as a comment. Wikipedia tells me the following about the abbreviation of RIP:
"Rest in ...
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2answers
363 views
Is there an American term for a group of elitist schools, similar to the abbreviation “Oxbridge”?
I saw the word, ‘Oxbridge’, a portmanteau of Oxford and Cambridge, in a comment to a question asking for a better word for ‘invigilator’:
Whereas the situation is reversed in the UK, and one in a ...
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2answers
198 views
Exempli Gratia help [closed]
Is there a plural for e.g., the abbreviation of exempli gratia? Or is it regular to use it before multiple examples? I know that some abbreviations double up in their letters in the plural, but I ...
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2answers
178 views
Avoiding confusion with multiple use of ibids, how would one do it?
I was thinking and researching about the use of Ibid in footnotes/endnotes etc. and found the following example in Wikipedia:
[1] E. Vijh, Latin for Dummies (New York: Academic, 1997), p. 23
[2] ...
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2answers
931 views
Is the abbreviation “etc.” or “and so on” acceptable in formal writing? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
On the usage of “etcetera”
Is the abbreviation etc. or "and so on" acceptable in scientific writing papers?
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List of truncated words [closed]
I don't know if I'm in the right place, but I was wondering if anyone knows where I can find a list of truncated words (and if possible the complete word). For example, tho ⇒ though.
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Why abbreviation for “Definition” as “Def^n” (math context)
I've seen in math and physics lectures delivered in English, that people use to abreviate the commonly very used word "Definition" by "Def n"(Def superscript n). What's the meaning of this n? That is, ...
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125 views
OED Appeals: Antedatings of “DIY”
The OED has made a public appeal for help in tracing the history of some English words, including:
DIY
abbreviation earlier than 1955
DIY is of course an abbreviation of do it yourself, ...
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1answer
102 views
Should the abbreviation 'i.e.' be used in speech?
I often hear people use the abbreviation 'i.e.' while speaking. It does not seem right to me. Similarly with 'e.g.' — I would always say 'for example' rather than 'e.g.'.
So is it appropriate to ...
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1answer
141 views
Apostrophe and plurals of abbreviations [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the correct way to pluralize an acronym?
I was in Middlesbrough yesterday and spotted:
CJ’s Cafe
So far, so good, I thought. A selection of the delights within ...
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How to correctly assimilate dots, if at all?
I see this sentence:
There are many examples like mining, farming, foresting etc., that are dangerous to society because they cause environmental damage.
Shouldn't "etc.," be written instead ...
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104 views
Is the word “etc.” including more things which are not mentioned? [closed]
I wonder the correct usage of 'etc.'. It seems to me that some people, they really pursuit thoroughness when they try to list things and they speak etc. at the end like saying "that's all".
For ...
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1answer
185 views
Abbreviation or expression for ‘we will prove that’ [closed]
In German mathematics, the expression ‘Zu zeigen’ exists, which translates to ‘to show’. It is used at the beginning of proofs (or the answers to exercises) to state what exactly will be shown in the ...
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punctuation when addressing a person's name [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it proper to omit periods after honorifics (Mr, Mrs, Dr)?
Should I use a full stop after Mr. or Mrs. as in Mr. Smith or Mrs. Smith or should I write Mr Smith and Mrs ...
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4answers
552 views
How to abbreviate “compare”, “see”, “refer to”
In my native language (Italian) there are convenient abbreviations for compare (cfr) and see or refer to (vd). Is there anything similar in English? Or should I just use the complete words see or ...
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1answer
829 views
Symbol, punctuation, or abbreviation that indicates a “paraphrase”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the proper use of [square brackets] in quotes?
This question is born of practical necessity - one that I encountered while quoting a reference in "another" Stack ...
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Do you use a period when you end a question with an abbrev.? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
If a question ends in the abbreviation of et cetera, do you still add the period before the question mark?
If I end a question with (for instance) etc., should I include ...
6
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1answer
133 views
What do references like “Docc Rom.” and similar mean? [closed]
In the book Giordano Bruno: His Life and Thought, by Dorothea Waley Singer, references often have a form of
18 Doc. Ven. XV.
or
49 Docc. Rom. XX, XXI.
How to decipher them?
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212 views
What is the abbreviation for “state”?
Obviously, when I go to Google this or search virtually anywhere I get a list of state abbreviations.
But I'm curious, what would the proper way be to abbreviate the actual word state?
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What is the full form of e.g.? [closed]
What is the full form of "e.g." as we use it to say "for example"?
Like
There were people from many Asian countries e.g. India, Japan..
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Which would you place in parentheses: the expansion or the abbreviation? [closed]
When dealing with abbreviations, should you parenthesize the abbreviation or its expansion? I have seen it both ways. Can anyone make a good case for preferring one style over the other?
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How do I correctly write distance? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it appropriate to use non-breaking spaces?
If I am writing "I ran X distance", should I leave a space between the value and abbreviated distance, or is it more ...
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1answer
102 views
Is it OK to switch between abbreviated and non-abbreviated versions?
For example, having one paragraph where the abbreviation XYZ is used a number of times. Then, in the following paragraph, having the full version Xxxx Yyyy Zzzz several times. How about in the same ...
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309 views
proper way to write the slang term for “gravitational force”
I came across something very similar to this in a thriller novel:
At this stage, the rocket is experiencing its maximum acceleration, say about ten gees.
Here, the author has spelled out the ...
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1answer
343 views
Periods after directional abreviation in address
I am creating a business card, and I need to put the address of the company on it. What is the proper way to write this address?
555 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 55555
555 14th St NW., Atlanta, ...
