What is the correct abbreviation for the words numbers and number?
- Nos.
- No.
- Nos
- No
Possible example usage:
- "Number of guests" where the word number is abbreviated
- "Numbers 10–15 are located in the top shelf."
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14The shortest expression is just #.– user13141Sep 24, 2011 at 6:22
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2Sometimes there is a separate abbreviation for it... №– GEdgarSep 24, 2011 at 17:18
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2Does anyone find it odd when an abbreviation includes one or more letters that do not appear in the word being abbreviated?– user45992Jun 13, 2013 at 13:07
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2@onomatomaniak The hash sign # is not a common or standard indication for 'number' in the UK. I do not know whether it is used in other English-speaking countries outside the US.– TrevorDAug 13, 2013 at 22:58
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3@user45992 I believe the 'o' in the abbreviation for 'number' comes from 'numero' (or a similar foreign word). lb & oz also include letters not in the corresponding English word. And where does the $ symbol come from - no 'S' in dollar.– TrevorDAug 13, 2013 at 23:01
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4 Answers
It is highly unlikely that there is a global standard. It differs based on practice and the standards set by the relevant authorities (publishers and the like).
Ex: The Oxford Journal Instructions for Authors suggests (Sec. 2.3):
Abbreviations where the last letter of the singular word is not included take a full stop (vol., vols./ed., eds.). The abbreviation for number is no./nos. Abbreviated unit of measurements do not take a full stop (lb, mm, kg) and do not take a final 's' in the plural.
This is a suggestion from Cambridge Dictionary for use of no. as the abbreviation for number.
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1But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question. Sep 24, 2011 at 17:59
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2Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one? Mar 13, 2012 at 17:15
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Cambridge dictionary only gives the abbreviation no. when number refers to a numeral, a position or identification, not a quantity, amount or calculation : http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/number_1
Therefore I understand "Number of guests" should not be abbreviated.
In other words, the ordinal number (e.g. No. 3, which indicates a position in an ordered list) is abbreviated, but the cardinal number (e.g. Number of guests, which indicates a numeric quantity) is not abbreviated.
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3I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.– supercatAug 28, 2014 at 22:01
I use "num" or "nm" instead of "no" to avoid confusion with "yes/no" meaning -- especially in my computer programming variable names.
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3I use
nof, which means "number of". Instead ofnm_eggs_in_basket,nof_eggs_in_basket.– PacerierMar 2, 2016 at 18:58 -
4Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion:
test_validates_reference_no_formatOct 3, 2018 at 14:06
Per Wikipedia — Numero sign, it's also possible to use " Nº " and " No̲ ":
The numero sign or numero symbol, № (also represented as Nº, No̲, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word number(s) indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles.
For example, with the numero sign, the written long-form of the address "Number 22 Acacia Avenue" is shortened to "№ 22 Acacia Avenue", yet both forms are spoken long.
Though it doesn't seem to be common.
