What are the correct abbreviation of words "section" and "sections" in a scientific writing?
Sec. and Secs.
or
Sect. and Sects.
?
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2There is the section sign '§', but obviously it is not appropriate here.– LordologyCommented Feb 16, 2019 at 11:34
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abbreviations.com gives everything from 'sec' to 'sxn'. abbreviations.com/abbreviation/Section– LordologyCommented Feb 16, 2019 at 11:36
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1I know people who would not hesitate to use § in the middle of a sentence for "section", and §§ for "sections".– Mr ListerCommented Feb 16, 2019 at 12:41
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1What kind of scientific writing? Please give an example sentence. I have never encountered the problem in my field.– DavidCommented Feb 16, 2019 at 12:56
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This cannot be answered in any particular way unless you provide a specific context. Some fields of study use a symbol, some a specific abbreviation, and others no abbreviation at all.– Jason BassfordCommented Feb 16, 2019 at 17:20
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1 Answer
In my experience you should avoid abbreviating it (in papers, textbooks and theses). Some style guides avoid abbreviating "figure", "equation" etc. even though those are much more common. On the rare occasions an abbreviation is used, it's never "sect." but "sec." (and in a few old texts, just "s."). "Sec" is an (incorrect) abbreviation for second, and "sect" is another word; neither is likely to lead to actual misunderstandings but can mean a sentence is unintuitive at first glance.
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Agree avoid abbreviating (not saving that much space anyway), but "sect." is also acceptable, esp to distinguish from "sec." as in "secretary" ("secy." also valid there). An abbreviation's ending period (in addition to context) helps distinguish it from any whole word equivs (as u allude to).– galaxisCommented Jan 14, 2023 at 15:18