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Is it possible to use the abbreviation "w.r.t." in academic papers?

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    No, it is not advisable.
    – JLG
    Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:06
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    Your title says technical papers and your question body says academic papers. Which is it?
    – chaos
    Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:07
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    Academic, so technical.
    – user278064
    Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:14
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    @user278064: They aren't synonyms or even overlapping, really. Academic writing and technical writing are vastly different styles.
    – chaos
    Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:18
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    "Possible"? Yes. In fact, in a mathematics paper one would write "w.r.t." meaning "with respect to" and no one would think twice about it.
    – GEdgar
    Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 20:15

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It's possible, but it's a bad idea. It's not part of the conventions of academic writing, so will typically be read as clashing in style with it.

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    Academic writing conventions vary between fields. Justaskin_ is correct to say that it would be fine in a maths paper.
    – Rupe
    Commented Nov 10, 2015 at 13:59
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In mathematics "w.r.t." is part of the standard jargon. It is not unusual to see it used (sparingly) in peer-reviewed journal articles.

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See,

With Regard To (or) with reference to

I think is supposed to be written in papers or letters in order to direct attention towards or to refer to something that was being discussed immediately before these words... OK?

Now, I think in technical or academic papers using "w.r.t" abbreviation for "With Regard To" may not be incorrect, but it may be misleading or ambiguous. As "w.r.t" may stand for something else as well. For Example it may stand for "Windowed Radon Transform" and if something like this is a part of the discussion, then use of such abbreviation is uncalled for.

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    When I see w.r.t. I interpret it as with respect to. Per ngrams for with respect to,with regard to,with reference to,With respect to,With regard to,With reference to, phrase with respect to occurs more often than either phrase you mentioned.
    – James Waldby - jwpat7
    Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 18:05
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    Wouldn't "Windowed Radon Transform" be WRT instead of w.r.t.?
    – jinawee
    Commented Sep 17, 2018 at 13:11
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David Foster Wallace uses this abbreviation all the time. It's awesome. Depends on the tone you are going for; DFW uses it to evidence his desire for efficient language is on balance with his sprawling analysis of 'ineffable' artistic topics.

I agree with it's use in a mathematician's paper, as efficiency is prized in that study. History, humanities, etc - it's a no go.

Oh yeah, I'm a mere BA holder, so account for that in your advice acceptance criteria.

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    You might want to back this up with some sources and further explanation. In its current form, this is not a strong answer. Thank you!
    – user11550
    Commented Jun 10, 2014 at 4:31

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