Common Abbreviations

Acronyms are commonly used with degrees, Latin words, lengthy chemical names, people’s initials, and states or provinces.

Philosophiae Doctor (Doctorate of Philosophy) = PhD

Bachelor of Arts = BA, Bachelor of Science = BSc

Lysergic acid diethylamide = LSD

Ante meridiem = a.m. Post meridiem = p.m. Exempli gratia = e.g., Id est = i.e.

John F. Kennedy = J.F.K., Lyndon B. Johnson = L.B.J.

E.B. White, M.K. Fisher. e.e. cummings

North Carolina = NC, California = CA, Ontario = ON

Abbreviations are commonly used with people’s titles, days and months, places such as streets, units of measurement, and lengthy words. Some Latin terms are also abbreviated.

Mister = Mr., Missus = Mrs., Doctor = Dr.

Senior = Sr., Junior = Jr.

Sunday = Sun, Monday = Mon., Tuesday = Tues.

September = Sept., October = Oct., November = Nov.

Road = Rd., Street = St., Avenue = Ave.

Milligram = mg., kilometre = km

Feet = ft, Inch = in,

Pound = lb (an abbreviation of libra),

Corporation = Corp., Incorporated = Inc.

Example = ex.

While it’s no longer a popular practice, common men’s names used to be abbreviated. This may still be seen in British English.

William = Wm., Thomas = Thos., Charles = Chas.