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For or against abbreviations?
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Abbreviations (shortened forms of full terms) are everywhere. Some have even become better known than the full term! But are abbreviations always good? And how should we deal with them in our writing?
People who are familiar with the subject we are discussing will have no problem understanding our message, but what about everyone else? Very often, what we write is read by many readers, all with different backgrounds. That means we have to make sure that we write so all readers can understand our message.
So what's the rule?
Write out the full term the first time you mention it, and put the abbreviation in parentheses after the name.
- Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
- Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Are there exceptions?
Yes, when the abbreviation is better known than the full term, you should write the abbreviation first and put the full name in brackets after it. This is often done in scientific and technical writing.
- HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
- Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)
However, if space is limited—for example, in a table or list—using just the abbreviation may be the better choice, but remember to explain it somewhere else in your document.
The main point to remember is that you have to think about what your readers know and don't know. Then be consistent with whatever style choice you make.
