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A list of shortened words and phrases often used in formal English
Written English uses many abbreviations. Often these are used in business emails, notes and memos. This list will help you understand English abbreviations.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Written Example | Used in spoken English? |
| # | number | Do you have invoice #322034? | No - say "number" |
| a/c | account | Can you email me the details for a/c number 22-356? | No - say "account" |
| AGM | annual general meeting | Shareholders voted at the AGM. | Yes |
| anon. | anonymous used when an author or creator is not known |
Primary Colors by Anon. was about Bill Clinton | No - say "anonymous" |
| apt. | apartment | He's in apt. 204 | No - say "apartment" or "number" |
| ASAP | as soon as possible | Please finish the report ASAP. | Yes |
| attn | for the attention of used on letters and memos |
Attn: Sarah Jones. | No - say "attention" |
| approx. | approximately | Expecting approx. 300 people at the conference. | Sometimes, but usually say "approximately" |
| b. | born | Mozart (b. 1756) | No - say "born" |
| bcc | blind copy to comes from "blind carbon copy" |
Can you please bcc human resources in the email? | Yes |
| c. | around comes from Latin: circa |
He was born c. 1750. | No - say "circa" or "around" |
| C. | century | 20thC. | No - say "century" |
| cc | copy to comes from "carbon copy" |
Make sure you cc the boss. | Yes |
| CEO | chief executive officer | New CEO hired | Yes |
| cf. | compare comes from Latin: confer |
Sales in the third quarter increased (cf. second quarter). | No - say "compared with" or "compare" |
| CFO | chief financial officer | CFO on vacation till end of week | Yes |
| c/o | care of used on addresses; sometimes c/- |
Ralph Sawyer c/o Accounts |
No - say "care of" |
| cont. | continued also contd. |
Contd. next week. | No - say "continued" |
| d. | died | Mozart (d. 1791) | No - say "died" |
| dept | department | Send all communications to the publicity dept. | No - say "department" |
| d.o.b. | date of birth | Name: John Johanson D.O.B. 25-4-82 |
No - say "date of birth" |
| e.g. | for example comes from Latin: exempli gratia |
Bring items required for presentation—e.g. laptop, product samples, etc. | Sometimes, but usually say "for example" |
| esp. | especially | I miss Japanese food, esp. ramen and sushi! | No - say "especially" |
| est. | established | Starbucks (est. 1971) now has about 20,000 stores | No - say "established" |
| ETA | estimated time of arrival | ETA is 10.30am | Yes |
| et al. | and others comes from Latin: et alia |
Please see the report by Spencer et al. | Yes |
| etc. | and so on from Latin: et cetera |
The meeting covered the project schedule, budget, marketing plan etc. | No - say "et cetera" |
| fig. | figure | ...as shown in fig. 3 | No - say "figure" |
| fwd | forward | Please fwd to Bill | No - say "forward" |
| HR | human resources | You'll need to talk to HR. | Yes |
| i.e. | that is come from Latin: id est |
We visited both the old and new capitals of Japan i.e. Kyoto and Tokyo. | No - say "namely" or "that is to say" |
| incl. | includes/included | Batteries incl. | No - say "included" or "includes" |
| max. | maximum | Max. temperature: 180°C | Sometimes |
| min. | minimum | Min. cost: $200 per person | No - say "minimum" |
| misc. | miscellaneous | Responsibilities include misc. office tasks | No - say "miscellaneous" |
| msg. | message | Caller: Dave from IT Msg: PC upgraded and new software installed |
No - say "message" |
| n/a | not applicable/available used on forms when the requested information is not relevant also used when products are not available |
Comes in three colours: - red - white - black n/a |
No - only used in writing |
| N.B. | it is important to notice comes from Latin: nota bene |
We are open 7 days a week. N.B. Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day | No - say "note" |
| no. | number | Beckham is no. 23 | No - say "number" |
| p., pp. | page, pages | Turn to p. 7 for more information Marketing plan is on pp. 23 - 30 |
No - say "page" or "pages" |
| p.a. | per year comes from Latin: per annum |
His salary is more than $1m p.a. | No - say "per annum" or "per year" |
| pls | please | Pls call before 4. | No - say "please" |
| PR | public relations | She's in charge of PR. | Yes |
| p.s. | postscript used before a phrase added at the end of a letter or email |
Regards, Peter p.s. I'll be back to work on the 5th. |
No - only used in writing |
| p.t.o. | please turn over used at the bottom of a page to show there is something on the other side |
For more information p.t.o. | No - say "please turn over" or "please turn the page" |
| qty. | quantity | Item number: 3847c Qty. 6 |
No - say "quantity" |
| R&D | research and development | He's been in R&D for about 7 years. | Yes |
| re | with reference to | Call Morgan re Tuesday's appointment | Sometimes |
| RSVP | please reply comes from French: répondez s'il vous plaît |
RSVP by June 1st. | Yes |
| TBA | to be advised also TBC — to be confirmed |
Meeting on Wednesday, but time is TBC | No - say "to be confirmed" or "not yet confirmed" |
| vs. | versus | We watched Japan vs. Australia | No - say "versus" or "against" |
- It is important to use periods when they are shown. For example, the period makes the difference between the following clear: "no" = opposite of "yes"; and "no." = number.
- Some of the above can be used in spoken English, like "CEO", "HR", "ASAP" etc.
- Some when spoken must be said in full, like "et cetera" and "circa".
- There are lots and lots more abbreviations used in English by different generations, different nationalities and different subcultures. Use Acronym Finder to find the meaning of anything that is not on this list — their database has more than 5,000,000 acronyms and abbreviations!
