Abbreviations
Q. I'm working with an author who insists that the proper typesetting of the abbreviations a.m. and p.m. is to set them in small caps and separate the letters with periods. Citing CMOS, I indicated that the author was incorrect because it says that if these abbreviations are set in small capitals, then periods are unnecessary. However, when I showed the author that section in CMOS, she pointed out that in the second example provided to show proper use with words such as “morning” or “afternoon,” 11:00 P.M. is shown with both small caps and periods. Is there an exception to the rule that is being exhibited in this instance? Any light you can shed on this seeming discrepancy would be appreciated. Answer »
Q. Could you tell me the correct way to pluralize an acronym when it is the first instance and the definition that appears before the acronym is plural? Here is an example and the two options that have been suggested to me: configuration items (CIs), or configuration items (CI)s. I think the first because it looks better, but others disagree. Answer »
Q. I am editing a military memoir with frequent use of acronyms such as IED (improvised explosive device), DFAC (dining hall), MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation). Should these terms be spelled out throughout the manuscript, or is it appropriate to use the acronym after it has been described in a parenthetical on the first reference? Answer »
Q. I am proofing an engineering document. There is a section titled “System Engineering Instruction Team (SEIT).” However, this acronym is already defined in the body of a previous section. The argument is that the section in question should simply be titled “SEIT.” However, I don’t think the section title should be reduced to “SEIT” because the reader may not know what SEIT means upon first glance at the table of contents. I say it’s okay to redefine the acronym if it suddenly becomes the title of a major section. Is it ever okay to redefine an acronym after it has already been defined? Answer »
Q. Can you direct me to the reference in CMOS that would cover writing 15mph (no space) or 150 mph (with space) and 8mm (no space) or 8 mm (space)? Thank you! Answer »
Q. Hello, I’m in desperate need of help with my MA dissertation. The proper abbreviation for the International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command South is RC(S). How do I put RC(S) into parentheses after the first usage of “Regional Command South” to indicate that I will henceforth be using the abbreviated form? Right now I have “The primary allies of Regional Command South (RC(S)) . . .” This, however, does not seem correct. Can you please help? Answer »
Q. I am editing a dissertation for a client who wants to use an abbreviation “N.” in place of “Nietzsche” in a dissertation on Nietzsche. Her advisor said this is okay. I told her it is not okay, and that abbreviations, explained in a list of abbreviations, should be used only for titles of works or for author’s names if they are used in citations but not in the text itself. Am I right? Answer »
Q. When you have an initialism, do you cap the first letter of each word when the phrase is completely spelled out? Answer »
Q. Is it proper to define an acronym within an acronym or an abbreviation within an abbreviation? I am working on a document that contains an abbreviation that is really two other abbreviations smushed together with additional words tacked onto either side. And to top it all off, the overall abbreviation doesn’t even contain the first letter of every word in the other two abbreviations. They’ve dropped letters to make it shorter. Finally, if it is acceptable to do this sort of thing, how would I define the abbreviation or acronym on first use within the document if the two incorporated abbreviations were not previously defined in the document? Whew! Answer »
Q. I’m editing a college-level textbook. Is it proper to eliminate the titles Mr., Mrs., etc. in running text? For example, after Mary Louise Jones is first introduced, should she be “Mrs. Jones” or just “Jones” thereafter? It seems cumbersome to repeat “Mrs.” over and over, especially if she is mentioned often. Answer »
Q. I am editing a manuscript of a law book that uses many specialized abbreviations. There is a table of abbreviations, but we have decided to spell out each abbreviation the first time it is used in each chapter, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. The only question I have is regarding abbreviations for commonly known words. For example, the author lists the United States in the table of abbreviations. To be consistent, I have spelled out United States the first time it is used and followed it with (U.S.). This strikes me as kind of silly, as everyone knows that the U.S. is the United States. Any suggestions? Answer »
Q. How do I spell MIKE in Spanish? I want to put it with a tattoo I’m getting. Thanks. Answer »
Q. I am an elementary school teacher and am confronted with an abbreviation debate. How should the abbreviation of United States of America be taught? I am finding that it is acceptable in several forms, but I would like to be as accurate as possible. Answer »
Q. I am editing a book in which the author uses one acronym to refer to a term that can have two different endings. For example, BE would be used for “book editor” and “book editing.” Sample sentences: “BE is a complicated process. As a BE, one can make a million dollars.” How should I handle this? How would you spell out the acronym on first mention? (I am working on the second edition, and the use of the one acronym was accepted for the first edition.) Answer »
Q. Hello, another question from New Zealand. I am unsure as to the rules for spelling out what abbreviations stand for. In the passage I am proofreading, we refer to the DSD and the BPD, which stand for the design strategy document and the business process document, respectively. Am I right in thinking these should be lowercase when written in full? Answer »
Q. Should a noun that is represented by an acronym be initial capped upon first reference, e.g., ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) vs. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)? Also, would this noun be initial capped (sans acronym) throughout the rest of the document? Answer »
Q. As a graduate of the College at the University of Chicago, I received an A.B. degree in anthropology. I have traditionally listed my degree as “A.B. Anthropology, University of Chicago.” However, in preparing my résumé for inclusion in proposals, my employer wants to list it as “B.A. Anthropology, University of Chicago.” What is the correct format, or is there no difference? Answer »
Q. Most people no longer use a typewriter and carbon paper when making a copy of a letter. Does that mean that “cc” should now be just “c”? Answer »
Q. I am surprised that you spell Ms (as in Ms Helen Jones) with a period (Ms. Helen Jones). Nothing is being abbreviated (as in Mr. or Mrs.). Our University Senate adopted plain Ms in its documents some time ago! Answer »
Q. Hello. I’m editing this passage: “I liked not ever knowing when I was going to be UA’d, because in the beginning of my treatment it made me stay off the pills.” UA stands for “urinalysis.” Is it correct to include an apostrophe in “UA’d”? Would appreciate your help very much. Answer »
Q. What if Turabian says to use periods with A.D. and B.C. but CMOS recommends no periods—when Turabian is the guide specified for a thesis? Answer »
Q. Dear Sir or Madam: My client prefers to use the article a before an abbreviation such as LCMOS. I suggest using an, since the letter L is pronounced “ell.” What does the Chicago Manual of Style recommend? Answer »
Q. I’m editing an army paper, and they put EVERYTHING in caps, which I reduce to lowercase when possible. Is the following okay, or do the spelled-out names get lowercased in such cases? “For analysis purposes, the Fatigue-Avoidance Scheduling Tool (FAST), based on the Sleep, Activity, Fatigue, and Task-Effectiveness (SAFTE) model. . . .” Answer »
Q. I work for a technical magazine. I’ve always been taught that when it comes to acronyms, the rule is you spell out the words first followed by the acronym in parentheses, and then use the acronym for later references in the copy. If there are no other mentions of the acronym later in the copy, then you just spell it out without the acronym in parentheses. Is this correct? My coworker is debating this with me. Thanks!!!!!!! Answer »
Q. Would you please explain when to use “e.g.” and when to use “i.e.?” Thank you. Answer »
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