Most abbreviations are pronounced the same as the word they're based on, like hr, min, and sec (that's hour, minute, and second). Luckily, there aren't many exceptions like this, so you don't have to worry too much about making a mistake. For example, AM stands for Ante Meridiem. This happens when the abbreviation becomes more popular than the original term-usually because the original is too long or outdated. For instance, AM, PM, i.e., and PhD are pronounced exactly the way they're spelled. There are some exceptions that are pronounced differently. The important thing to remember is that abbreviations aren't words in the true sense-they're more like shorthand. would be pronounced et cetera (not e-t-c). Snape would be pronounced Professor Snape (not Prof Snape).

Most of the time, they're pronounced the same as the original word-whether you're reading it aloud or in your head.įor example, Prof. Now that you know how abbreviations are formed, you may be wondering how they're pronounced. You just have to know what the term means, and how to spell it-everything else will usually fall into place. Thankfully, you don't have to know whether something is an abbreviation, initialism, or acronym to use it properly. Technically, these are initialisms, which is a type of abbreviation. Some abbreviations look like acronyms (for example, mph and NY), but it's really just a coincidence. It's almost like the letters are clues that point to the original word or expression.

This makes them easier to remember, and easy for others to read. Unlike abbreviations, they aren't shorter spellings of words-they're made up of the words' initials.Ībbreviations are usually formed using the most recognizable letters from the word or expression. An acronym is a stand-in for a string of words, usually an organization name, slogan, or something else equally wordy. You might already know some acronyms, like NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and ATM (automated teller machine). Specifically, abbreviations are shorter spellings of words and expressions we use every day.

to the abbreviations you see on street signs. What is an abbreviation?Ībbreviations are all around us, from common titles like Dr. They're designed to save time and take up less space (whether you're typing or writing by hand), and can even make your writing easier to read. en/grammar/negatives/content/ Abbreviations and acronymsĪbbreviations and acronyms are shorter versions of existing words and phrases.

Short abbreviations for words