You should use the full word. What are you going to do when you have something that you want to call ‘homogeneric’ or ‘homogaussian’ or ‘homog-something else’?
In genetics, “homozygote” can be abbreviated “homo”, but it’s not very common. However, “heterozygote” is almost always abbreviated to “het” while speaking. This is only for verbal communication however, since there’s usually little reason to use either “homozygote” or “heterozygote” in writing (that’s specified by the genotype).
I suppose “homo” is avoided because of the baggage and awkwardness it carries. But we use all sorts of other terminology that would be almost obscene out of context: “virgin collections”, “multiple vulva mutant”, etc.
Oh, usage of the word “homo” is also allowable if you are responding to someone who asked the question “Are we not men?” Especially if it’s a bizarre evolutionary treatise.
Typical practice is you abbreviate the common one and spell out the others (or at least spell them out further). Homogeneous would be, by far, the most commonly used one.
Lower case and italicized in binomials, certainly but by itself and at the start of a sentence?
I was I think 12 or so when the switch to bags occurred.
Thus prompting one of the most memorable adolescent giggling sessions I ever had, when a friend announced with a straight face: “Look, our homo milk now comes in bags. We used to get milk in jugs!”
It’s an offensive and outdated term for a demographic group that has plenty of other problems to deal with too. Why use it, when it’s so easy not to?
And, why joke about it, folks? That might be more hurtful than the technical usage the OP is wondering about, which at least is not trying to be at the expense of somebody else. You’re probably hurting a few people’s feelings when they’ve already been hurt quite enough.
I’m not sure it’s that outdated. I’ve heard gay guys refer to other gay guys as “homos” in conversation. Example: “Did you hear about Joe? That homo just got a promotion to regional manager!”
It throws me everytime, but what are you going to do?
chemistry is loaded with homos