# What words do you always abbreviate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528 "2006-05-05T13:40:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/1 "2006-05-05T13:40:12Z")
In more or less casual writing (posts here; emails to friends; internal emails at work), there are certain words I almost always abbreviate. These include: [ul] [li]esp.[/li][li]pls.[/li][li]abbr.[/li][li]pix[/li][/ul] What are yours? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/2 "2006-05-05T13:41:43Z")
appt noc (for night-not really an abbr but I use it) esp mtg ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/3 "2006-05-05T13:43:55Z")
ex - example K - contract c/o - concerning @ - about a triangle - change ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/4 "2006-05-05T13:50:32Z")
I was specifically thinking about ones that I’d expect anyone to be able to make sense of, whether they know your special lingo or not. There are plenty that I’d use in a scribbled note to a coworker (OTO, s/b, U/lc, TK, etc.) that I wouldn’t put in a post here – but I have no hesitation in abbreviating “especially” as “esp.” with a general audience. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/5 "2006-05-05T14:10:54Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > There are plenty that I’d use in a scribbled note to a coworker (OTO, s/b, U/lc, TK, etc.) OK, I got all of these but “OTO.” A little help? I seldom abbreviate in general writing. Maybe an etc. now and then or the occasional IMHO, IIRC, etc., depending on context. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/6 "2006-05-05T14:20:03Z")
In my own notes: s/h/b for should have been w/ for with \_\_\_ and a delta for change in esp. etc. In notes to others, sometimes Thx for Thanks if it’s someone I know well ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/7 "2006-05-05T14:20:28Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > OK, I got all of these but “OTO.” A little help? One Time Only. (As in, not a regular feature, but something run only in that particular issue.) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/8 "2006-05-05T14:21:51Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > I was specifically thinking about ones that I’d expect anyone to be able to make sense of, whether they know your special lingo or not. I use the ones I listed in non-professional contexts. And often have to remember that others may not all know. Only one - K - is from law school. Other law ones are P (plaintiff) D (Defendant) ct (court) o/c (opposing counsel)… And hell, I work for the gov’t, so I could provide enought acronyms to gag a maggot. the triangle meaning change I believe is a relic of HS chemistry. The other ones I believe are left over from taking notes in college and law school. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/9 "2006-05-05T14:31:09Z")
I can’t think of a single one, unless you count contractions like “can’t.” But I sometimes write “fex” and “f’rin” (for “for example” and “for instance”) purely to amuse myself. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/10 "2006-05-05T15:14:11Z")
dwg = drawing w/o = without w/ = with @ = at, or about BFD = Big F\*\*\*ing Deal ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/11 "2006-05-05T16:02:40Z")
I suppose if I thought about it long enough I could come up with some that I have used on occasion, but as a general rule I’d limit it to: St. (Saint) Ft. (Fort) Mt. (Mount) etc. (et cetera) and things like that. Words that are rarely spelled out, in other words. In email or in posts here I will abbreviate if I have already spelled out what I’m abbreviating, so as to avoid confusion and to save keystrokes. I rarely use an abbreviation for a phrase or name, such as an acronym, unless I’m 90% sure it’s in common parlance. I find the deliberate use of undefined abbreviations to be a bit precious and if they’re used too much I just disregard what’s being attempted as some form of “communication.” I mean if one is going to the trouble to express an idea, why put it in code? Is it some sort of inside joke designed to be intelligible by just a chosen few? If so, have at. I don’t mind being on the outside of such groups. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/12 "2006-05-05T16:39:24Z")
Back in college, I dvpd an abbr-laden note-taking style b/c I cdn’t get thru all the bks asg’d due to ADD + wtd 2 get max info fr lectures. It wkd, except in courses where exams covered kdge of texts on par w/kdge of facts, principles, etc. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/13 "2006-05-05T17:25:08Z")
BOGOF=buy one, get one free GOP=grand old party=Republican vs.=versus=against ATM=automatic teller machine DNR=Department of Natural Resources NPR=National Public Radio Crax=crackers Chk=chicken GBD=golden brown & delicious GrPep=green bell pepper YMMV=a Humvee with an onboard kitchen, or your mileage may vary TSP=trisodium phosphate, a very strong cleaner CHMSL (pronounced chimsull)=center high mounted stop lamp ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/14 "2006-05-05T18:30:02Z")
appx. - Approximate(ly). ---
**Author:** ![jawdirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@jawdirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jawdirk)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/15 "2006-05-05T19:52:53Z")
Wht. wds. _dn’t_ I alws. abbr.? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/16 "2006-05-05T19:56:42Z")
I’m curious why AskNott writes about brake lights, republicans and fried chicken. (Isn’t GBD an Alton Brownism?) For me, it’s pwd - what else, but password! c-bar (the letter c under a hyphen) - with (a very common use in the medical world) One that makes my skin crawl - pls for please. It’s been my experience that people that use pls also use Comic Sans as their typeface for email. ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/17 "2006-05-05T20:23:51Z")
i don’t normally (other than contractions) I hate when people writer thnx or thanx, is it that hard to write out thanks? The department heads at work do it on memos all the time, it drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/18 "2006-05-05T21:06:24Z")
So many it would bore you to death – but all relating to automobile parts and thier locations on the vehicle . ---
**Author:** ![gabriela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@gabriela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gabriela)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/19 "2006-05-05T23:55:24Z")
CTD. DIB. DRT. (Circling The Drain) (Dead In Bed) (Dead Raht Thair) ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528/20 "2006-05-06T02:49:13Z")
Lots and lots from military service: SNAFU - Situation Navy: All F-ed Up FUBAR - F-ed Up Beyond All Repair (or Recognition) TSP (same as Ask Nott’s definition) DSP Di-Sodium Phosphate HVAC - Heating-Ventilation and Air Conditioning RHIB - Rigid Hull Inflatable Body (I think some people call 'em Zodiacs) LEO - Law Enforcement Officer (Or Operations) LEO - Low Earth Orbit WTF - Wally Tango Foxtrot **gabriela** , I thought DRT was supposed to mean Deep Recon Teams. (Which, granted, do have a distressing tendency to end up Daid Raht Thair.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-words-do-you-always-abbreviate/355528.md?page=2)