U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual/Abbreviations and Letter Symbols
9. Abbreviations and Letter Symbols
9.1.
Abbreviations and letter symbols are used to save space and to avoid distracting the reader by use of repetitious words or phrases.
9.2.
The nature of the publication governs the extent to which abbreviations are used. In text of technical and legal publications, and in parentheses, brackets, footnotes, sidenotes, tables, leaderwork, and bibliographies, many words are frequently abbreviated. Heads, legends, tables of contents, and indexes follow the style of the text.
9.3.
Internal and terminal punctuation in symbols represening units of measure are to be omitted to conform with practice adopted by scientific, technical, and industrial groups. Where omission of terminal punctuation causes confusion; e.g., the symbol in (inch) mistaken for the preposition in, the symbol should be spelled out.
9.4.
Standard and easily understood forms are preferable, and they should be uniform throughout a job. Abbreviations not generally known should be followed in the text by the spelled-out forms in parentheses the first time they occur; in tables and leaderwork such explanatory matter should be supplied in a footnote. As the printer cannot rewrite the copy, the author should supply these explanatory forms.
9.5.
In technical matter, symbols for units of measure should be used only with figures; similarly, many other abbreviations and symbols should not appear in isolation. For example, energy is measured in foot-pounds, not energy is measured in ft·lbs.
Capitals, hyphens, periods (points), and spacing
9.6.
In general, an abbreviation follows the capitalization and hyphenation of the word or words abbreviated. It is followed by a period unless otherwise indicated.
- c.o.d.
- St.
- but ft·lb
9.7.
Abbreviations and initials of a personal name with points are set without spaces. Abbreviations composed of contractions and initials or numbers, will retain space.
- H.S.T.
- J.F.K.
- L.B.J.
- U.S.
- U.N.
- U.S.C. (but Rev. Stat.)
- A.F. of L.-CIO (AFL-CIO preferred)
- A.D., B.C.
- e.s.t.
- i.e., e.g. (but op. cit.)
- B.S., LL.D., Ph.D., B.Sc.
- H.R. 116 (but S. 116, S. Con. Res. 116)
- C.A.D.C. (but App. D.C.)
- A.B. Secrest, D.D.S.
- but
- AT&T
- Texas A&M
- R&D
9.8.
Except as otherwise designated, points and spaces are omitted after initials used as shortened names of governmental agencies and of other organized bodies. "Other organized bodies" shall be interpreted to mean organized bodies that have become popularly identified with a symbol, such as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), GM (General Motors), GMAC (General Motors Acceptance Corp.), etc. (See "List of Abbreviations.") Symbols, when they appear in copy, may be used for acts of Congress. Example: ARA (Area Redevelopment Act).
- VFW
- NLRB
- TVA
- AFL-CIO
- ARC
- ASTM
Geographic terms
9.9.
United States must be spelled out when appearing in a sentence containing the name of another country. The abbreviation U.S. will be used when preceding the word Government or the name of a Government organization, except in formal writing (treaties, Executive orders, proclamations, etc.); congressional bills; legal citations and courtwork; and covers and title pages.
- U.S. Government
- U.S. Congress
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. district court
- U.S. Supreme Court (but Supreme Court of the United States)
- U.S. Army (but Army of the United States)
- U.S. monitor Nantucket
- U.S.-NATO assistance
- U.S. Government efforts to control inflation must be successful if the United States is to have a stable economy.
but British, French, and United States Governments; United States-British talks
9.10.
With the exceptions in the preceding rule, the abbreviation U.S. is used in the adjective position, but is spelled out when used as a noun.
- U.S. foreign policy
- U.S. farm-support program
- U.S. attorney
- U.S. citizen
- United States Code (official title)
- United States Steel Corp. (legal title)
- Foreign policy of the United States
not Temperatures vary in the U.S.
9.11.
The names of foreign countries are not abbreviated, with the exception of the former U.S.S.R., which is abbreviated due to its length.
9.12.
In other than formal usage as defined in rule 9.9, all States of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands are abbreviated immediately following any capitalized geographic term, including armory, arsenal, airbase, airport, barracks, depot, fort, Indian agency, military camp, national cemetery (also forest, historic site, memorial, seashore, monument, park), naval shipyard, proving ground, reservation (forest, Indian, or military), and reserve or station (military or naval).
- Prince George's County, MD
- Arlington National Cemetery, VA
- Mount Rainier National Forest, WA
- Stone Mountain, GA
- National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
- Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge, IL-IA-MO (note use of hyphens here)
- Richmond, VA
- Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
- Baltimore-Washington International Airport, MD
- Redstone Arsenal, AL
- but
- Leavenworth freight yards, Kansas
- Altoona sidetrack, Wisconsin
9.13.
The Postal Service style of two-letter State, Province, and Freely Associated State abbreviations is to be used.
United States
[Including freely associated States]
- Alabama
AL - Alaska
AK - American Samoa
AS - Arizona
AZ - Arkansas
AR - California
CA - Colorado
CO - Connecticut
CT - Delaware
DE - District of Columbia
DC - Federated States of Micronesia
FM - Florida
FL - Georgia
GA - Guam
GU - Hawaii
HI - Idaho
ID - Illinois
IL - Indiana
IN - Iowa
IA - Kansas
KS - Kentucky
KY - Louisiana
LA - Maine
ME - Marshall Islands
MH - Maryland
MD - Massachusetts
MA - Michigan
MI - Minnesota
MN - Mississippi
MS - Missouri
MO - Montana
MT - Nebraska
NE - Nevada
NV - New Hampshire
NH - New Jersey
NJ - New Mexico
NM - New York
NY - North Carolina
NC - North Dakota
ND - Northern Mariana Islands
MP - Ohio
OH - Oklahoma
OK - Oregon
OR - Palau
PW - Pennsylvania
PA - Puerto Rico
PR - Rhode Island
RI - South Carolina
SC - South Dakota
SD - Tennessee
TN - Texas
TX - Utah
UT - Vermont
VT - Virgin Islands
VI - Virginia
VA - Washington
WA - West Virginia
WV - Wisconsin
WI - Wyoming
WY
Canada
- Alberta
AB - British Columbia
BC - Manitoba
MB - New Brunswick
NB - Newfoundland and Labrador
NL - Northwest Territories
NT - Nova Scotia
NS - Nunavut
NU - Ontario
ON - Prince Edward Island
PE - Quebec
QC - Saskatchewan
SK - Yukon
YT
9.14.
The names of other insular possessions, trust territories, and Long Island, Staten Island, etc., are not abbreviated.
9.15.
The names of Canadian Provinces and other foreign political subdivisions are not abbreviated except as noted in rule 9.13.
Addresses
9.16.
Words such as Street, Avenue, Place, Road, Square, Boulevard, Terrace, Drive, Court, and Building, following a name or number, are abbreviated in footnotes, sidenotes, tables, leaderwork, and lists.
9.17.
In addresses, a single period is used with the abbreviations NW., SW., NE., SE. (indicating sectional divisions of cities) following name or number. North, South, East, and West are spelled out at all times.
9.18.
The word Street or Avenue as part of a name is not abbreviated even in parentheses, footnotes, sidenotes, tables, lists, and leaderwork.
- 14th Street Bridge
- Ninth Avenue Bldg.
9.19.
The words County, Fort, Mount, Point, and Port are not abbreviated. Saint (St.) and Sainte (Ste.) should be abbreviated.
Descriptions of tracts of land
9.20.
If fractions are spelled out in land descriptions, half and quarter are used (not one-half nor one-quarter).
south half of T. 47 N., R. 64 E.
9.21.
In the description of tracts of public land the following abbreviations are used (periods are omitted after abbreviated compass directions that immediately precede and close up on figures):
- SE¼NW¼ sec. 4, T. 12 S., R. 15 E., of the Boise Meridian
- lot 6, NE¼ sec. 4, T. 6 N., R. 1 W.
- N½ sec. 20, T. 7 N., R. 2 W., sixth principal meridian
- Tps. 9, 10, 11, and 12 S., Rs. 12 and 13 W.
- T. 2 S., Rs. 8, 9, and 10 E., sec. 26
- T. 3 S., R. 1 E., sec. 34, W½E½, W½, and W½SE½SE½
- sec. 32 (with or without a township number)
9.22.
In case of an unavoidable break in a land-description symbol group at end of a line, use no hyphen and break after fraction.
Names and titles
9.23.
The following forms are not always abbreviations, and copy should be followed as to periods:
- Al
- Alex
- Ben
- Ed
- Fred
- Sam
- Walt
- Will
9.24.
In signatures, an effort should be made to retain the exact form used by the signer.
- George Wythe
- Geo. Taylor
9.25.
In company and other formal names, if it is not necessary to preserve the full legal title, such forms as Bro., Bros., Co., Corp., Inc., Ltd., and & are used. Association and Manufacturing are not abbreviated.
- Radio Corp. of America
- Aluminum Co. of America
- Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey
- H.J. Baker & Bro.
- Jones Bros. & Co.
- American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
- Norton Enterprises, Inc.
- Maryland Steamship Co., Ltd.
- Chesapeake & Delaware Canal
- Fairmount Building & Loan Association
- Electronics Manufacturing Co.
- Texas College of Arts & Industries
- Robert Wilson & Associates, Inc.
- Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
- Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers
- but
- Little Theater Company
- Senate Banking, Housing and
- U.S. News & World Report Urban Affairs Committee
9.26.
Company and Corporation are not abbreviated in names of Federal Government units.
- Commodity Credit Corporation
- Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
9.27.
In parentheses, footnotes, sidenotes, tables, and leaderwork, abbreviate the words railroad and railway (RR. and Ry.), except in such names as "Washington Railway & Electric Co." and "Florida Railroad & Navigation Corp." SS for steamship, MS for motorship, etc., preceding name are used at all times.
9.28.
In the names of informal companionships the word and is spelled out.
- Gilbert and Sullivan
- Currier and Ives
9.29.
In other than formal usage, a civil, military, or naval title preceding a name is abbreviated if followed by first or given name or initial; but Mr., Mrs., Miss, Ms., M., MM., Messrs., Mile., Mme., and Dr. are abbreviated with or without first or given name or initial.
United States military titles and abbreviations
Officer rank
Officer ranks in the United States military consist of commissioned officers and warrant officers. The commissioned ranks are the highest in the military These officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps officers are called company grade officers in the pay grades of O-l to O-3, field grade officers in pay grades O-4 to O-6, and general officers in pay grades O-7 and higher. The equivalent officer groupings in the Navy are called junior grade, mid-grade, and flag.
Warrant officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are specialists and experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The lowest ranking warrant officers serve under a warrant, but they receive commissions from the President upon promotion to chief warrant officer 2. These commissioned warrant officers are direct representatives of the President of the United States. They derive their authority from the same source as commissioned officers but remain specialists, in contrast to commissioned officers, who are generalists. There are no warrant officers in the Air Force.
| Army | Navy Coast Guard | Marines | Air Force | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General of the Army (Reserved for wartime only) |
Fleet Admiral (Reserved for wartime only) |
General of the Air Force (Reserved for wartime only) | |||||||
| O10 | General GEN Army Chief of Staff |
Admiral ADM Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Coast Guard |
General Gen. Commandant of the Marine Corps |
General Gen. Air Force Chief of Staff | |||||
| 09 | Lieutenant General LTG |
Vice Admiral VADM |
Lieutenant General Lt. Gen. |
Lieutenant General Lt. Gen. | |||||
| O8 | Major General MG |
Rear Admiral Upper Half RADM |
Major General Maj. Gen. |
Major General Maj. Gen. | |||||
| O7 | Brigadier General BG |
Rear Admiral Lower Half RDML |
Brigadier General Brig. Gen. |
Brigadier General Brig. Gen. | |||||
| O6 | Colonel COL |
Captain CAPT |
Colonel Col. |
Colonel Col. | |||||
| O5 | Lieutenant Colonel LTC |
Commander CDR |
Lieutenant Colonel Lt. Col. |
Lieutenant Colonel Lt. Col. | |||||
| O4 | Major MAJ |
Lieutenant Commander LCDR |
Major Maj. |
Major Maj. | |||||
| O3 | Captain CPT |
Lieutenant LT |
Captain Capt. |
Captain Capt. |-style="border-bottom:2px solid black;border-top:1px solid black;border-right:1px solid black;" |
O2 | First Lieutenant 1LT |
Lieutenant Junior Grade LTJG |
First Lieutenant 1st Lt. |
First Lieutenant 1st Lt. |
| O1 | Second Lieutenant 2LT |
Ensign ENS |
Second Lieutenant 2nd Lt. |
Second Lieutenant 2nd Lt. | |||||
| W5 | Chief Warrant Officer CW5 |
Chief Warrant Officer CWO5 |
Chief Warrant Officer 5 CWO5 |
NO WARRANT | |||||
| W4 | Chief Warrant Officer 4 CW4 |
Chief Warrant Officer 4 CWO4 |
Chief Warrant Officer 4 CWO4 |
NO WARRANT | |||||
| W3 | Chief Warrant Officer 3 CW3 |
Chief Warrant Officer 3 CWO3 |
Chief Warrant Officer 3 CWO3 |
NO WARRANT | |||||
| W2 | Chief Warrant Officer 2 CW2 |
Chief Warrant Officer 2 CWO2 |
Chief Warrant Officer 2 CWO2 |
NO WARRANT | |||||
| W1 | Warrant Officer 1 WO1 |
Warrant Officer 1 WO1 |
Warrant Officer 1 WO |
NO WARRANT |
Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/officers.html.
Enlisted rank
Service members in pay grades E-1 through E-3 are usually either in some kind of training status or on their initial assignment. The training includes the basic training phase where recruits are immersed in military culture and values and are taught the core skills required by their service component.
Basic training is followed by a specialized or advanced training phase that provides recruits with a specific area of expertise or concentration. In the Army and Marines, this area is called a military occupational specialty; in the Navy it is known as a rate; and in the Air Force it is simply called an Air Force specialty.
Leadership responsibility significantly increases in the mid-level enlisted ranks. This responsibility is given formal recognition by use of the terms noncommissioned officer and petty officer. An Army sergeant, an Air Force staff sergeant, and a Marine corporal are considered NCO ranks. The Navy NCO equivalent, petty officer, is achieved at the rank of petty officer third class.
At the E-8 level, the Army, Marines, and Air Force have two positions at the same pay grade. Whether one is, for example, a senior master sergeant or a first sergeant in the Air Force depends on the person's job. The same is true for the positions at the E-9 level. Marine Corps master gunnery sergeants and sergeants major receive the same pay but have different responsibilities. All told, E-8s and E-9s have 15 to 30 years on the job, and are commanders' senior advisers for enlisted matters.
A third E-9 element is the senior enlisted person of each service. The sergeant major of the Army, the sergeant major of the Marine Corps, the master chief petty officer of the Navy, and the chief master sergeant of the Air Force are the spokespersons of the enlisted force at the highest levels of their services.
| Army | Navy Coast Guard | Marines | Air Force | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E9 | Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) |
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) and Coast Guard (MCPOCG) |
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps (SgtMajMC) |
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF) | |||||
| E9 | Sergeant Major (SGM) |
Command Sergeant Major (CSM) |
Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) |
Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer | Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) |
Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) |
Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) |
First Sergeant | Command Chief Master Sergeant (CCM) |
| E8 | Master Sergeant (MSG) |
First Sergeant (1SG) |
Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) |
Master Sergeant (MSgt) |
First Sergeant | Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) |
First Sergeant | ||
| E7 | Sergeant First Class (SFC) |
Chief Petty Officer (CPO) |
Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) |
Master Sergeant (MSgt) |
First Sergeant | ||||
| E6 | Staff Sergeant (SSG) |
Petty Officer First Class (PO1) |
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) |
Technical Sergeant (TSgt) | |||||
| E5 | Sergeant (SGT) |
Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) |
Sergeant (Sgt) |
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) | |||||
| E4 | Corporal (CPL) |
Specialist (SPC) |
Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) |
Corporal (Cpl) |
Senior Airman (SrA) | ||||
| E3 | Private First Class (PFC) |
Seaman (SN) |
Lance Corporal (LCpl) |
Airman First Class (A1C) | |||||
| E2 | Private E-2 (PV2) |
Seaman Apprentice (SA) |
Private First Class (PFC) |
Airman (Amn) | |||||
| El | Private | Seaman Recruit (SR) |
Private | Airman Basic | |||||
Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/insignias/enlisted.html
9.30.
Spell out Senator, Representative, and commandant.
9.31.
Unless preceded by the, abbreviate Honorable, Reverend, and Monsignor when followed by the first name, initials, or title.
- Hon. Elihu Root; the Honorable Elihu Root; the Honorable Mr. Root
- the Honorables John Roberts, John Paul Stevens, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg
- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; the Reverend Dr. King; Rev. Dr. King; Reverend King (not Rev. King, nor the Reverend King)
- Rt. Rev. James E. Freeman; the Right Reverend James E. Freeman; Very Rev. Henry Boyd; the Very Reverend Henry Boyd
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Bird; the Right Reverend Monsignor John Bird
9.32.
The following and similar forms are used after a name:
- Esq., Jr., Sr.
- 2d, 3d (or II, III) (not preceded by comma)
- Degrees: LL.D., M.A., Ph.D., etc.
- Fellowships, orders, etc.: FSA Scot, F.R.S., K.C.B., C.P.A., etc.
9.33.
The abbreviation Esq. and other titles such as Mr., Mrs., and Dr., should not appear with any other title or with abbreviations indicating scholastic degrees.
- John L. Smith, Esq., not Mr. John L. Smith, Esq., nor John L. Smith, Esq., A.M.; but James A. Jones, Jr., Esq.
- Ford Maddox, A.B., Ph.D., not Mr. Ford Maddox, A.B., Ph.D.
- George Gray, M.D., not Mr. George Gray, M.D., nor Dr. George Gray, M.D.
- Dwight A. Bellinger, D.V.M.
9.34.
Sr. and Jr. should not be used without first or given name or initials, but may be used in combination with any title.
- A.K. Jones, Jr., or Mr. Jones, Junior, not Jones, Jr., nor Jones, Junior
- President J. B. Nelson, Jr.
9.35.
When name is followed by abbreviations designating religious and fraternal orders and scholastic and honorary degrees, their sequence is as follows: Orders, religious first; theological degrees; academic degrees earned in course; and honorary degrees in order of bestowal.
- Henry L. Brown, D.D., A.M., D.Lit.
- T.E. Holt, C.S.C., S.T.Lr., LL.D., Ph.D.
- Samuel J. Deckelbaum, P.M.
9.36.
Academic degrees standing alone may be abbreviated.
- John was graduated with a B.A. degree; but bachelor of arts degree (lowercase when spelled out).
- She earned her Ph.D. by hard work.
9.37.
In addresses, signatures, lists of names, and leaderwork but not in tables nor in centerheads, Mr., Mrs., and other titles preceding a name, and Esq., Jr., Sr., 2d, and 3d following a name, are set in roman caps and lowercase if the name is in caps and small caps. If the name is in caps, they are set in caps and small caps, if small caps are available—otherwise in caps and lowercase.
Parts of publications
9.38.
The following abbreviations are used for parts of publications mentioned in parentheses, brackets, footnotes, sidenotes, list of references, tables, and leaderwork, when followed by figures, letters, or Roman numerals.
- app., apps. (appendix, appendixes)
- art., arts, (article, articles)
- bull., bulls, (bulletin, bulletins)
- ch., chs. (chapter, chapters)
- col., cols, (column, columns)
- ed., eds. (edition, editions)
- fig., figs, (figure, figures)
- No., Nos. (number, numbers)
- p., pp. (page, pages)
- par., pars, (paragraph, paragraphs)
- pl., pls. (plate, plates)
- pt.,pts. (part, parts)
- sec, sees, (section, sections)
- subch., subchs. (subchapter, subchapters)
- subpar., subpars. (subparagraph, subparagraphs)
- subpt, subpts. (subpart, subparts)
- subsec, subsecs. (subsection, subsections)
- supp., supps. (supplement, supplements)
- vol., vols, (volume, volumes)
9.39.
The word article and the word section are abbreviated when appearing at the beginning of a paragraph and set in caps and small caps followed by a period and an en space, except that the first of a series is spelled out.
- Art. 2; Sec. 2; etc.; but Article 1; Section 1
- Art. II; Sec. II; etc.; but Article I; Section I
9.40.
At the beginning of a legend, the word figure preceding the legend number is not abbreviated.
- Figure 4.—Landscape.
Terms relating to Congress
9.41.
The words Congress and session, when accompanied by a numerical reference, are abbreviated in parentheses, brackets, and text footnotes. In sidenotes, lists of references, tables, leaderwork, and footnotes to tables and leaderwork, the following abbreviations are used:
- 106th Cong., 1st sess.
- 1st sess., 106th Cong.
- Public Law 84, 102d Cong.
- Private Law 68, 102d Cong.
9.42.
In references to bills, resolutions, documents and reports in parentheses, brackets, footnotes, sidenotes, tables, and leaderwork, the following abbreviations are used:
- H.R. 416 (House bill)
- S. 116 (Senate bill)
- The examples above may be abbreviated or spelled out in text.
- H. Res. 5 (House resolution)
- H. Con. Res. 10 (House concurrent resolution)
- H.J. Res. 21 (House joint resolution)
- S. Res. 50 (Senate resolution)
- S. Con. Res. 17 (Senate concurrent resolution)
- S.J. Res. 45 (Senate joint resolution)
- H. Conf. Rept. 10 (House conference report)
- H. Doc. 35 (House document)
- S. Doc. 62 (Senate document)
- H. Rept. 214 (House report)
- S. Rept. 410 (Senate report)
- Ex. Doc. B (Executive document)
- Ex. F (92d Cong., 2d sess.)
- Ex. Rept. 9 (92d Cong., 1st sess.)
- Misc. Doc. 16 (miscellaneous document)
- Public Res. 47
9.43.
References to statutes in parentheses, footnotes, sidenotes, tables, leaderwork, and congressional work are abbreviated.
- Rev. Stat. (Revised Statutes); 43 Rev. Stat. 801; 18 U.S.C. 38
- Supp. Rev. Stat. (Supplement to the Revised Statutes)
- Stat. L. (Statutes at Large)
but Public Law 85-1; Private Law 68
Calendar divisions
9.44.
Names of months followed by the day, or day and year, are abbreviated in footnotes, tables, leaderwork, sidenotes, and in bibliographies. (See examples, rule 9.45.) May, June, and July are always spelled out. In narrow columns in tables, however, the names of months may be abbreviated even if standing alone. Preferred forms follow:
- Jan.
- Feb.
- Mar.
- Apr.
- Aug.
- Sept.
- Oct.
- Nov.
- Dec.
9.45.
In text only, dates as part of a citation or reference within parentheses or brackets are also abbreviated.
- (Op. Atty. Gen., Dec. 4, 2005)
- (Congressional Record, Sept. 25, 2007)
- [From the New York Times, Mar. 4, 2008]
- [From the Mar. 4 issue]
- On Jan. 25 (we had commenced on Dec. 26, 2005) the work was finished. (In footnotes, tables, leaderwork, and sidenotes)
- On January 25, a decision was reached (Op. Atty. Gen., Dec. 4, 2006). (Text, but with citation in parentheses)
but On January 25 (we had commenced on December 26, 2008) the work was finished. (Not a citation or reference in text)
9.46.
Weekdays are not abbreviated, but the following forms are used, if necessary, in lists or in narrow columns in tables:
- Sun.
- Mon.
- Tues.
- Wed.
- Thurs.
- Fri.
- Sat.
Time zones
9.47.
The following forms are to be used when abbreviating names of time zones:
- AKDT— Alaska daylight time
- AKST — Alaska standard time
- AKT — Alaska time (implies standard or daylight time)
- AST — Atlantic standard time
- AT— Atlantic time
- CDT — central daylight time
- CST — central standard time
- CT — central time
- DST — daylight saving (no "s") time
- EDT — eastern daylight time
- EST — eastern standard time
- ET — eastern time
- GCT — Greenwich civil time
- GMAT — Greenwich mean astronomical time
- GMT — Greenwich mean time
- HDT — Hawaii-Aleutian daylight time (not observed in HI)
- HST — Hawaii-Aleutian standard time
- LST — local standard time
- MDT — mountain daylight time
- MST — mountain standard time
- MT — mountain time
- PDT — Pacific daylight time
- PST — Pacific standard time
- PT — Pacific time
- UTC — coordinated universal time
Acronyms and coined words
9.48.
To obtain uniform treatment in the formation of acronyms and coined words, apply the formulas that follow:
- Use all capital letters when only the first letter of each word or selected words is used to make up the symbol:
- APPR (Army package power reactor)
- EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow)
- MAG (Military Advisory Group)
- MIRV (multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle)
- SALT (strategic arms limitation talks); (avoid SALT talks)
- STEP (supplemental training and employment program)
- Use all capital letters where first letters of prefixes and/or suffixes are utilized as part of established expressions:
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- ESP (extrasensory perception)
- FLIR (forward-looking infrared)
- Copy must be followed where an acronym or abbreviated form is copyrighted or established by law:
- ACTION (agency of Government; not an acronym)
- MarAd (Maritime Administration)
- NACo (National Association of Counties)
- MEDLARS (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System)
- Use caps and lowercase when proper names are used in shortened form, any word of which uses more than the first letter of each word:
- Conrail (Consolidated Rail Corporation)
- Pepco (Potomac Electric Power Co.)
- Inco (International Nickel Co.)
- Aramco (Arabian-American Oil Co.)
- Unprofor (United Nations Protection Force)
- Use lowercase in common-noun combinations made up of more than the first letter of lowercased words:
- loran (long-range navigation)
- sonar (sound navigation ranging)
- secant (separation control of aircraft by nonsynchronous techniques)
9.49.
The words infra and supra are not abbreviated.
Terms of measure
9.50.
Compass directions are abbreviated as follows:
- N.
- NE.
- E.
- SW.
- S.
- NNW.
- W.
- ESE.
- 10° N. 25° W.
- NW. by N. ¼ W.
9.51.
The words latitude and longitude, followed by figures, are abbreviated in parentheses, brackets, footnotes, sidenotes, tables, and leaderwork, and the figures are always closed up.
- lat. 52°33'05" N.
- long. 13°21'10" E.
9.52.
Avoid breaking latitude and longitude figures at end of line; space out line instead. In case of an unavoidable break at end of line, use hyphen.
9.53.
Temperature and gravity are expressed in figures. When the degree mark is used, it must appear closed up to the capital letter, not against the figures. Note the following related abbreviations and letter symbols and their usages:
9.54.
References to meridian in statements of time are abbreviated as follows:
- 10 a.m. (not 10:00 a.m.)
- 2:30 p.m.
- 12 p.m. (12 noon)
- 12 a.m. (12 midnight)
9.55.
The word o'clock is not used with abbreviations of time.
not 10 o'clock p.m.
9.56.
Metric unit letter symbols are set lowercase roman unless the unit name has been derived from a proper name, in which case the first letter of the symbol is capitalized (for example Pa for pascal and W for watt) . The exception is the letter l. for liter. The same form is used for singular and plural. The preferred symbol for cubic centimeter is cm³; use cc only when requested.
A space is used between a figure and a unit symbol except in the case of the symbols for degree, minute, and second of plane angle.
- 3 m
- 45 mm
- 25 ºC
- but 33°15'21"
| Prefixes for multiples and submultiples | Metric units | ||||
| E | exa (1018) | d | deci (10-1) | m | meter (for length) |
| P | peta (1015) | c | centi (10-2) | g | gram (for weight or mass) |
| T | tera (1012) | m | milli (10-3) | l. | liter (for capacity) |
| G | giga (109) | μ | micro (10-6) | ||
| M | mega (106) | n | nano (10-9) | ||
| k | kilo (103) | p | pico (10-12) | ||
| h | hecto (102) | f | femto (10-15) | ||
| da | deka (10) | a | atto (10-18) | ||
| Length | Area | Volume | |||
| km | kilometer | km² | square kilometer | km³ | cubic kilometer |
| hm | hectometer | hm² | square hectometer | hm³ | cubic hectometer |
| dam | decameter | dam² | square decameter | dam³ | cubic dekameter |
| m | meter | m² | square meter | m³ | cubic meter |
| dm | decimeter | dm² | square decimeter | dm³ | cubic decimeter |
| cm | centimeter | cm² | square centimeter | cm³ | cubic centimeter |
| mm | millimeter | mm² | square millimeter | mm³ | cubic millimeter |
| Weight | Land area | Capacity of containers | |||
| kg | kilogram | ha | hectare | kL | kiloliter |
| hg | hectogram | a | acre | hL | hectoliter |
| dag | dekagram | daL | dekaliter | ||
| g | gram | L | liter | ||
| dg | decigram | dL | deciliter | ||
| cg | centigram | cL | centiliter | ||
| mg | milligram | mL | milliliter | ||
| μg | microgram | ||||
9.57.
A similar form of abbreviation applies to any unit of the metric system.
| A | amper | V | volt | mF | millifarad |
| VA | voltampere | W | watt | mH | millihenry |
| F | farad | kc | kilocycle | μF | microfarad |
| H | Henry | kV | kilovolt | (one-millionth of a farad) | |
| Hz | Hertz | kVA | kilovoltampere | ||
| J | joule | kW | kilowatt |
9.58.
The following forms are used when units of English weight and measure and units of time are abbreviated, the same form of abbreviation being used for both singular and plural:
| Length | Area and volume | ||
| in | inch | in² | square inch |
| ft | foot | in³ | cubic inch |
| yd | yard | mi² | square mile |
| mi | mile (statute) | ft³ | cubic foot |
| Time | Weight | Capacity | |||
| yr | year | gr | grain | gill | (not abbreviated) |
| mo | month | dr | dram | pt | pint |
| d | day | oz | ounce | qt | quart |
| h | hour | lb | pound | gal | gallon |
| min | minute | cwt | hundredweight | pk | peck |
| s | second | dwt | pennyweight | bu | bushel |
| ton(s) | (not abbreviated) | bbl | barrel | ||
| but t | metric ton (tonne) | ||||
9.59.
In astrophysical and similar scientific matter, magnitudes and units of time may be expressed as follows, if so written in copy.
- 5h3m9s
- 4.5h
Money
9.60.
The following are some of the abbreviations and symbols used for indicating money:
(For the abbreviations of other terms indicating currency, see the table "Currency" in Chapter 17 "Useful Tables")
- $, dol (dollar)
- Mex $2,650
- c, ct, ₵ (cent, cents)
- P (peso)
- TRL175 (Turkish)
- £ (pound)
- USD15.000
- d (pence)
- € (euro)
Use "USD" if omission would result in confusion.
Standard word abbreviations
9.61.
If abbreviations are required, use these forms:
- 2,4D (insecticide)
- 3d—third
- 4°—quarto
- 8°—octavo
- A1 (rating)
- A.A.—Alcoholics Anonymous
- AARP—American Association of Retired Persons
- abbr.—abbreviation
- abs.—abstract
- acct.—account
- ACDA—Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
- ACTH—adrenocorticotropic hormone
- A.D.—(anno Domini) in the year of our Lord (A.D. 937)
- ADDH—attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity
- ADHD—attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- AEF—American Expeditionary Forces
- AF—audiofrequency
- AFB—Air Force Base
- AFL-CIO—American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations
- AID—Agency for International Development
- AIDS—acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- a.k.a.—also known as
- A.L.R.—American Law Reports
- AM—amplitude modulation (no periods)
- A.M.—(anno mundi) in the year of the world
- A.M. or M. A.—master of arts
- a.m.—(ante meridiem) before noon
- Am. Repts.—American Reports
- Amtrak—National Railroad Passenger Corporation
- AM VETS—American Veterans of World War II; Amvet(s) (individual)
- antilog—antilogarithm (no period)
- AOA—Administration on Aging
- API—American Petroleum Institute
- APO—Army post office (no periods)
- App. D.C.—District of Columbia
- Appeal Cases
- App. Div.—Appellate Division
- APPR—Army package power reactor
- approx.—approximately
- ARC—American Red Cross
- ARS—Agricultural Research Service
- ASCS—Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service
- ASME—American Society of Mechanical Engineers
- A.S.N.—Army service number
- ASTM—American Society for Testing and Materials
- ATM—automatic teller machine
- AtL—Atlantic Reporter; A.2d, Atlantic Reporter, second series
- AUS—Army of the United States
- Ave.—avenue
- AWACS—airborne warning and control system
- AWOL—absent without leave
- B.A. or A.B.—bachelor of arts
- BBB—Better Business Bureau
- B.C.—before Christ (1200 B.C.)
- B.C.E.—Before Common Era
- BCG—(bacillus Calmette-Guerin) antituberculosis vaccine
- bf.—boldface
- BGN—Board on (not of) Geographic Names
- BIA—Bureau of Indian Affairs
- BIS—Bank for International Settlements
- Blatch. Pr. Cas.—Blatchford's Prize Cases
- Bldg.—building
- B. Lit(t). or Lit(t).B.—bachelor of literature
- BLM—Bureau of Land Management
- BLS—Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Blvd.—boulevard
- b.o.—buyer's option
- B.S. or B.Sc.—bachelor of science
- c. and s.c.—caps and small caps
- ca.—(circa) about
- ca—centiare
- CACM—Central American
- Common Market
- CAD—computer-aided design
- CAP—Civil Air Patrol
- CARE—Cooperative for American Remittances to Everywhere, Inc.
- CAT scan—computerized axial tomography
- CCA.—Circuit Court of Appeals
- CCC—Commodity Credit Corporation
- CCITT—Consultative Committee for International Telegraphy and Telephony
- CCls.—Court of Claims
- C.Cls.R.—Court of Claims Reports
- C.C.P.A.—Court of Customs and Patents Appeals
- CCR—Commission on Civil Rights
- CDC—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CE.—Common Era
- CEA—Council of Economic Advisers
- cf—(confer) compare or see
- CFR—Code of Federal Regulations
- CFR Supp.—Code of Federal Regulations Supplement
- CHAMPUS—Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
- CIA—Central Intelligence Agency
- CIC—Counterintelligence Corps
- CT.—(corpus juris) body of law; Chief Justice
- CNN—Cable News Network
- CO—commanding officer
- Co.—company (commercial)
- c.o.d.—cash on delivery
- COLA—cost-of-living adjustment
- Comp. Dec.—Comptroller's Decisions (Treasury)
- Comp. Gen.—Comptroller General Decisions
- con.—continued
- conelrad—control of electromagnetic radiation (civil defense)
- Conus—continental United States
- Corp.—corporation (commercial)
- cos—cosine (no period)
- cosh—hyperbolic cosine (no period)
- cot—cotangent (no period)
- coth—hyperbolic cotangent (no period)
- c.p.—chemically pure
- C.P.A.—certified public accountant
- CPI—Consumer Price Index
- CPR—cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- cr.—credit; creditor
- C-SPAN—Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network
- csc—cosecant (no period)
- csch—hyperbolic cosecant (no period)
- Ct.—court
- Dall.—Dallas (U.S. Supreme Court Reports)
- DAR—Daughters of the American Revolution
- d.b.a.—doing business as
- d.b.h.—diameter at breast height
- D.D.—doctor of divinity
- D.D.S.—doctor of dental surgery
- DDT—dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane
- DHS—Department of Homeland Security
- Dist. Ct.—District Court
- D.Lit(t). or Lit(t).D.—doctor of literature
- DNC—Domestic Names Committee (BGN)
- do.—(ditto) the same
- DOC—Department of Commerce
- DOD—Department of Defense
- DOE—Department of Energy
- DOJ—Department of Justice
- DOL—Department of Labor
- DOS—Department of State
- DOT—Department of Transportation
- DP—displaced person (no period)
- D.P.H.—doctor of public health
- D.P.Hy.—doctor of public hygiene
- DPT—diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus innoculation
- dr.—debit; debtor
- Dr.—doctor; drive
- d.s.t.—daylight saving (no "s") time
- D.V.M.—doctor of veterinary medicine
- E.—east
- EDGAR—Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (SEC)
- EEOC—Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- EFTA—European Free Trade Association
- EFTS—electronic funds transfer system
- e.g.—(exempli gratia) for example
- EHF—extremely high frequency
- emcee—master of ceremony
- e.o.m.—end of month
- EOP—Executive Office of the President
- EPA—Environmental Protection Agency
- et al.—(et alii) and others
- et seq.—(et sequentia) and the following
- etc.—(et cetera) and so forth
- EU—European Union
- Euratom—European Atomic Energy Community
- Euro—currency (common)
- Eurodollars—U.S. dollars used to finance foreign trade
- Ex. Doc. (with letter)—executive document
- Ex-Im Bank—Export-Import Bank of the United States
- f, ff.—and following page (pages)
- FAA—Federal Aviation Administration
- FACS—Faculty of the American College of Surgeons
- FAO—Food and Agriculture Organization
- f.a.s.—free alongside ship
- FAS—Foreign Agricultural Service
- FBI—Federal Bureau of Investigation
- FCA—Farm Credit Administration
- FCC—Federal Communications Commission
- FCIC—Federal Crop Insurance Corporation
- FCSC—Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
- FDA—Food and Drug Administration
- FDIC—Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- FDLP—Federal Depository Library Program
- Fed.—Federal Reporter; F.3d, Federal Reporter, third series
- FEOF—Foreign Exchange Operations Fund
- FHA—Federal Housing Administration
- FmHA—Farmers Home Administration
- FHLBB—Federal Home Loan Bank Board
- FHWA—Federal Highway Administration
- FICA—Federal Insurance Contributions Act
- FLSA—Fair Labor Standards Act
- FM—frequency modulation
- FMC—Federal Maritime Commission
- FMCS—Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
- FNMA—Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
- FNS—Food and Nutrition Service
- fº—folio
- f.o.b.—free on board
- FPC—Federal Power Commission
- FPO—fleet post office (no periods)
- FR—Federal Register (publication)
- FRG—Federal Republic of Germany
- FRS—Federal Reserve System
- FS—Forest Service
- FSLIC—Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation
- FSS—Federal Supply Service
- F.Supp.—Federal Supplement
- FTC—Federal Trade Commission
- FWS—Fish and Wildlife Service
- GAO—Government Accountability Office
- GATT—General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
- GDR—German Democratic Republic
- GI—general issue; Government issue
- GIS—Geographic Information System
- G.M.&S.—general, medical, and surgical
- GNMA—Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae)
- GNP—gross national product
- Gov.—Governor
- GPO—Government Printing Office
- GPS—Global Positioning System
- gr. wt.—gross weight
- GSA—General Services Administration
- GSE—Government-Sponsored Enterprise
- H.C—House of Commons
- H. Con. Res. (with number)—House concurrent resolution
- H. Doc. (with number)—House document
- hazmat—hazardous material
- HDTV—high definition television
- HE—high explosive (no periods)
- HF—high frequency (no periods)
- HHS—Health and Human Services (Department of)
- HIV—human immunodeficiency virus
- H.J. Res. (with number)—House joint resolution
- HMO—health-maintenance organization
- HOV—high-occupancy vehicle
- How.—Howard (U.S. Supreme Court Reports)
- H.R. (with number)—House bill
- H. Rept. (with number)—House report
- H. Res. (with number)—House resolution
- HUD—Housing and Urban Development (Department of)
- IADB—Inter-American Defense Board
- IAEA—International Atomic Energy Agency
- ibid.—(ibidem) in the same place
- ICBM —intercontinental ballistic missile
- id.—(idem) the same
- IDA—International Development Association
- IDE—integrated drive electronics
- i.e.—(id est) that is
- IEEE—Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
- IF—intermediate frequency (no periods)
- IFC—International Finance Corporation
- IMCO—Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization
- IMF—International Monetary Fund
- Insp. Gen. (also IG)—inspector general
- Interpol—International Criminal Police Organization
- IOU—I owe you
- IQ—intelligence quotient
- IRA—individual retirement account
- IRBM—intermediate range ballistic missile
- IRE—Institute of Radio Engineers
- IRO—International Refugee Organization
- IRS—Internal Revenue Service
- ISO—International Standards Organization
- ITO—International Trade Organization
- ITU—International Telecommunications Union
- JAG—Judge Advocate General
- jato—jet-assisted takeoff
- J.D.—(jurum or juris doctor) doctor of laws
- JOBS—Job Opportunities in the Business Sector
- JIT—just in time
- Jpn.—Japan or Japanese where necessary to abbreviate
- Jr.—junior
- Judge Adv. Gen.—Judge Advocate General
- LAFTA—Latin American Free Trade Association
- lat.—latitude
- LC—Library of Congress
- LCD—liquid crystal display
- lc.—lowercase
- L.Ed.—Lawyer's edition (U.S. Supreme Court Reports)
- liq.—liquid
- lf—lightface
- LF—low frequency
- LL.B.—bachelor of laws
- LL.D.—doctor of laws
- loc. cit.—(loco citato) in the place cited
- log (no period)—logarithm
- long.—longitude
- loran (no periods)—long-range navigation
- lox (no periods)—liquid oxygen
- LPG—liquefied petroleum gas
- Ltd.—limited
- Lt. Gov.—lieutenant governor
- M—money supply: Ml, M2, etc.
- M.—monsieur; MM., messieurs
- m.—(meridies) noon
- M—more
- MAC—Military Airlift Command
- MAG—Military Advisory Group
- MarAd—Maritime Administration
- MC—Member of Congress (emcee, master of ceremonies)
- M.D.—doctor of medicine
- MDAP—Mutual Defense Assistance Program
- MediCal—Medicaid California
- memo—memorandum
- MF—medium frequency; microfiche
- MFN—most favored nation
- MIA—missing in action (plural MIAs)
- MIRV—multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle
- Misc. Doc. (with number)—miscellaneous document
- Mile.—mademoiselle
- Mme.—madam
- Mmes.—mesdames
- mo.—month
- MOS—military occupational specialty
- M.P.—Member of Parliament
- MP—military police
- Mr.—mister (plural Messrs.)
- MRI—magnetic resonance imaging
- Mrs.—mistress
- Ms.—feminine title (plural Mses.)
- M.S.—master of science
- MS.—MSS., manuscript, manuscripts
- MSC— Military Sealift Command
- Msgr.—monsignor
- m.s.l.—mean sea level
- MSNBC—Microsoft National Broadcasting Co.
- MTN—multilateral trade negotiations
- N.—north
- NA—not available; not applicable
- NACo.—National Association of Counties
- NAFTA—North American Free Trade Agreement
- NAS — National Academy of Sciences
- NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- NATO— North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- NCUA— National Credit Union Administration
- NE. — northeast
- n.e.c. — not elsewhere classified
- n.e.s. — not elsewhere specified
- net wt. — net weight
- N.F. — National Formulary
- NFAH — National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
- NIH— National Institutes of Health
- NIST— National Institute of Standards and Technology
- n.l. — natural log or logarithm
- NLRB— National Labor Relations Board
- NNTP — Network News Transfer Protocol
- No. — Nos., number, numbers
- NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- n.o.i.b.n. — not otherwise indexed by name
- n.o.p. — not otherwise provided (for)
- n.o.s. — not otherwise specified
- NOVS— National Office of Vital Statistics
- NPS — National Park Service
- NRC — Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- NS — nuclear ship
- NSA — National Shipping Authority
- NSC — National Security Council
- NSF — National Science Foundation
- n.s.k. — not specified by kind
- n.s.p.f. — not specifically provided for
- NW. — northwest
- OAPEC — Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
- OAS — Organization of American States
- OASDHI— Old-Age, Survivors, Disability, and Health Insurance Program
- OASI — Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
- OCD— Office of Civil Defense
- OD — officer of the day
- OD — overdose; Odd, overdosed
- OD. — doctor of optometry
- OECD — Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
- OK— Oked, Oking, Oks
- OMB— Office of Management and Budget
- Op. Atty. Gen. — Opinions of the Attorney General
- op. cit. — (opere citato) in the work cited
- OPEC — Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
- OSD — Office of the Secretary of Defense
- OTC — Organization for Trade Cooperation
- PA — public address system
- Pac. — Pacific Reporter; P.2d, Pacific Reporter, second series
- PAC — political action committee (plural PAC's)
- Passed Asst. Surg. — passed assistant surgeon
- PBS — Public Building Service
- PCV — Peace Corps Volunteer
- Pet.—Peters (U.S. Supreme Court Reports)
- Ph—phenyl
- Phar.D.—doctor of pharmacy
- Ph.B. or B.Ph.—bachelor of philosophy
- Ph.D. or D.Ph.—doctor of philosophy
- Ph.G.—graduate in pharmacy
- PHS—Public Health Service
- PIN—personal identification number
- PL—place
- p.m.—(post meridiem) after noon
- P.O. Box (with number)—but post office box (in general sense)
- POP—Point of Presence; Post Office Protocol
- POW—prisoner of war (plural POWs)
- PTSD—post-traumatic- stress disorder
- Private Res. (with number)—private resolution
- Prof.—professor
- pro tem—(pro tempore) temporarily
- P.S.—(post scriptum) postscript; public school (with number)
- PTA—parent-teachers' association
- Public Res. (with number)—public resolution
- PX—post exchange
- QT—on the quiet
- racon—radar beacon
- radar—radio detection and ranging
- R&D—research and development
- rato—rocket-assisted takeoff
- Rd.—road
- RDT&E—research, development, testing, and evaluation
- REA—Rural Electrification Administration
- Rev.—reverend
- Rev. Stat.—Revised Statutes
- RF—radiofrequency
- R.F.D.—rural free delivery
- Rh—Rhesus (blood factor)
- RIF—reduction(s) in force; RIFed, RIFing, RIFs
- R.N.—registered nurse
- ROTC—Reserve Officers' Training Corps
- RR.—railroad
- RRB—Railroad Retirement Board
- Rt. Rev.—right reverend
- Ry—railway
- S.—south; Senate bill (with number)
- SAC—Strategic Air Command
- SAE—Society of Automotive Engineers
- S&L(s)—savings and loan(s)
- SALT—strategic arms limitation talks
- SAR—Sons of the American Revolution
- SBA—Small Business Administration
- sc.—(scilicet) namely (see also ss)
- s.c.—small caps
- S. Con. Res. (with number)—Senate concurrent resolution
- s.d.—(sine die) without date
- SDI—Strategic Defense Initiative
- S. Doc. (with number)—Senate document
- SE.—southeast
- SEATO—Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
- SEC—Securities and Exchange Commission
- sec—secant
- sech—hyperbolic secant
- 2d—second
- SHF—superhigh frequency
- shoran—short range (radio)
- SI—Systeme International d'Unités
- sic—thus
- sin—sine
- sinh—hyperbolic sine
- S.J. Res. (with number)—Senate joint resolution
- sonar—sound, navigation, and ranging (no period)
- SOP—standard operating procedure
- SOS—wireless distress signal
- SP—shore patrol
- SPAR—Coast Guard Women's Reserve (semper paratus—always ready)
- sp. gr.—specific gravity
- Sq.—square (street)
- Sr.—senior
- S. Rept. (with number)—Senate report
- S. Res. (with number)—Senate resolution
- SS— steamship
- ss—(scilicet) namely (in law) (see also sc.)
- SSA—Social Security Administration
- SSS—Selective Service System
- St.—Ste., SS., Saint, Sainte, Saints
- St.—street
- Stat.—Statutes at Large
- STP—standard temperature and pressure
- Sup. Ct.—Supreme Court Reporter
- Supp. Rev. Stat.—Supplement to the Revised Statutes
- Supt.—superintendent
- Surg.—surgeon
- Surg. Gen.—Surgeon General
- SW.—southwest
- S.W.2d—Southwestern Reporter, second series
- SWAT—special weapons and tactics (team)
- T.—Tps., township, townships
- tan—tangent
- tann—hyperbolic tangent
- TB—tuberculosis
- T.D.—Treasury Decisions
- TDY—temporary duty
- Ter.—terrace
- t.m.—true mean
- TNT—trinitrotoluol
- TV—television
- TVA—Tennessee Valley Authority
- uc.—uppercase
- UHF—ultrahigh frequency
- UMTA—Urban Mass Transportation Administration
- U.N.—United Nations
- UNESCO—United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
- UNICEF—United Nations Children's Fund
- U.S.—U.S. Supreme Court Reports
- U.S.A.—United States of America
- USA—U.S. Army
- USAF—U.S. Air Force
- U.S.C.—United States Code
- U.S.C.A.—United States Code Annotated
- U.S.C. Supp.—United States Code Supplement
- USCG—U.S. Coast Guard
- USDA—U.S. Department of Agriculture
- USES—U.S. Employment Service
- U.S. 40—U.S. No. 40, U.S. Highway No. 40
- USGS—U.S. Geological Survey
- USIA—U.S. Information Agency
- USMC—U.S. Marine Corps
- USN—U.S. Navy
- USNR—U.S. Naval Reserve
- U.S.P.—United States Pharmacopeia
- USPS—U.S. Postal Service
- U.S.S.—U.S. Senate
- v. or vs.—(versus) against
- VA—Department of Veterans Affairs
- VAT—value added tax
- VCR—video cassette recorder
- VHF—very high frequency
- VIP—very important person
- viz—(videlicet) namely
- VLF—very low frequency
- VTR—video tape recording
- W.—west
- w.a.e.—when actually employed
- Wall.—Wallace (U.S. Supreme Court Reports)
- wf—wrong font
- Wheat.— Wheaton (U.S. Supreme Court Reports)
- WHO—World Health Organization
- WIPO—World Intellectual Property Organization
- WMAL—WRC, etc., radio stations
- w.o.p.—without pay
- Yale L.J.—Yale Law Journal
- ZIP Code—Zone Improvement Plan Code (Postal Service)
- ZIP+4—9-digit ZIP Code
Standard letter symbols for units of measure
9.62.
The same form is used for singular and plural senses.
- A—ampere
- A—angstrom
- a—are
- a—atto (prefix, one-quintillionth)
- aA—attoampere
- abs—absolute (temperature and gravity)
- ac—alternating current
- AF—audiofrequency
- Ah—ampere-hour
- A/m—ampere per meter
- AM—amplitude modulation
- asb—apostilb
- At—ampere-turn
- at—atmosphere, technical
- atm—atmosphere
- at wt—atomic weight
- au—astronomical units
- avdp—avoirdupois
- b—barn
- B—bel
- b—bit
- bbl—barrel
- bbl/d—barrel per day
- Bd—baud
- bd. ft.—board foot (obsolete); use fbm
- Bé—Baumé
- Bev (obsolete); see GeV
- Bhn—Brinell hardness number
- bhp—brake horsepower
- bm—board measure
- bp—boiling point
- Btu—British thermal unit
- bu—bushel
- c—₵, ct; cent(s)
- c—centi (prefix, one-hundredth)
- C—coulomb
- °C—degree Celsius
- cal—calorie (also: calIT, International Table; cal th—thermochemical)
- cd/in²—candela per square inch
- cd/m²—candela per square meter
- cg—centigram
- cd·h — candela-hour
- Ci—curie
- cL—centiliter
- cm—centimeter
- c/m—cycles per minute
- cm²—square centimeter
- cm³—cubic centimeter
- cmil—circular mil
- cp—candlepower
- cP—centipoise
- cSt— centistokes
- cwt— hundredweight
- D—darcy
- d—day
- d—deci (prefix, one-tenth)
- d—pence
- da—deka (prefix, 10)
- dag—dekagram
- daL—dekaliter
- dam—dekameter
- dam²—square dekameter
- dam³—cubic dekameter
- dB—decibel
- dBu—decibel unit
- dc—direct current
- dg—decigram
- dL—deciliter
- dm—decimeter
- dm²—square decimeter
- dm³—cubic decimeter
- dol—dollar
- doz—dozen
- dr—dram
- dwt—deadweight tons
- dwt—pennyweight
- dyn—dyne
- EHF—extremely high frequency
- emf—electromotive force
- emu—electromagnetic unit
- erg—erg
- esu—electrostatic unit
- eV—electronvolt
- °F—degree Fahrenheit
- F—farad
- f—femto (prefix, one-quadrillionth)
- fbm—board foot; board foot measure
- fc—footcandle
- fL—footlambert
- fm—fentometer
- FM—frequency modulation
- ft—foot
- ft²—square foot
- ft³—cubic foot
- ftH₂O—conventional foot of water
- ft·lb—foot-pound
- ft·lbf—foot-pound force
- ft/min—foot per minute
- ft²/min—square foot per minute
- ft³/min—cubic foot per minute
- ft-pdl—foot poundal
- ft/s—foot per second
- ft²/s—square foot per second
- ft³/s—cubic foot per second
- ft/s²—foot per second squared
- ft/s³—foot per second cubed
- G—gauss
- G—giga (prefix, 1 billion)
- g—gram; acceleration of gravity
- Gal—gal cm/s²
- gal—gallon
- gal/min—gallons per minute
- gal/s—gallons per second
- GB—gigabyte
- Gb—gilbert
- g/cm³—gram per cubic centimeter
- GeV—gigaelectronvolt
- GHz—gigahertz (gigacycle per second)
- gr—grain; gross
- h—hecto (prefix, 100)
- H—henry
- h—hour
- ha—hectare
- HF—high frequency
- hg—hectogram
- hL—hectoliter
- hm—hectometer
- hm²—square hectometer
- hm³—cubic hectometer
- hp—horsepower
- hph—horsepower-hour
- Hz—hertz (cycles per second)
- id—inside diameter
- ihp—indicated horsepower
- in—inch
- in²—square inch
- in³—cubic inch
- in/h—inch per hour
- inH₂O—conventional inch of water
- inHg—conventional inch of mercury
- in-lb—inch-pound
- in/s—inch per second
- J—joule
- J/K—joule per kelvin
- K—kayser
- K—kelvin (use without degree symbol)
- k—kilo (prefix, 1,000)
- k—thousand (7k=7,000)
- kc—kilocycle; see also kHz (kilohertz), kilocycles per second
- kcal—kilocalory
- keV—kiloelectronvolt
- kG—kilogauss
- kg—kilogram
- kgf—kilogram-force
- kHz—kilohertz (kilocycles per second)
- kL—kiloliter
- klbf—kilopound-force
- km—kilometer
- km²—square kilometer
- km³—cubic kilometer
- km/h—kilometer per hour
- kn—knot (speed)
- kfl—kilohm
- kt—kiloton; carat
- kV—kilovolt
- kVA—kilovoltampere
- kvar—kilovar
- kW—kilowatt
- kWh—kilowatthour
- L—lambert
- L—liter
- lb—pound
- lb ap—apothecary pound
- lb—avdp, avoirdupois pound
- lbf—pound-force
- lbf/ft—pound-force foot
- lbf/ft²—pound-force per square foot
- lbf/ft³—pound-force per cubic foot
- lbf/in²—pound-force per square inch (see psi)
- lb/ft—pound per foot
- lb/ft²—pound per square foot
- lb/ft³—pound per cubic foot
- let—long calcined ton
- ldt—long dry ton
- LF—low frequency
- lin ft—linear foot
- l/m—lines per minute
- lm—lumen
- lm/ft²—lumen per square foot
- lm/m²—lumen per square meter
- lms—lumen second
- lm/W—lumen per watt
- l/s—lines per second
- L/s—liter per second
- lx—lux
- M—mega (prefix, 1 million)
- M—million (3M=3 million)
- m—meter
- m—milli (prefix, one-thousandth)
- Ml—monetary aggregate
- m²—square meter
- m³—cubic meter
- μ—micro (prefix, one-millionth)
- μm—micrometer
- mA—milliampere
- μA—microampere
- MB—megabyte
- mbar—millibar
- μbar—microbar
- Mc—megacycle; see also MHz (megahertz), megacycles per second
- mc—millicycle; see also mHz (millihertz), millicycles per second
- mD—millidarcy
- meq—milliquivalent
- MeV—megaelectronvolts
- mF—millifarad
- μF—microfarad
- mG—milligauss
- mg—milligram
- μg—microgram
- Mgal/d—million gallons per day
- mH—millihenry
- μH—microhenry
- MHz—megahertz
- mHz—millihertz
- mi—mile (statute)
- mi 2—square mile
- mi/gal—mile(s) per gallon
- mi/h—mile(s) per hour
- mil—mil
- min—minute (time)
- μin—microinch
- mL—milliliter
- mm—millimeter
- mm 2—square millimeter
- mm 3—cubic millimeter
- μm 2 —square micrometer
- μm 3 —cubic micrometer
- μμ—micromicron (use of compound prefixes obsolete; use pm, picometer)
- μμf—micromicrofarad (use of compound prefixes obsolete; use pF)
- mmHg—conventional millimeter of mercury
- mΩ—megohm
- mo—month
- mol—mole (unit of substance)
- mol wt—molecular weight
- mp—melting point
- ms—millisecond
- μs—microsecond
- Mt—megaton
- mV—millivolt
- μV—microvolt
- MW—megawatt
- mW—milliwatt
- μW—microwatt
- MWd/t—megawatt-days per ton
- Mx—maxwell
- n—nano (prefix, one-billionth)
- N—newton
- nA—nanoampere
- nF—nanofarad
- N·m—newton meter
- N/m 2 —newton per square meter
- nmi—nautical mile
- Np—neper
- ns—nanosecond
- N·s/m 2 —newton second per square meter
- nt—nit
- od—outside diameter
- Oe—oersted (use of A/m, amperes per meter, preferred)
- oz—ounce (avoirdupois)
- p—pico (prefix, one-trillionth)
- P—poise
- Pa—pascal
- pA—picoampere
- pet—percent
- pdl—poundal
- pF—picofarad (micromicrofarad, obsolete)
- pF—water-holding energy
- pH—hydrogen-ion concentration
- ph—phot; phase
- pk—peck
- p/m—parts per million
- ps—picosecond
- psi—pounds per square inch
- pt—pint
- pW—picowatt
- qt—quart
- quad—quadrillion (1015)
- °R—rankine
- °R—roentgen
- R—degree rankine
- R—degree reaumur
- rad—radian
- rd—rad
- rem—roentgen equivalent man
- r/min—revolutions per minute
- rms—root mean square
- r/s—revolutions per second
- s—second (time)
- s—shilling
- S—Siemens
- sb—stilb
- scp—spherical candlepower
- s·ft—second-foot
- shp—shaft horsepower
- slug—slug
- sr—steradian
- sSf—standard saybolt fural
- sSu—standard saybolt universal
- stdft³—standard cubic foot (feet)
- Sus—saybolt universal second(s)
- T—tera (prefix, 1 trillion)
- Tft³—trillion cubic feet
- T—tesla
- t—tonne (metric ton)
- tbsp—tablespoonful
- thm—therm
- ton—ton
- tsp—teaspoonful
- Twad—twaddell
- u—(unified) atomic mass unit
- UHF—ultrahigh frequency
- V—volt
- VA—voltampere
- var—var
- VHF—very high frequency
- V/m—volt per meter
- W—watt
- Wb—weber
- Wh—watthour
- W/(m·K)—watt per meter kelvin
- W/sr—watt per steradian
- W/(sr·m²)—watt per steradian square meter
- x—unknown quantity (italic)
- yd—yard
- yd²—square yard
- yd³—cubic yard
- yr—year
Standard Latin abbreviations
9.63.
When Latin abbreviations are used, follow this list.
- a.—annus, year; ante, before
- A.A.C.—anno ante Christum in the year before Christ
- A.A.S.—Academiae Americanae Socius, Fellow of the American Academy [Academy of Arts and Sciences]
- A.B.—artium baccalaureus, bachelor of arts
- ab init.—ab initio, from the beginning
- abs. re.—absente reo, the defendant being absent
- A.C.—ante Christum, before Christ
- A.D.—anno Domini, in the year of our Lord
- a.d.—ante diem, before the day
- ad fin.—ad finem, at the end, to one end
- ad h.l.—ad hunc locum, to this place, on this passage
- ad inf.—ad infinitum, to infinity
- ad init.—ad initium, at the beginning
- ad int.—ad interim, in the meantime
- ad lib.—ad libitum, at pleasure
- ad loc.—ad locum, at the place
- ad val.—ad valorem, according to
- A.I.—anno inventionis, in the year of the discovery
- al.—alia, alii, other things, other persons
- A.M.—anno mundi, in the year of the world; Annus mirabilis, the wonderful year [1666]; a.m., ante meridiem, before noon
- an.—anno, in the year; ante, before
- ann.—annales, annals; anni, years
- A.R.S.S.—Antiquariorum Regiae Societatis Socius, Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries
- A.U.C.—anno urbis conditae, ab urbe conolita, in [the year from] the building of the City [Rome], 753 B.C.
- B.A.—baccalaureus artium, bachelor of arts
- B. Sc.—baccalaureus scientiae, bachelor of science
- C.—centum, a hundred; condemno, I condemn, find guilty
- c.—circa, about
- cent.—centum, a hundred
- cf.—confer, compare
- CM.—chirurgiae magister, master of surgery
- coch.—cochlear, a spoon, spoonful
- coch. amp.—cochlear amplum, a tablespoonful
- coch. mag.—cochlear magnum, a large spoonful
- coch. med.—cochlear medium, a dessert spoonful
- coch. parv.—cochlear parvum, a teaspoonful
- con.—contra, against; conjunx, wife
- C.P.S.—custos privati sigilli, keeper of the privy seal
- C.S.—custos sigilli, keeper of the seal
- cwt.—c. for centum, wt. for weight, hundredweight
- D.—Deus, God; Dominus, Lord; d., decretum, a decree; denarius, a penny; da, give
- D.D.—divinitatis doctor, doctor of divinity
- D.G.—Dei gratia, by the grace of God; Deo gratias, thanks to God
- D.N.—Dominus noster, our Lord
- D.Sc.—doctor scientiae, doctor of science
- d.s.p.—decessit sine prole, died without issue
- D.V.—Deo volente, God willing
- dwt.—d. for denarius, wt. for weight pennyweight
- e.g.—exempli gratia, for example
- et al.—et alibi, and elsewhere; et alii, or aliae, and others
- etc.—et cetera, and others, and so forth
- et seq.—et sequentes, and those that follow
- et ux.—et uxor, and wife
- F.—filius, son
- f.—fiat, let it be made; forte, strong
- fac.—factum similis, facsimile, an exact copy
- fasc.—fasciculus, a bundle
- fl.—flores, flowers; floruit, flourished; fluidus, fluid
- f.r.—folio recto, right-hand page
- F.R.S.—Fraternitatis Regiae Socius, Fellow of the Royal Society
- f.v.—folio verso, on the back of the leaf
- guttat.—guttatim, by drops
- H.—hora, hour
- h.a.—hoc anno, in this year; hujus anni, this year's
- hab. corp.—habeas corpus, have the body—a writ
- h.e.—hie est, this is; hoc est, that is
- h.m.—hoc mense, in this month; huius mensis, this month's
- h.q.—hoc quaere, look for this
- H.R.I.R—hie requiescat in pace, here rests in peace
- H.S.—hie sepultus, here is buried; hie situs, here lies; h.s., hoc sensu, in this sense
- H.S.S.—Historiae Societatis Socius, Fellow of the Historical Society
- h.t.—hoc tempore, at this time; hoc titulo, in or under this title
- I—Idus, the Ides; i., id, that; immortalis, immortal
- ib. or ibid.—ibidem, in the same place
- id.—idem, the same
- i.e.—id est, that is
- imp.—imprimatur, sanction, let it be printed
- I.N.D.—in nomine Dei, in the name of God
- in f.—in fine, at the end
- inf.—infra, below
- init.—initio, in the beginning
- in lim.—in limine, on the threshold, at the outset
- in loc.—in loco, in its place
- in loc. cit.—in loco citato, in the place cited
- in pr.—in principio, in the beginning
- in trans.—in transitu, on the way
- i.q.—idem quod, the same as
- i.q.e.d.—id quod erat demonstrandum, what was to be proved
- J.—judex, judge
- J.C.D.—juris civilis doctor, doctor of civil law
- J.D.—jurum or juris doctor, doctor of laws
- J.U.D.—juris utriusque doctor, doctor of both civil and canon law
- L.—liber, a book; locus, a place
- £—libra, pound; placed before figures thus £10; if l., to be placed after, as 40l.
- L.A.M.—liberalium artium magister, master of the liberal arts
- L.B.—baccalaureus literarum, bachelor of letters
- lb.—libra, pound (singular and plural)
- L.H.D.—literarum humaniorum doctor, doctor of the more humane letters
- Litt. D.—literarum doctor, doctor of letters
- LL.B.—legum baccalaureus, bachelor of laws
- LL.D.—legum doctor, doctor of laws
- LL.M.—legum magister, master of laws
- loc. cit.—loco citato, in the place cited
- loq.—loquitur, he, or she, speaks
- L.S.—locus sigilli, the place of the seal
- l.s.c.—loco supra citato, in the place above cited
- £ s. d.—librae, solidi, denarii, pounds, shillings, pence
- M.—magister, master; manipulus, handful; medicinae, of medicine; m., meridies, noon
- M.A.—magister artium, master of arts
- M.B.—medicinae baccalaureus, bachelor of medicine
- M. Ch.—magister chirurgiae, master of surgery
- M.D.—medicinae doctor, doctor of medicine
- m.m.—mutatis mutandis, with the necessary changes
- m.n.—mutato nomine, the name being changed
- MS.—manuscriptum, manuscript; MSS., manuscripta, manuscripts
- Mus. B.—musicae baccalaureus, bachelor of music
- Mus. D.—musicae doctor, doctor of music
- Mus. M.—musicae magister, master of music
- N.—Nepos, grandson; nomen, name; nomina, names; noster, our; n., natus, born; nocte, at night
- N.B.—nota bene, mark well
- ni. pri.—nisi prius, unless before
- nob.—nobis, for (or on) our part
- nol. pros.—nolle prosequi, will not prosecute
- non cul.—non culpabilis, not guilty
- n.l.—non licet, it is not permitted; non liquet, it is not clear; non longe, not far
- non obs.—non obstante, notwithstanding
- non pros.—non prosequitur, he does not prosecute
- non seq.—non sequitur, it does not follow logically
- O.—octarius, a pint
- ob.—obiit, he, or she, died; obiter, incidentally
- ob.s.p.—obiit sine prole, died without issue
- o.c.—opere citato, in the work cited
- op.—opus, work; opera, works
- op. cit.—opere citato, in the work cited
- P.—papa, pope; pater, father; pontifex, bishop; populus, people; p., :partim, in part; per, by, for; pius, holy; pondere, by weight; post, after; primus, first; pro, for
- p.a.—or per ann., per annum, yearly; pro anno, for the year
- p. ae.—partes aequales, equal parts
- pass.—passim, everywhere
- percent.—per centum, by the hundred
- pil.—pilula, pill
- Ph. B.—philosophiae baccalaureus, bachelor of philosophy
- P.M.—post mortem, after death
- p.m.—post meridiem, afternoon
- pro tem.—pro tempore, for the time being
- prox.—proximo, in or of the next [month]
- P.S.—postscriptum, postscript; P.SS., postscripta, postscripts
- q.d.—quasi dicat, as if one should say; quasi dictum, as if said; quasi dixisset, as if he had said
- q.e.—quod est, which is
- Q.E.D.—quod erat demonstrandum, which was to be demonstrated
- Q.E.F.—quod erat faciendum, which was to be done
- Q.E.I.—quod erat inveniendum, which was to be found out
- q.l.—quantum libet, as much as you please
- q. pl.—quantum placet, as much as seems good
- q.s.—quantum sufficit, sufficient quantity
- q.v.—quantum vis, as much as you will; quern, quam, quod vide, which see; qq. v., quos, quas, or quae vide, which see (plural)
- R.—regina, queen; recto, right-hand page; respublica, commonwealth
- ℞—recipe, take
- R.I.P.—requiescat, or requiescant, in pace, may he, she, or they, rest in peace
- R.P.D.—rerum politicarum doctor, doctor of political science
- R.S.S.—Regiae Societatis Sodalis, Fellow of the Royal Society
- S.—sepultus, buried; situs, lies; societas, society; socius or sodalis, fellow; s., semi, half; solidus, shilling
- s.a.—sine anno, without date; secundum artem, according to art
- S.A.S.—Societatis Antiquariorum Socius, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
- sc.—scilicet, namely; sculpsit, he, or she, carved or engraved it
- Sc. B.—scientiae baccalaureus, bachelor of science
- Sc. D.—scientiae doctor, doctor of science
- S.D.—salutem dicit, sends greetings
- s.d.—sine die, indefinitely
- sec.—secundum, according to
- sec. leg.—secundum legem, according to law
- sec. nat.—secundum naturam, according to nature, or naturally
- sec. reg.—secundum regulam, according to rule
- seq.—sequens, sequentes, sequentia, the following
- S.H.S.—Societatis Historiae Socius, Fellow of the Historical Society
- s.h.v.—sub hac voce or sub hoc verbo, under this word
- s.l.a.n.—sine loco, anno, vel nomine, without place, date, or name
- s.l.p.—sine legitima prole, without lawful issue
- s.m.p.—sine mascula prole, without male issue
- s.n.—sine nomine, without name
- s.p.—sine prole, without issue
- S.P.A.S.—Societatis Philosophiae Americanae Socius, Fellow of the American Philosophical Society
- s.p.s.—sine prole superstite, without surviving issue
- S.R.S.—Societatis Regiae Socius or Sodalis, Fellow of the Royal Society
- ss—scilicet, namely (in law)
- S.S.C.—Societas Sanctae Crucis, Society of the Holy Cross
- stat.—statim, immediately
- S.T.B.—sacrae theologiae baccalaureus, bachelor of sacred theology
- S.T.D.—sacrae theologiae doctor, doctor of sacred theology
- S.T.P.—sacrae theologiae professor, professor of sacred theology
- sub.—subaudi, understand, supply
- sup.—supra, above
- t. or temp.—tempore, in the time of
- tal. qual.—talis qualis, just as they come; average quality
- U.J.D.—utriusque juris doctor, doctor of both civil and canon law
- ult.—ultimo, last month (maybe abbreviated in writing but should be spelled out in printing)
- ung.—unguentum, ointment
- u.s.—ubi supra, in the place above mentioned
- ut diet.—ut dictum, as directed
- ut sup.—ut supra, as above
- ux.—uxor, wife
- v.—versus, against; vide, see; voce, voice, word
- v. a., vixit annos—lived [so many] years
- verb. sap.—verbum [satis] sapienti, a word to the wise suffices
- v.g.—verbi gratia, for example
- viz—videlicet, namely
- vs.—vide supra, see above
Information technology acronyms and initialisms
9.64.
If abbreviations are required, use these forms:
- AARP—Apple Address Resolution Protocol
- ABLS—Automated Bid List System
- ABM—asynchronous balanced mode
- ACES—access certificates for electronic services
- ACP—Access Content Package
- ACS—Access Content Storage
- ACSIS—Acquisition, Classification, and Shipment Information System
- AES—advanced encryption standard
- AIFF—audio interchange file format
- AIP—Archival Information Package
- AIS—Archival Information Storage
- ANSI—American National Standards Institute
- AP—access processor
- ARK—archival resource key
- ARP—address resolution protocol
- ASCII—American Standard Code for Information Interchange
- ASP—application service provider
- BAC—billing address code
- BBS—bulletin board service
- BPEL—business process execution language
- BPI—business process information
- BPS—business process storage
- CA—certification authority
- CCSDS—Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
- CD—compact disk
- CDN—content delivery network
- CDR—critical design review
- CD-ROM—compact disk read only memory
- CE—content evaluator
- CFR—Code of Federal Regulations
- CGP—Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
- CMS—content management system
- CMYK—cyan, magenta, yellow, black
- CO—content originator
- COOP—continuity of operations plan
- CP—content processor
- CPI—content packet information
- CRC—cyclic redundancy checks
- CSV—comma separated variable
- DBMS—database management system
- DES—data encryption standard
- DIP—Dissemination Information Package
- DMI—desktop management interface
- DNS—domain name system
- DO—digital objects
- DOI—Digital Object Identifier
- DoS—denial of service
- DPI—dots per inch
- DSR—deployment system review
- DSSL—document style and semantics language
- DVD—digital versatile disc
- EA—enterprise architecture
- EAD—encoded archival description
- EAC—estimate at completion
- EAP—enterprise application platform
- EBCDIC—Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
- ePub—Electronic Publishing Section
- FAQ—frequently asked question
- FBCA—Federal Bridge Certificate Authority
- FDDI—fiber distributed data interface
- FDLP—Federal Depository Library Program
- FDsys—Federal Digital System
- FICC—Federal Identity Credentialing Committee
- FIFO—first in first out
- FIPS—Federal Information Processing Standard
- FOB—free on board
- FOSI—format output specification instance
- FTP—file transfer protocol
- GAP—GPO Access Package
- GDI—graphical device interface
- GFE—government furnished equipment
- GFI—government furnished information
- GGP—gateway-to-gateway protocol
- GIF—graphics interchange format
- GILS—Government Information Locator Service
- GUI—graphical user interface
- HDTV—high definition television
- HMAC—key hashed message authentication code
- HSM—hardware security module
- HTML—hypertext markup language
- HTTP—hypertext transfer protocol
- Hz—Hertz
- ICMP—internet control message protocol
- ID—Information Dissemination
- IDD—interface design description
- IEEE — Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers
- IETF — Internet Engineering Task Force
- ILS — Integrated Library System
- IP — internet protocol
- IPR — internal progress review
- IPSEC — internet protocol security
- ISO — International Organization for Standardization
- ISP — internet service provider
- ISSN — International Standard Serial Number
- IT — information technology
- ITU — International Telecommunications Union
- JDF — Job Definition Format
- JPEG — Joint Photographic Experts Group
- LAN — local area network
- LDAP — lightweight directory access protocol
- LPI — lines per inch
- MAC — message authentication code
- MARC— Machine Readable Cataloging
- METS — Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard
- MHz — megahertz
- MIME — multipurpose internet mail extensions
- MIPS — millions of instructions per second
- MMAR— Materials Management Procurement Regulation
- MODS— Metadata Object Descriptive Schema
- MPCF — marginally punched continuous forms
- NAT — network address translation
- NDIIPP— National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program
- NFC — National Finance Center
- NIST— National Institute of Standards and Technology
- NNTP — network news transfer protocol
- OAI — Open Archives Initiative
- OAI-PMH— Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting
- OAIS — Open Archival Information Systems
- OCLC — Online Computer Library Center
- OCR — optical character recognition
- OLTP — online transaction processing
- PRONOM— Practical Online Compendium of File Formats
- PTR — program tracking report
- PURL — persistent uniform resource locator
- RAID — redundant array of inexpensive disks
- RAM — random access memory
- RFC — request for comments
- RGB — red, green, blue
- RI — representation information
- RMA — reliability, maintainability, availability
- RPC — remote procedure call
- RSA — Rivest, Shamir, Adleman (public key decryption algorithm)
- RTF — rich text format
- RVTM — requirements verification traceability matrix
- SAML — security assertion markup language
- SDLC — software/system development life cycle
- SDR — system design review
- Section 508— Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act
- SGML — standard generalized markup language
- SHA — secure hash algorithm
- SIP—Submission Information Package
- SLIP—serial line internet protocol
- SMP—storage management processor
- SMS—storage management system
- SMTP—simple mail transfer protocol
- SNMP—simple network management protocol
- SPA—simplified purchase agreement
- SSL—secure sockets layer
- SSP—system security plan
- SSR—software specification review
- TDES—Triple Data Encryption Standard
- TIFF—tagged image file format
- TLS—transport layer security
- UDP—user datagram protocol
- URL—uniform resource locator
- URN—uniform resource name/number
- VLAN—virtual local area network
- VPN—virtual private network
- VRML—virtual reality modeling language
- W3C—World Wide Web Consortium
- WAIS—wide area information service
- WAN—wide area network
- WAP—wireless application protocol
- WAV—waveform audio format
- WIP—work in process
- WML—wireless markup language
- WMS—workflow management system
- WWW—World Wide Web
- WYSIWYG—what you see is what you get
- XML—extensible markup language
- XMLDsig—xml signature
- XMLENC—xml encryption