Abbreviations

When in doubt, spell the word out.
Note: Abbreviations may be used more freely in tabular matter.
Use of periods: Generally speaking, abbreviations require periods; acronyms do not.

• With abbreviations of a person's first two names, use periods and a space between the abbreviations.
  
  

  H. L. Mencken

• In a letter, a reference indicating copies sent to other persons is listed as cc:. (Although the term carbon copy is outdated, cc: is still applicable; it can indicate either computer copy or copier copy.)

Abbreviate

• Page to p. or pp. in footnotes or bibliographical material; spell out when used in text material (page, not Page).

• Eastern standard time as EST, without periods.

• RSVP without periods.

• Wright State University without periods: WSU.

• Grade point average without periods and all caps: GPA.

• And as an ampersand (&) only in corporate titles or tabular material.

• Saint when used to refer to such cities as St. Louis, St. Paul, etc., or in tabular material.

• The degrees Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, and Educational Specialist to B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., and Ed.S., with periods.

• The official subject matter designation and course number to identify a specific course, e.g., PHY 111. If you are in doubt about what these designations are, consult the Wright State University undergraduate or graduate catalog.
  
  

  All undergraduate students are required to take ENG 101, Freshman Composition.

• Most acronyms upon their second usage in text; spell out for first usage.
  
  

  First usage-National Center for Rehabilitation Engineering (NCRE); subsequent usage-NCRE

• Certified Public Accountant without periods: CPA. This is the preferred usage according to the accountancy department.

• The following titles when they precede a name: Dr., Mr., and Mrs.

• Other titles, such as professor, only when they precede the first name or initials; spell out titles when they are used before the surname alone.
  
  

  Prof. E. B. Holden
  Professor Holden
  Profs. E. B. Holden and J. T. Sykes
  Professors Holden and Sykes

• Abbreviate United States, when U.S. is used as an adjective.
  
  

  We consulted U.S. policy in making our decision.

Do not abbreviate

• Names of countries, other than U.S.A. and U.S.S.R. (U.S.S.R. should only be used when referring to Pre-Commonwealth era). Do not abbreviate United States, except when U.S. is used as an adjective.
  
  

  We live in the United States.
  We consulted U.S. policy in making our decision.

• Given names, such as George, William, and Charles.

• Names of states, when following names of cities and towns, except in footnotes.
  
  

  Dayton, Ohio

  Use post office designations for states only in addresses on mailings.
  
  

• The words association, avenue, boulevard, department, institute, street, etc., in text. They may be abbreviated in addresses.

• Parts of geographic names, except Saint in St. Louis, St. Paul, etc., unless used in tabular matter.
  
  

  Fort Wayne; North Dakota

• Names of months.

• Christmas in the form of Xmas.

• The word percent.
  
  (In general copy, use the word percent, but in scientific, technical, and statistical copy use the symbol-%.)
  
  

  Of this year's student enrollment, 60 percent are men and 40 percent are women.
  Reports of spirocercosis in dogs vary from 2% to 100% of the canine population examined.

• Assistant and associate when used in a title, such as assistant professor of English.