Abbreviations – For A Better Understanding Of English

Knowing English abbreviations is very helpful for a better understanding of what you are reading or hearing. It is unnecessary and even impossible to learn all abbreviations, as there are millions of them. We’ll take a look at some of the most commonly used ones here. If you come across others that you are not familiar with, you will have to look them up.

The Purpose of Abbreviations in English

The use of standard and well-known abbreviations makes the language, and especially writing, more efficient. However, we can’t compromise understanding by using what are effectively shorter words. Therefore, when we use abbreviations, we must be sure that the reading audience will understand the meaning.

Types of Abbreviations

Shortened forms of complete words are the most common type of abbreviation. Then, there are special types, such as acronyms and initialisms. We will also look at abbreviations used on the Internet, especially in texting.

Abbreviations in Common Everyday Use

Depending on the source or sources, there are up to six different types of abbreviations. Each one has different rules of use. The most important rule for each type is to use it consistently within a particular work. The six categories of abbreviations we will look at here are: 1. clipping, 2. contractions, 3. initialisms, 4. syllabic abbreviations, 5. acronyms, and 6. textese.

Clipping

Clipping is so usual in English that most people take it for granted, not even realizing it has happened. It involves dropping a syllable or syllables to form a new, shortened word that is more commonly used than the original word. You should not use clipped words in formal writing.

Examples of clipping:

Contractions

Contractions are also common in English. However, they do seem to be much more common in North American English than they are in British English. Whenever I hear a beginner to intermediate English-language learner speak deliberately not using contractions, I assume they were either exposed to British English or don’t understand how to use contractions. Like clipping, you should avoid contractions in formal writing. Notice that punctuation, or lack of it, is important here. Measurement contractions don’t usually have punctuation.

Examples of contractions:

Initialisms

To create an initialism, you take the first letter of each word in the phrase that is being shortened, and you say each letter individually. Traditionally, periods were used after each letter. However, language is constantly changing. So, these days, most people leave out the periods. With a few exceptions, we normally write initialisms in all capital letters.

Examples of initialisms:

Note: The abbreviation for “as soon as possible” can be an initialism or an acronym, depending on how it is expressed:

1. ASAP is an initialism, as each letter is stated individually, and
2. A-SAP is an acronym, as a new word is formed with the abbreviation.

Syllabic Abbreviations

These are similar to initialisms, but we combine syllables, usually the first, of words in a phrase to form a new word. These are not nearly as common as other forms of abbreviations. Many of them would be industry-specific, and the general public may not be aware of them. However, there are a few that are common.

Examples of syllabic abbreviations:

Acronyms

Acronyms are also similar to initialisms in that we use the first letter of each word in the phrase. However, with these letters, we create a new word that is read and spoken as a word rather than individual letters. Acronyms may or may not be capitalized depending on their origin.

Examples of acronyms:

Textese (Online Slang)

I assume that most young people are very familiar with testese. After all, this is the computer age. However, many older people, such as myself, struggle to understand what is being said with all the abbreviations in texts. It often seems like some coded message.

We also appreciate that texting doesn’t adhere to the recognized rules of the English language. Lack of capitalization, punctuation, and grammar leaves us confused. The English language is going to hell, but texting in this way is more efficient. Unfortunately, the texting model is spilling over into other forms of communication.

Anyway, for the amusement of the older generation, here are some examples of texting abbreviations. We would consider all of these to be initialisms rather than acronyms because we pronounce each letter individually.

For a more complete list of textese, check out this comprehensive website. Even though it states that the list is acronyms, most of them are initialisms, as they do not create new words, and each character is spoken individually.

The above essay is for entertainment and English language study only. For suggestions on how to use this post to improve your English reading and listening comprehension, click here.

Vocabulary

• efficient – adjective; productive with minimum waste or effort; easy
• compromise – verb (transitive); bring into disrepute or danger; impede or make more difficult
• adhere to – verb (intransitive); behave according to; follow in detail; follow

Resources

• Grammarly – The 5 Types of Abbreviations
• Grammar-Monster – Types of Abbreviations
• Wikipedia

And Now For Your Listening and Viewing Enjoyment

There are many songs with titles that are initialisms. Unfortunately, most of them represent some obscene phrase not suitable for the general public. But I did find a song whose popularity has lasted through the decades. And its title is an initialism. Here is “Y.M.C.A.” by Village People, which, by the way, stands for “Young Men’s Christian Association”. Note that the song title has a period after each letter, which probably wouldn’t be the case if it were written today.

Lyrics

"Y.M.C.A."
performed by Village People (1978)
written by Jacques Morali and Victor Willis

Young man, there's no need to feel down
I said young man, pick yourself off the ground
I said young man, 'cause your in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy

Young man, there's a place you can go
I said young man, when you're short on your dough
You can stay there and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean you can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel

Young man, are you listening to me
I said young man, what do you wanna be
I said young man, you can make real your dreams
But you've got to know this one thing

No man does it all by himself
I said young man, put your pride on the shelf
And just go there to the Y.M.C.A.
I'm sure they can help you today

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean you can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel

Young Man, I was once in your shoes
I said I was, down and out with the blues
I felt no man cared if I were alive
I felt the whole world was so jive

That's when someone came up to me
And said young man take a walk up the street
There's a place there called the Y.M.C.A.
They can start you back on your way

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Young man, young man there's no need to feel down
Young man, young man pick yourself off the ground

Y.M.C.A. and just go to the Y.M.C.A.