[U.S. Government Printing Office Style Manual]
[Chapter 9 - Abbreviations and Letter Symbols]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
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 the 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 the 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 ftlbs.
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 ftlb
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. B.S., LL.D., Ph.D., B.Sc.
J.F.K. H.R. 116 (but S. 116, S.
L.B.J. Con. Res. 116)
U.S. C.A.D.C. (but App. D.C.)
U.N. A.B. Secrest, D.D.S.
U.S.C. (but Rev. Stat.)
A.F. of L.-CIO (AFL-CIO
preferred) but
A.D., B.C. AT&T
e.s.t. Texas A&M
i.e., e.g. (but op. cit.) 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 TVA ARC
NLRB AFL-CIO ASTM
Geographic terms
9.9. United States must be spelled out when appearing in a sentence
containing the name of another country. Th e 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 United States Steel Corp.
U.S. farm-support program (legal title)
U.S. attorney Foreign policy of the
U.S. citizen United States
United States Code (official not Temperatures vary in the
title) 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
Mount Rainier National Forest, Cemetery, VA
WA Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Stone Mountain, GA MD
National Naval Medical Center, Baltimore-Washington
Bethesda, MD International Airport,
Mark Twain National Wildlife MD
Refuge, IL-IA-MO (note use Redstone Arsenal, AL
of hyphens here) but
Richmond, VA 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.
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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, or
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 or 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):
SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\ sec. 4, T. 12 S., R. 15 E., of the Boise
Meridian
lot 6, NE\1/4\ sec. 4, T. 6 N., R. 1 W.
N\1/2\ 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, W\1/2\ E\1/2\, W\1/2\, and
W\1/2\ SE\1/4\ SE 1/4\
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 Ben Fred Walt
Alex Ed Sam 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 Electronics Manufacturing Co.
Aluminum Co. of America Texas College of Arts &
Standard Oil Co. of New Industries
Jersey Robert Wilson & Associates,
H.J. Baker & Bro. Inc.
Jones Bros. & Co. U.S. News & World Report
American Telephone & Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Telegraph Co. Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers
Norton Enterprises, Inc.
Maryland Steamship Co., Ltd. but
Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Little Theater Company
Fairmount Building & Loan Senate Banking, Housing and
Association 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.,
Mlle., 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. Th ese officers hold presidential commissions and are
confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. Army, Air Force, and Marine
Corps offi cers are called company grade officers in the pay grades of
O-1 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.
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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. Th e Navy NCO equivalent, petty officer, is
achieved at the rank of petty offi cer 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 diff erent responsibilities. 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.
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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,pl., pls. (plate, plates)
appendixes) pt., pts. (part, parts)
art., arts. (article, articles) sec., secs. (section,
bull., bulls. (bulletin, sections)
bulletins) subch., subchs.
ch., chs. (chapter, (subchapter,
ch., chs. (chapter, chapters) subchapters)
col., cols. (column, columns) subpar., subpars.
ed., eds. (edition, (subparagraph,
editions) subparagraphs)
fig., figs. (figure, figures) subpt., subpts.
No., Nos. (number, (subpart, subparts)
numbers) subsec., subsecs.
p., pp. (page, pages) (subsection,
par., pars. (paragraph, subsections)
paragraphs) supp., supps.
vol., vols. (volume, (supplement,
volumes) supplements)
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 fi gure 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. Public Law 84, 102d Cong.
1st sess., 106th 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) H. Conf. Rept. 10 (House
S. 116 (Senate bill) conference report)
The examples above may be H. Doc. 35 (House document)
abbreviated or spelled S. Doc. 62 (Senate document)
out in text. H. Rept. 214 (House report)
H. Res. 5 (House resolution) S. Rept. 410 (Senate report)
H. Con. Res. 10 (House Ex. Doc. B (Executive
concurrent resolution) document)
H.J. Res. 21 (House joint Ex. F (92d Cong., 2d sess.)
resolution) Ex. Rept. 9 (92d Cong., 1st
S. Res. (Senate resolution) 50 sess.)
S. Con. Res. 17 (Senate Misc. Doc. 16 (miscellaneous
concurrent resolution) document)
S.J. Res. 45 (Senate joint Public Res. 47
resolution)
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. Apr. Oct.
Feb. Aug. Nov.
Mar. Sept. 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. Wed. Fri.
Mon. Thurs. Sat.
Tues.
Time zones
9.47. The following forms are to be used when abbreviating names of
time zones:
AKDT-Alaska daylight time GMAT-Greenwich mean
AKST-Alaska standard time astronomical time
AKT-Alaska time (implies GMT-Greenwich mean time
standard or daylight time) HDT-Hawaii-Aleutian
AST-Atlantic standard time daylight time
AT-Atlantic time (not observed in HI)
CDT-central daylight time HST-Hawaii-Aleutian
CST-central standard time standard time
CT-central time LST-local standard time
DST-daylight saving (no ``s'') MDT-mountain daylight time
time MST-mountain standard time
EDT-eastern daylight time MT-mountain time
EST-eastern standard time PDT-Pacific daylight time
ET-eastern time PST-Pacific standard time
GCT-Greenwich civil 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. S. ESE.
NE. NNW. 10�N. 25�W.
E. W. NW. by N. \1/4\W.
SW.
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:
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9.54. References to meridian in statements of time are abbreviated as
follows:
10 a.m. (not 10:00 a.m.) 12 p.m. (12 noon)
2:30 p.m. 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.
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9.57. A similar form of abbreviation applies to any unit of the metric
system.
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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:
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9.59. In astrophysical and similar scientific matter, magnitudes and
units of time may be expressed as follows:
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Money
9.60. The following are some of the abbreviations and symbols used
for indicating money:
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Standard word abbreviations
9.61. If abbreviations are required, use these forms:
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Standard letter symbols for units of measure
9.62. The same form is used for singular and plural senses.
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Standard Latin abbreviations
9.63. When Latin abbreviations are used, follow this list.
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Information technology acronyms and initialisms
9.64. If abbreviations are required, use these forms:
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