Handbook of style in use at the Riverside Press/Abbreviations
HANDBOOK OF STYLE
ABBREVIATIONS
In General. Abbreviations as a rule are not acceptable in the text of a book, though they may be employed in tabulated statements, in lists of names, or in other places where it is desirable to save space. In technical matter and scientific works, abbreviations are of course desirable.
Forms of Address. The following abbreviations are to be used in all cases:—
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Do not set the Rev., the Very Rev., the Right Rev., or the Hon., the Right Hon., except in quoted matter.
Military and Naval Titles are to be spelled out in all cases, except in tabular work, indexes, etc., where the saving of space is an object; so with Superintendent, Professor.
Proper Names. Christian names should always be spelled out, except where the abbreviated form is used in quoted matter, or in original signatures. Note that Alex, Ben, Ed, Fred, and Sam are not always abbreviations. Copy should always be followed as regards the period. In tabular or other matter, where abbreviations must be used, the following forms are preferred:—
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Do not separate initials before a name, but put them together either at the end of one line or at the beginning of the next; as, “J. H. | Smith,” not “J. | H. Smith.”
In English or American family names, names of places or of church buildings, schools, etc., abbreviate St. for Saint; but where used in connection with French proper names, spell out in full; as, St. Paul, Minnesota, but Sainte-Beuve, Saint-Denis, Saint-Jean.
Firm Names. The character & is proper in the exact rendering of the signature or the authorized business name of a firm or corporation; but is not used in any other connection except in the facsimile reproduction of quoted matter. In firm names it is used between names of persons or with Co., Bro., or Bros. Brother, Brothers, and Company are abbreviated only when following &.
Numerals with the names of sovereigns are printed in roman capitals without a period, as Edward VII, etc. The form Edward the Seventh may be used, but not Edward the VIIth.
Spell out United States, except in quoted matter, or in such cases as General Nelson A. Miles, U.S.A.; U.S.S.S. Massachusetts; or in footnote references: as, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
Names of the Months. In tabular matter and side-notes the names of the months may be abbreviated as follows:—
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May, June, and July are not abbreviated.
Books of the Bible. References to the Scriptures should be made according to the following list:—
Old Testament
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New Testament
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Apocrypha
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States and Territories. In ordinary text, spell out; as, Cambridge, Massachusetts, etc. In tabular matter, or in cases where the saving of space is necessary, the following forms are to be used,—without space, as shown here, where there are two words in the name:—
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Do not abbreviate Railroad (or Railway), Mount, or Fort. Print: Boston & Maine Railroad; Mount Everest; Fort Warren.
Points of the Compass. Abbreviate compass directions, with period; as, E., W., N., S.; and use capitals close up for compound terms, as, S.E., N.N.W., etc. These forms, of course, are used only in nautical or geographical matter, not in ordinary text.
Print the symbolic letters I O U without full points.
MS.=manuscript (noun) is to be used in the printing of bibliographical details, but not when used adjectively. Print the plural form MSS.
Print P.S. for postscript or postscriptum; S.S. for steamship.
Print X-rays; and ME. and OE. in philological works for Middle English and Old English.
Print references to plays as follows:—
Do not separate abbreviations like a.m., e.g., i.e., a.d., M.D., Ph.D., Litt.D., etc.
In text matter where a number of subdivisions are made, as, (1), (2), (a), (b), etc., do not end a line with the divisional mark, but carry it over with the matter to which it belongs.
Time and Date. Abbreviate a.d. and b.c., a.m. and p.m., and set in small caps without space between letters. Where roman letters are used, in text or footnotes, to express dates, use small caps.
Signs and Symbols. Algebraic quantities are expressed by italic letters, lower-case.
Geometrical diagrams are usually lettered in italic capitals, though roman capitals are sometimes used. Where practicable, in text references to the diagram, the style of letter used should match that used in the diagram.
Chemical symbols are always set in plain roman caps and lowercase.
The abbreviations for the various thermometers and hydrometers are set in roman as follows:—
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Metric System. The abbreviations for the metric system are set in roman lower-case without space between letters:—
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English Money. In indicating English money, use the forms £2 6s. 4d.; or 2l. 6s. 4d. Note that the abbreviations for pounds, shillings, pence are in italics and are set close to the figures, without space.
Note that $ and £ are set close to the number, except in mathematical work, when they are separated by a 5-em space.
Sizes of books. There is no acceptable abbreviation for folio. The smaller sizes are expressed as
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Number is abbreviated when preceding a serial number; as, No. 1836. In lines consisting of capital letters, spell out Number.
Always use the form etc., not &c., except in quoted matter where instructions have been given to follow copy exactly, or where a reprint is to be made reproducing exactly the original.
Latin abbreviations. Treat these as indicated in the following table:—
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- At the beginning of a footnote, do not use i.e. or e.g., but spell out: “That is,” or “For example.”
Footnotes, Bibliographies, etc. In literary references, in footnotes, bibliographies, indexes, etc., the following forms are to be used:—
vol. i, bk. i, part ii, no. 2, chap. ii, art. iii, sec. 4, p. 5, col. 6, vs. 7, st. 8, l. 9, n. 6; pp. 5–7; pp. 5 f.; pp. 5 ff.; Fig. 4. The plurals of the above forms are vols., bks., nos., chaps., arts., secs., pp., cols., vss., sts., ll., nn., Figs.