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Abbreviations

abbreviations. Representation of a word in writing with one or more of its letters. These letters keep the same order as in the word to be abbreviated. An abbreviation is read by developing the entire abbreviated word.

Formation of abbreviations

To form an abbreviation you can:

• Delete the final letters or syllablesof a word. In this case, the abbreviation must not end in a vowel.

Examples: eg. (example), Poét. (poetic).

• Leave only the most representative letters or syllables. In this case, the abbreviation can end in a vowel.

Examples: atte. (respectfully), Avda. (avenue).

• When a word is abbreviated by a syllable that includes more than one consonant before the vowel, all of them must be written.

Example: enter. (intransitive)

• As a general rule, abbreviations are written with a final period, except in cases with cantilevered letters (the period is then placed in front of said cantilever).

Examples: no. ^o (number), M. ^a (Maria)

• Sometimes the dot is replaced by a slash.

Example: p/o (by order)

• The symbols of the chemical elements and of the units of weight and measure are written without a period.

Examples: kg, Na

• Nor do the abbreviations of the cardinal points.

Examples: N (North), S (South).

• In the cases of words with an accent, this is preserved in the abbreviation.

Examples: p. (page), Admin. (management)

plural of abbreviations

If the abbreviation of a word is a single letter, it is doubled. Examples: Yes. (next), ff. (following).

• If the abbreviation does not keep the last letters of the abbreviated word, an "s" is added.

Examples: eg. (example), ex. (examples).

• If the abbreviation keeps the last letters of the abbreviated word, the plural will be formed following the general rules of plural formation.

1. "s" is added if it ends in a vowel. Examples: dept. (department), depts. (departments). 2. "es" is added if it ends in a consonant. Example: Mr.(sir), Mr.(gentlemen) Exceptions: Ud. (you), Ud . (you)

feminine of abbreviations

• Generally, the feminine is formed by replacing the final "o" of the masculine with an "a".

Examples: right (right), right (right)

• If the masculine ends in a consonant, an "a" is added, flown or not. If the abbreviation has been formed by removing the final letters or syllables of a word, the feminine is formed by adding a flown "a".

Examples: dir. (director), dir. ^to (director).

• If the abbreviation has been formed leaving the most representative letters or syllables, the feminine is formed by adding an "a", flown or not.

Examples: Mr. (sir), Mrs. or Mr. ^a (ma'am)

• There are abbreviations that are used for both masculine and feminine.

Examples: Lic. (licensed or licensed), Izq. (left or left)

Capitalization of abbreviations

• Abbreviations are usually written in uppercase or lowercase, depending on the abbreviated word.

Examples: USA (United States), etc. (and so on)

• Exceptions are treatment formula abbreviations, which are always written with an initial capital letter, even if the unabbreviated word is lowercase.

Examples: SM (Your Majesty), Ud. (you), Sr. (sir), D. (don).