An abbreviation is a shortened version of phrase and word. When using abbreviations consider the readers familiarity with the expressions.
When to use abbreviations?
- Use abbreviations when they are conventional, and readers are more familiar with it than with the complete word.
- When you can save space and avoid cumbersome repetition.
Overuse
- Writing is easier to understand when most words are written out rather than when overflowing with abbreviations.
- Sometimes the writer will need to use abbreviations for the reader to master their meaning.
Underuse
- Generally, use abbreviation when the phrases are used at least three times in a paper. If it is only used one or thew times readers might have a difficult time understanding it. However, standard abbreviation for long and familiar terms is more concise even if it is used less than three times.
(Adapted from APA, 2020, pp.172)
The American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th edition
