Abbreviations

Definition

Abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases used to save time and space in writing. They are commonly used in informal communication, such as text messages or social media posts.

Related terms

Acronyms: Acronyms are abbreviations formed by the initial letters of a group of words pronounced as a word (e.g., NASA).

Initialisms: Initialisms are abbreviations formed by the initial letters of a group of words pronounced letter by letter (e.g., FBI).

Contractions: Contractions are abbreviated forms created by combining two words and replacing missing letters with an apostrophe (e.g., can't).