Are Abbreviations Allowed In Academic Writing?

Abbreviations and acronyms are shortened forms of words or phrases. Generally,

abbreviations are not acceptable in academic writing

(with some exceptions, see below) and acronyms are (providing they are used as shown below).

How do you list abbreviations in a dissertation?

1. Include the heading “LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS” in all capital letters, and center it 1′′ below the top of the page.
2. Include one double-spaced line between the heading and the first entry.
3. Arrange your abbreviations alphabetically.

Can you use abbreviations in a dissertation?

There are many rules about using abbreviations in a dissertation. When you use acronyms—formed using the first letter of each word in a phrase—

you should write the first occurrence of phrase in full

, and place the abbreviation in parentheses immediately after it.

Are abbreviations allowed in formal writing?

Most shortened forms of

words are not acceptable in your formal writing

. There are two main types of shortened words: contractions and abbreviations.

Can you use abbreviations in a research paper?

There is no requirement for authors to use acronyms

—it is their choice if and when to use them. Additionally, authors should avoid uncommon abbreviations (if the reader is not familiar with the acronym, its use will likely detract from the readability of the paper).

Why using abbreviations is bad?

In many cases, they can confuse and alienate unfamiliar audiences, and even well-intentioned writers and speakers may overestimate an audience’s familiarity with abbreviations. Abbreviations shouldn’t be completely avoided, but using them as

a default can be problematic

.

What is the rule for abbreviations?

Typically, acronyms and initialisms are

written in all capital letters to distinguish them from ordinary words

. (When fully spelled out, the words in acronyms and initialisms do not need to be capitalized unless they entail a proper noun.) An acronym is pronounced as a single word, rather than as a series of letters.

Do abbreviations count as words?

So, Are

Acronyms Words

? Linguists seem to agree that acronyms really are words. The linguistic phenomenon they represent is known as “blending,” and although the use of acronyms was once a lot rarer than it is today, we can quite safely say that acronyms are words, even if they don’t appear in any dictionary.

What kind of writing should you avoid using abbreviations?

Only abbreviate phrases that occur three or more times in your paper. Avoid abbreviations in

titles, headings, the abstract

, and the reference section. Use standard abbreviations for months, personal titles, countries and states, and some Latin phrases.

Is it OK to use abbreviations in an essay?

Initialisms and acronyms can be used in academic essay writing in limited circumstances. The general rule of thumb is that

you spell out an acronym on first reference and then use the acronym after that

. … Do not place the acronym in parentheses after the initial reference. Readers can be trusted to recognize it.

What do the initials MLA stand for?

Summary: MLA (

Modern Language Association

) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities.

Is ETC acceptable in academic writing?

It is perfectly ok to use etc

. in an academic paper. Just note, however, that both of them are very sparingly and carefully used in serious writing. Try to list fully or describe the list instead.

What does fya stand for?

What does fya mean? Fya is

slang form of fire

, used for anything that’s, well, lit. It means something is amazing, extremely good, or on point, especially said of how someone feels or looks.

What does face stand for?

Why do people talk in acronyms?

The main reason that people give for using acronyms and abbreviations is

that it’s quicker than saying or writing it in full

. So, if someone uses an acronym or abbreviation — ask what it means. Every time. Even if you know what it means.