Plain English Part 106

--_Thos. Hood_.

While there is a lower cla.s.s, I am in it.

While there is a criminal element, I am of it.

While there is a soul in jail, I am not free.

--_Eugene V. Debs_.

When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman?

The vilest deeds, like poison weeds, Bloom well in prison-air; It is only what is good in man That wastes and withers there: Pale Anguish keeps the heavy gate, And the Warder is Despair.

--_Oscar Wilde_.

ABBREVIATIONS AND CONTRACTIONS

+485.+ There are a number of words which we abbreviate or contract, in our every-day use. A contraction is a shortened form of the word used to save time or s.p.a.ce and is made by omitting a letter or letters. The apostrophe is used to indicate the omission in a contracted word. As, for example:

B'ld'g, B'l'v'd, M'f'g.

When the word is contracted in this way and the apostrophe is used, these contractions are not followed by the period but are used just as the completely written word would be used. There is no accepted list of these contractions. We devise them according to our need at the moment.

An abbreviation, however, is an authorized contraction of the word. It is the shortening of a term which is habitually used to save time and s.p.a.ce. The apostrophe is not used and the abbreviation should be followed by a period. As for example:

Bldg. Blvd. Mfg.

These abbreviations and contractions are very helpful to us in saving time and s.p.a.ce but should not be used too frequently. Too many contractions or abbreviations make writing ridiculous. Take time to write out the majority of words. Only use abbreviations or contractions for certain accepted words. Avoid an excessive use of abbreviations.

COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS

+486.+ We quite often abbreviate the names of the months, especially those which have long names. Short names like _March_, _April_, _May_, _June_ and _July_, should never be abbreviated. For the other months we use in correspondence the abbreviations, _Jan._, _Feb._, _Aug._, _Sept._, _Oct._, _Nov._, _Dec._ Days of the week are also sometimes abbreviated as follows: _Sun._, _Mon._, _Tues._, _Wed._, _Thur._, _Fri._, _Sat._ Do not use these abbreviations too often. Spell out the names of the months and of the days of the week except in lists of dates or something that calls for abbreviations to save time or s.p.a.ce.

_Mr._, _Mrs._, _Messrs._, _Jr._, _Sr._, are never spelled out, but are always written in the abbreviated form. You will often find _Doctor_ and _Professor_ abbreviated to _Dr._, _Prof._ This is permissible but it is always good form to write them out in full.

+487.+ We have abbreviated forms for a number of names; as for example: _Geo._, _Chas._, _Thos._, _Wm._, etc. But it is always much better to write these names out in full: _George_, _Charles_, _Thomas_, _William_, etc.

Remember that nicknames are not abbreviations and do not require a period after them. _Jim_, _Charley_, _Tom_, and _Bill_ are not abbreviations but nicknames.

In correspondence or in any circ.u.mstance that demands the saving of time or s.p.a.ce, we abbreviate the names of states and territories, as follows:

Alabama, Ala.

Arizona, Ariz.

Arkansas, Ark.

California, Cal.

Colorado, Colo.

Connecticut, Conn.

Delaware, Del.

District of Columbia, D. C.

Florida, Fla.

Georgia, Ga.

Idaho, Ida.

Illinois, Ill.

Indiana, Ind.

Iowa, Ia.

Kansas, Kan.

Kentucky, Ky.

Louisiana, La.

Maine, Me.

Maryland, Md.

Ma.s.sachusetts, Ma.s.s.

Michigan, Mich.

Minnesota, Minn.

Mississippi, Miss.

Missouri, Mo.

Montana, Mont.

Nebraska, Neb.

Nevada, Nev.

New Hampshire, N. H.

New Jersey, N. J.

New Mexico, N. M.

New York, N. Y.

North Carolina, N. C.

North Dakota, N. D.

Ohio, O.

Oklahoma, Okla.

Oregon, Ore.

Pennsylvania, Pa. or Penna.

Rhode Island, R. I.

South Carolina, S. C.

South Dakota, S. D.

Tennessee, Tenn.

Texas, Tex.

Vermont, Vt.

Virginia, Va.

Washington, Wash.

West Virginia, W. Va.

Wisconsin, Wis.

Wyoming, Wyo.

+488.+ Use _a. m._ and _p. m._ after dates in lists of dates or schedules of trains or for any similar purpose, but in the text of a letter or ma.n.u.script it is better to write them out in full. As for example, do not say:

I will arrive tomorrow a. m., or, You may call about eight p. m.

Say rather:

I will arrive tomorrow morning. You may call at eight o'clock this evening.

The letters _a. m._ are the abbreviation for ante meridiem, Latin for before noon; and _p. m._ for post meridiem, meaning afternoon.