Abbreviations

An abbreviation is the shortened form of a single word that uses the first few letters of that word but not the last. Common examples are 'Jan' (January), 'Tel' (telephone) and 'Fig' (figure).

In recent years, the word ‘abbreviation’ has broadened for many to mean any shortened form of a word or phrase. However, the ASG uses it in its traditional (and more specific) sense.

Usage
Use abbreviations sparingly and mostly where readers will be familiar with them.
It’s usually best not to abbreviate words in formal writing. It can suggest laziness or lack of effort (or both). The other risk is that readers won’t be familiar with a shortened form you choose.
The Victorian Government paused for a minute’s silence at 11 am.
The Vic Gov paused for a min silence at 11 am.
In tables, graphics and references, common abbreviations are particularly useful where space is tight. But if you think your readers might not understand an abbreviation, spell it out in full instead.
Table note: See Fig 3 below for our Aug 2020 revenue.
Punctuation
Don’t use full stops
company
co
telephone
tel
chapter
ch

Earlier practice was to use full stops when abbreviating words. The ASG recommends minimising punctuation because it is cleaner and easier to read.

Most abbreviations you use should already be familiar to your readers, so they will be clear without any terminating punctuation.

Are you free on 10 Jan for a coffee?
See Ch. 8, para. 4.

However, if a formal title such as an organisation name uses a full stop, don’t remove it.

My office is next to Tiffany & Co. on Pitt St.
Common abbreviations
Follow these forms for days, months and Australian jurisdictions
Friday
Fri
March
Mar
Tasmania
Tas

Some of the most common abbreviations relate to days and months. In Australia, the states and territories are also often abbreviated. Below is a complete list, although only Tasmania and Victoria use traditional abbreviations. The others are technically initialisms or contractions.

Days of the weekMonTuesWedThursFriSatSun
Months of the year

Jan

Jul

Feb

Aug

Mar

Sept

Apr

Oct

May

Nov

Jun

Dec



Australian states
and territories

ACT

NSW

NT

Qld

SA

Tas

VicWA
See also:   Acronyms,  Addresses,  Contractions,  Dates,  Full stops .,  Initialisms,  Latin words,  Street addresses