Teacher Discussion Forums

Posted: **Wed Dec 21, 2005 6:33 am**

I see these:
1. Mr; Mrs - BrE
2. Mr.; Mrs. - AmE
3. AM; PM - BrE
4. A.M.; P.M. - AmE
I wonder if the same applies to the following:
assn; adj; adv; Apr
In the UK, is it more common to do without the
abbreviation point in such cases?
Thank you.

Posted: **Thu Dec 22, 2005 4:33 am**

As a Brit,
I think the rule is that if the abrev. ends in the same letter as the full word, then no point (full stop) is needed.
If the brev. does not end in the last letter of the full worcd then an abr. pt is needed.

Common use used to be to use the abr. pt. everywhere.
Today common use is no to use any abr pt for common or standard abbreviations.

For most common (eg, Mr, Mrs) I tell my students that they will see both used, and so they need to recognise them for what they are.