Abbreviation Basics
What's an abbreviation?
In a nutshell, it's when you take a series of words and break them down to the first letters of each word. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation becomes the FBI.
Can I use abbreviations in my essays?
Sure. Just make sure that you write what the abbreviation stands for at least once before you switch over to the abbreviation. For instance, If you want to talk about post-traumatic stress disorder, make sure you refer to it as such before switching over to PTSD—most people know what PTSD is, but not everyone does, so be courteous to those of us not in the loop.
What does that look like?
"This mood sets a dark atmosphere, because it is based on how the election loss, mixed with the post-traumatic stress syndrome, or PTSD, John endures, affects him."
See how I used an appositive ( ,or PTSD, ) to introduce the abbreviation? Do that.
See how I used an appositive ( ,or PTSD, ) to introduce the abbreviation? Do that.