Spell Out Acronyms Again After Executive Summary
by Chelsea Lee
This post will address how to use
abbreviations in APA Manner—specifically, how to use acronyms, which are abbreviations made up of the first letters of each word in a phrase. Consider it an FAQ about abbreviations! Yous can find abbreviations discussed in the Publication Manual in section four.22 (starting on p. 106).
Click a question beneath to spring direct to its answer.
- When should I use an abbreviation?
- How do I introduce an abbreviation in the text?
- How do I abbreviate grouping authors in in-text citations and reference list entries?
- How do I nowadays an abridgement in conjunction with an in-text commendation?
- Can I use abbreviations in the title of a paper?
- Tin I use abbreviations in the running head?
- Tin can I apply abbreviations in the abstract?
- Can I use abbreviations in headings?
- Can I apply abbreviations in tables and figures?
- Do all abbreviations needs to exist defined?
- How exercise I use the wordsaandanbefore abbreviations?
- Are abbreviations written with periods?
- How do I make an abbreviation plural?
- I don't see my question!
When should I use an abridgement?
Use abbreviations sparingly and only when they volition aid readers understand your work. Ask yourself these questions each fourth dimension you consider using a particular abridgement:
- Is the reader familiar with the abridgement?
- Apply an existing, accepted abbreviation if i exists, because familiarity helps understanding. If a standard abridgement does not exist, then yous tin can create your own.
- Will you utilize the abbreviation at least three times in the paper?
- Employ an abbreviation at least three times in a paper if you lot are going to use it at all. If you lot won't employ it three times, then spell out the term every fourth dimension. The reader might have a hard time remembering what the abbreviation means if you utilise it infrequently.
- Would spelling out the term every fourth dimension exist overly repetitive and cumbersome?
- Use abbreviations to avoid cumbersome repetition and enhance agreement, not merely as a writing shortcut. For example, it is commonly easier to read a two-word phrase than it is to remember the meaning of a two-letter abbreviation. Longer phrases make better candidates for abridgement.
- How many full abbreviations practise yous have in the paper?
- There's no difficult line of how many abbreviations is also many, but writing is more often than not easier to sympathize when most words are spelled out than when it is flood with abbreviations. But abbreviate when information technology helps the reader.
How do I introduce an abbreviation in the text?
The first time you employ an abbreviation in the text, present both the spelled-out version and the short form.
When the spelled-out version commencement appears in the narrative of the sentence, put the abbreviation in parentheses after it:
- Example: We studied attention-arrears/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
When the spelled-out version first appears in parentheses, put the abridgement in brackets after it:
- Case: The diagnosis (i.eastward., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) was confirmed via behavioral observation.
Later on you define an abridgement (regardless of whether it is in parentheses), use only the abridgement. Do not alternate betwixt spelling out the term and abbreviating information technology.
How do I abbreviate group authors in in-text citations and reference listing entries?
If your reference has a group author, the name of the group can sometimes be abbreviated—for case, American Psychological Association can be abbreviated to APA. You are not obligated to abridge the name of a grouping writer, but you tin if the abbreviation would help avoid cumbersome repetition and will appear more than three times in the paper.
Every bit with other abbreviations, spell out the name of the group upon start mention in the text and then provide the abridgement.
If the name of the grouping showtime appears in the narrative, put the abbreviation, a comma, and the yr for the citation in parentheses after information technology.
- Example: The American Psychological Association (APA, 2011) suggested that parents talk to their children well-nigh family finances in historic period-appropriate ways.
If the proper noun of the group offset appears in parentheses, put the abridgement in brackets later information technology, followed by a comma and the yr for the commendation.
- Example: Children should learn about family unit finances in historic period-appropriate ways (American Psychological Clan [APA], 2011).
In the reference listing entry, do not include the abridgement for the group author. Instead, spell out the total name of the grouping.
Correct reference entry:
American Psychological Association. (2011). Dollars and sense: Talking to your children well-nigh the economy. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/children-economy.aspx
Incorrect reference entry:
American Psychological Association (APA). (2011). Dollars and sense: Talking to your children almost the economic system. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/children-economy.aspx
If y'all take several references by the same group writer, yous simply need to abbreviate the name once (see here for how to handle references with the aforementioned writer and appointment). Notation that if 2 different groups would abbreviate to the aforementioned form (east.g., both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association abbreviate to APA), you cannot apply the abbreviation in your paper—instead you lot must spell out the term every fourth dimension to avoid ambiguity.
An exception to abbreviations in the reference list is when works have been published using abbreviations as office of the author, title, or source. Retain these abbreviations because the reader will demand them to retrieve the source (you besides practise not need to define them—but present them every bit-is). Come across more about this in our mail service on cite what you encounter.
How practise I present an abbreviation in conjunction with an in-text commendation?
Sometimes an abbreviation is presented forth with an in-text citation. For example, you lot might cite a exam or mensurate that has an abbreviation and then provide its citation (for a common case, here is how to cite the DSM-5).
If the spelled-out version of the term appears in the narrative for the first time, put the abbreviation and the author–date citation in parentheses after information technology, separated by a semicolon. Do non apply back-to-back parentheses.
- Correct: We assessed depression using the Beck Depression Inventory–Ii (BDI-II; Beck, Chocolate-brown, & Steer, 1996).
- Wrong: We used the Beck Depression Inventory—II (BDI-II) (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996).
If the spelled-out version of the term appears in parentheses for the first time, put the abridgement in brackets afterward it, followed by a semicolon and the author–date commendation.
- Example: Our assessment of low (as measured via scores on the Brook Low Inventory–Two [BDI-II]; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) showed significant incidence of this disorder in the population.
Can I use abbreviations in the title of a paper?
Avoid using abbreviations in the title of a newspaper. Writing out the full term in the title will ensure potential readers know exactly what y'all hateful, and if your article is formally published, it will ensure it is accurately indexed.
Can I use abbreviations in the running caput?
There is no official guidance on whether to use abbreviations in the running head. Nosotros recommend that you avert them, unless the abbreviation is well-known and there is no alternative running head that would be amend. If you exercise employ an abridgement in a running head, you can utilise information technology straightaway without definition. Instead, ascertain the abbreviation the start time yous utilise it in the text.
Can I use abbreviations in the abstruse?
In general, it is not necessary to use abbreviations in the abstract because the abstract is so brusk. However, if the abbreviation would help the reader recognize a term or find your commodity via search, then it is permissible to include an abbreviation in the abstract, even if it is not used iii times. When you utilize an abbreviation in both the abstract and the text, define it in both places upon first use.
Can I use abbreviations in headings?
The Publication Manual does not offer official guidance on whether to use abbreviations in headings. We recommend that you avoid them—for example, the reader may skim the paper earlier reading it in full, and abbreviations in headings may be difficult to sympathise out of context. And then, if a term you intend to abbreviate appears in a heading (eastward.g., the name of a test or measure out), spell out the term in the heading and and then when it outset appears in the text, spell information technology out once more and define information technology there.
Tin I use abbreviations in tables and figures?
Yeah, yous can apply abbreviations in tables and figures. All abbreviations used in tables and figures should exist defined in the table note or figure explanation, respectively, even though the abbreviations will be besides be defined in the text if they are used at that place. The purpose of defining abbreviations in the table notation or effigy caption is that if other authors reuse your graphical brandish in a futurity paper, the definitions of the terms will be attached. Additionally, many readers will skim an article before reading it closely, and defining abbreviations in tables and figures will let the readers to understand the abbreviations immediately.
Practise all abbreviations needs to be defined?
Not all abbreviations need to exist defined. Consult Merriam-Webster'south Dictionary to determine what to practice: If the abbreviation has the designation abbr. after it in the dictionary, that means information technology needs to be defined; if it does not have this designation, the abbreviation is considered a word on its own and tin exist used direct off the bat, without definition. You lot also practice not need to define abbreviations for units of measurement (eastward.m., cm for centimeters, 60 minutes for 60 minutes).
- Examples of abbreviations that are considered words: IQ, REM, HIV, AIDS, FAQ
How practice I use the wordsaandanbefore abbreviations?
Apply the article that matches the way the abridgement is pronounced—an earlier a vowel sound and a before a consonant audio. Some abbreviations are pronounced as words (e.yard., RAM), and some abbreviations are pronounced letter-by-letter, which is also called an initialism (east.g., HMO, IQ). If you are unsure of the pronunciation of an abbreviation, look information technology upward in the dictionary or inquire a colleague. If an abbreviation has multiple pronunciations, use the starting time one shown in the dictionary entry.
- Examples: an FBI agent, a DSM-5 disorder, a U.S. citizen, an IQ score
Are abbreviations written with periods?
More often than not, exercise not apply periods in abbreviations. Some exceptions are that you lot should use periods in the abbreviations for Us and United Kingdom when these terms are used as adjectives (don't abbreviate them if they are used equally nouns). And if you accept created an identity-concealing label for a participant, utilise a flow after each letter.
- Examples: U.Due south. Census Bureau, U.G. population, participant R.E.C.
How practise I make an abridgement plural?
To brand an abbreviation plural, add together an –s (or –es, for abbreviations catastrophe in s already). Do not add together an apostrophe. For more, run into our defended mail on plural abbreviations and numbers.
- Examples: IQs, RTs, CSes.
I don't see my question!
Got more questions about abbreviations? Ask us in a annotate!
Source: https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2015/10/an-abbreviations-faq.html
An Abbreviations FAQ
past Chelsea Lee
This mail will address how to utilize
abbreviations in APA Mode—specifically, how to use acronyms, which are abbreviations fabricated up of the first letters of each word in a phrase. Consider it an FAQ about abbreviations! You tin can find abbreviations discussed in the Publication Transmission in department 4.22 (starting on p. 106).
Click a question below to leap directly to its answer.
When should I use an abbreviation?
Use abbreviations sparingly and only when they will help readers understand your work. Ask yourself these questions each time y'all consider using a item abbreviation:
How do I introduce an abbreviation in the text?
The start time you lot utilize an abbreviation in the text, present both the spelled-out version and the short grade.
When the spelled-out version offset appears in the narrative of the judgement, put the abbreviation in parentheses after information technology:
When the spelled-out version first appears in parentheses, put the abridgement in brackets after information technology:
Afterward you define an abridgement (regardless of whether it is in parentheses), use only the abbreviation. Do not alternating between spelling out the term and abbreviating it.
How do I abbreviate group authors in in-text citations and reference list entries?
If your reference has a group author, the proper noun of the grouping tin sometimes be abbreviated—for example, American Psychological Clan can be abbreviated to APA. Y'all are not obligated to abbreviate the proper noun of a group author, but you can if the abbreviation would assist avoid cumbersome repetition and will appear more than 3 times in the paper.
As with other abbreviations, spell out the proper name of the grouping upon first mention in the text and then provide the abridgement.
If the proper name of the group first appears in the narrative, put the abbreviation, a comma, and the year for the citation in parentheses after it.
If the name of the group showtime appears in parentheses, put the abbreviation in brackets afterward it, followed by a comma and the yr for the commendation.
In the reference list entry, do not include the abbreviation for the group writer. Instead, spell out the total name of the group.
Right reference entry:
American Psychological Association. (2011). Dollars and sense: Talking to your children about the economic system. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/children-economic system.aspx
Wrong reference entry:
American Psychological Association (APA). (2011). Dollars and sense: Talking to your children about the economy. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/children-economy.aspx
If you lot have several references by the same grouping writer, you only need to abbreviate the proper noun once (run into here for how to handle references with the same author and date). Note that if two different groups would abbreviate to the same grade (e.g., both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association abridge to APA), you cannot use the abridgement in your paper—instead y'all must spell out the term every time to avoid ambiguity.
An exception to abbreviations in the reference list is when works have been published using abbreviations equally role of the author, championship, or source. Retain these abbreviations because the reader will need them to recollect the source (yous besides do not need to define them—just nowadays them as-is). Run across more nearly this in our postal service on cite what yous see.
How do I nowadays an abbreviation in conjunction with an in-text citation?
Sometimes an abbreviation is presented along with an in-text citation. For case, you might cite a examination or mensurate that has an abbreviation and so provide its citation (for a common case, here is how to cite the DSM-5).
If the spelled-out version of the term appears in the narrative for the first time, put the abbreviation and the writer–date citation in parentheses after it, separated past a semicolon. Do not use back-to-back parentheses.
If the spelled-out version of the term appears in parentheses for the kickoff time, put the abbreviation in brackets after information technology, followed by a semicolon and the author–date citation.
Can I use abbreviations in the title of a newspaper?
Avoid using abbreviations in the title of a paper. Writing out the full term in the championship volition ensure potential readers know exactly what you mean, and if your commodity is formally published, it will ensure it is accurately indexed.
Tin I apply abbreviations in the running caput?
At that place is no official guidance on whether to use abbreviations in the running head. Nosotros recommend that you avoid them, unless the abbreviation is well-known and there is no alternative running head that would be ameliorate. If you do use an abridgement in a running head, y'all can utilize it straightaway without definition. Instead, ascertain the abridgement the first time you lot use it in the text.
Can I use abbreviations in the abstract?
In general, it is not necessary to utilize abbreviations in the abstract considering the abstruse is and so curt. Still, if the abbreviation would help the reader recognize a term or notice your article via search, then information technology is permissible to include an abbreviation in the abstract, even if it is non used three times. When you use an abridgement in both the abstruse and the text, define it in both places upon start use.
Tin I utilize abbreviations in headings?
The Publication Transmission does not offer official guidance on whether to use abbreviations in headings. We recommend that you avert them—for case, the reader may skim the paper earlier reading it in full, and abbreviations in headings may be difficult to sympathise out of context. So, if a term you intend to abbreviate appears in a heading (due east.g., the proper noun of a test or measure), spell out the term in the heading and then when it first appears in the text, spell it out once more and define information technology in that location.
Can I utilise abbreviations in tables and figures?
Yes, yous can use abbreviations in tables and figures. All abbreviations used in tables and figures should be defined in the tabular array note or effigy caption, respectively, even though the abbreviations will exist also be defined in the text if they are used there. The purpose of defining abbreviations in the table note or effigy caption is that if other authors reuse your graphical display in a hereafter paper, the definitions of the terms will be attached. Additionally, many readers will skim an article before reading it closely, and defining abbreviations in tables and figures will let the readers to empathize the abbreviations immediately.
Practice all abbreviations needs to be defined?
Not all abbreviations need to be defined. Consult Merriam-Webster's Dictionary to make up one's mind what to exercise: If the abbreviation has the designation abbr. after it in the dictionary, that means it needs to exist defined; if information technology does non have this designation, the abbreviation is considered a word on its own and can be used straight off the bat, without definition. You also do not need to define abbreviations for units of measurement (e.chiliad., cm for centimeters, 60 minutes for hr).
How do I employ the wordsaandanbefore abbreviations?
Use the article that matches the style the abbreviation is pronounced—an earlier a vowel audio and a before a consonant sound. Some abbreviations are pronounced equally words (eastward.g., RAM), and some abbreviations are pronounced letter-by-alphabetic character, which is also called an initialism (e.g., HMO, IQ). If you lot are unsure of the pronunciation of an abridgement, look it up in the dictionary or ask a colleague. If an abbreviation has multiple pronunciations, use the kickoff i shown in the lexicon entry.
Are abbreviations written with periods?
Mostly, do not use periods in abbreviations. Some exceptions are that yous should use periods in the abbreviations for United states of america and Great britain when these terms are used as adjectives (don't abbreviate them if they are used equally nouns). And if you take created an identity-concealing label for a participant, use a period later each letter.
How do I brand an abbreviation plural?
To make an abbreviation plural, add together an –s (or –es, for abbreviations catastrophe in south already). Practice not add an apostrophe. For more, meet our dedicated post on plural abbreviations and numbers.
I don't see my question!
Got more questions virtually abbreviations? Inquire u.s. in a annotate!