In English, abbreviations ( short forms ) are much used in writing as well as in speaking. Most of times we use them without knowing their full forms. When somebody asks us their full form, we have to cut a sorry figure.
Below are given some frequently used abbreviations and their full forms. We shall also try to update the post with latest abbreviations when we come across them.
A.M. – ante meridiem ( Latin expression meaning before midday )
P.M. – post meridiem ( after midday ), also Prime Minister
B.A. – Bachelor of Arts
B.Com – Bachelor of Commerce
B.Sc. – Bachelor of Science
CID – Criminal Investigation Department
c/o – care of
D. Lit. – Doctor of Literature
D. Phil – Doctor of Philosophy
Dr. – Doctor, Debtor
Do – Ditto ( the same as is aforesaid )
D.C – Direct Current, Deputy Commissioner
E. and O.E – errors and omissions excepted
Eng – English
Engr. – Engineer
exp – especially
etc. – et cetera ( and others ) Latin Expression
e.g. – example given
fig. – figure
ft – feet, foot, fort
G.P.O – General Post Office
Important Short Forms/ Abbreviations
Prepare important short forms of daily use. We get them from TV or news papers.
hr – hour
H.Q. – Head Quarters
ib – ibid ( short form of ibidem, the Latin expression meaning in the same place )
id – idem ( the same )
i.e. – id est – Latin ( that is )
IG – Inspector General
Lt – Lieutenant
Ltd – Limited
MD – Doctor of Medicine
Messrs. – Messieurs ( French Expression meaning Sirs, Plural of Mr. )
misc – miscellaneous
M.L.A – Member of Legislative Assembly
MP – Member of Parliament
mph – miles per hour
Mr – Mister, Master
Mrs – Mistress
M.S – Master of Surgery
n.b. – nota bene ( Latin Phrase meaning note well )
OK – Oll Korrect ( All correct )
Ph.D – Doctor of Philosophy
PT – Physical Training
PTO – Please turn over
P.W.D – Public Works Department
Re – Rupee
Rs – Rupees
Ref – Reference
Retd. – retired
R.S.V.P – Repondez s’il vous plait ( French Expression meaning Reply if you please )
sq – square
LDC – Lower Division Clerk
UDC – Upper Division Clerk
Learn Short Form –
We are providing short form / Abbreviation with full forms. We hope you will learn them.
Vs – Versus ( it means against )
viz. – videlicet, namely
VIP – Very Important Person
w.e.f – with effect from
WHO – World Health Organization
UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization
SAARC – South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
YMCA – Young Men’s Christian Association
YWCA – Young Women’s Christian Association
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
IP – Internal Protocol
NSG – National Security Group/ Nuclear Supplier Group
UGC – University Grants Commission
MoU – Memorandum of Understanding
NACEN – National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics
DRDO – Defence Research and Development Organization
LGBT – Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender
CDC – Centres for Disease Control and Prevention ( Related with Coronavirus here )
MERS – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
B.S.E – Bombay Stock Exchange
C.M.O – Chief Medical Officer
D.I.G – Deputy Inspector General
L.P.G – Liquified Petroleum
R.A.W – Research and Analysis Wing
R.A.F – Rapid Action Force
N.C.B. – Narcotics Control Bureau
LAC- Line of Actual Control ( Border line between India and China )
S.F.F – Special Frontier Force
L.O.C – Line of Control ( Border line between India and Pakistan )
Learn Exam Related Important English Words from here.