Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Common Core Language Standard 2
Like many languages, English has many forms of written communication. English uses abbreviations and acronyms to shorten words. Actually, even with today’s instant messaging and texting, English and American writers used to use far more shortened forms of writing than today.
Today’s mechanics lesson is on when and when not to use periods in abbreviations and acronyms. Remember to use periods after abbreviated words and after beginning and ending titles of proper nouns, such as “Mr.” and “Sr.”
Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.
Use periods following the first letter of each key word in an abbreviated title or expression, and pronounce each of these letters when saying the abbreviation. Examples: U.S.A., a.m., p.m.
But, don’t use periods or pronounce the letters in an acronym. Acronyms are special abbreviated titles or expressions that are pronounced as words. Most all acronyms are capitalized. Example: NATO
Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.
Practice: David has worked outside of the U.S. in many foreign countries, but he now works for N.A.S.A.
Let’s check the Practice Answers.
Mechanics Practice Answers: David has worked outside of the U.S. in many foreign countries, but he now works for NASA.
Now let’s apply what we have learned.
Writing Application: Write your own sentence using an abbreviated title and an acronym.
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