Improve_Your_Punctuation.PDF

Gloucestershire Glos.

Lincolnshire Lincs.

Nottinghamshire Notts.

Staffordshire Staffs.

Counties that have their own abbreviations also require full
stops.

Hampshire Hants.

Oxfordshire Oxon.

If you write the initials of a person’s name before the sur-
name, separate them with a full stop.

B.J. Brown M.R. Moss V.A. Thomas

However, it is becoming increasingly common to omit the
full stop particularly when typing the name.

Titles can be abbreviated if they are followed by the person’s
full name and a full stop is then used. The abbreviation
shouldnotbe used if only the surname follows it.

Capt. Kenneth Smythe or Captain Smythe not Capt.

Smythe

Prof. Ian Blythe or Professor BlythenotProf. Blythe

Rev. Anthony Harris or Reverend HarrisnotRev. Harris

Handling contractions

Contractions are when the abbreviation is created by using
the first and last letters of the original word. A full stop at
the end isnotrequired.

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