ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

General Rules IN TECHNICAL WRITING

• There is no need to use an abbreviation if a term is only used once. Just spell out the term. (Example: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is. . . .)
• If using an abbreviation more than once, place it in parentheses after the complete term first appears. From then on, use the abbreviation only. (Example: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is. . . . According to the USEPA. . . .)
• Generally do not use “the” before abbreviations. Exceptions are certain government agencies (the USEPA, the ADEC).
• Abbreviations and acronyms are generally treated as singular nouns (the USEPA is the agency overseeing the program). Make acronyms plural by adding s (no apostrophe), as in VOCs. Only use the apostrophe for possession (the FDA’s position).
• TPH and BTEX are collective nouns that take singular verbs; do not add the s to them: Total petroleum hydrocarbons were detected; TPH was detected.
• Do not define U.S., Latin abbreviations, compass directions, or F or C. Abbreviations do not contain periods, except U.S., in., Mr. Ms., no. p., and Latin abbreviations (i.e., et al., etc., e.g.).
• The original words that the acronym represents are not necessarily capitalized; see the abbreviations and acronyms list in Section 8.0 of this document to be sure. Example: method reporting limit (MRL).
• Articles agree with the pronunciation of the acronym: an MSDS (em ess dee ess), a RCRA assessment (rik-rah).
• Latin (i.e., e.g., etc.). You do not need to define Latin abbreviations. But do make sure you are using them correctly. i.e. means that is, e.g. means for example, and etc. means and so forth or and so on. Check Merriam-Webster’s Tenth New Collegiate Dictionary if you are not sure of the meaning of a Latin abbreviation (see the abbreviations section near the back of the dictionary).
• Always use a comma after i.e. and e.g. Also, they should be used in parenthetical text only: The tanks hold two liquids (i.e., gasoline and methanol).
• If etc. ends a sentence, do not add a second period. Usually you can avoid using etc. by revising the text to include a phrase such as “and others” or “and so on.” Another way is to revise the phrase that precedes a list by adding the word includes or including. Instead of writing The mammals I saw were moose, elk, rabbits, etc. write The mammals I saw included moose, elk, and rabbits.
• Treat resumes, executive summaries, transmittal letters, and figures and tables as separate documents. Redefine acronyms and abbreviations in them. Provide a key to all acronyms and abbreviations used in the tables and figures; the key goes at the bottom of the table or figure.

Online Source Lists

All Acronyms

http://www.acronymfinder.com

Computer Acronyms

Definitions

Computer Terms

Environmental Acronyms

http://ci.fort-worth.tx.us/DEM/acronR.htm (one of my favorite sites of environmental acronyms - quick, easy, and detailed

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