Abbreviations - Full Stops (periods) in Contractions


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If the last letter of a contraction is the same as the last letter of the whole word, then no full stop (period ) is required.

Full Stops (Periods) in Contractions

Only use a full stop (period) at the end of a contraction if its last letter is different to the last letter of the whole word.

Examples:

Mr (contraction of Mister)

Revd (contraction of Reverend)

Rev. (also a contraction of Reverend)

para. (contraction of paragraph)

paras (contraction of paragraphs)

Dr. (contraction of Doctor; r is the last letter of Dr and Doctor)

para (contraction of paragraph; last letters are different -
full stop required)

The theory is supported by Prof. Munro.

CONTRACTION?

A contraction is a cut-down version of a word.

Mr (contraction of Mister)

Revd (contraction of Reverend)

para. (a contraction of paragraph)

DON'T WORRY

The rule explained on this page is not a hard and fast rule. All contractions used to be followed by full stops. However, nowadays, the rule outlined on this page is widely accepted.

The rule is logical, and it provides clear guidance on what to do. Unfortunately, it's not well observed, particularly in the US where all contractions tend to attract periods/full stops. These days, you can pretty much do what you want at the end of a contraction, and no one will mark you down for it. That said, it's worth knowing the rule as it allows you to include or exclude periods/full stops with confidence. This rule needs reviving. Writing "Para. 1 and Paras 4-6" and knowing precisely why — how great is that?