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Abbreviations can be written with or without full stops - be consistent.
1.   It is considered untidy to mix abbreviations with full stops and ones without full stops in the same article.  The first two examples below are both correct, because the writer has been consistent.

Examples:
The band travelled around UK and USA last year.
The band travelled around U.K. and U.S.A. last year.
It was only shown on ITV and not B.B.C. (considered untidy)
The M.D. insisted that his PA had left by 4 o'clock. Is this example right or wrong?  (Mini Test)

 COPY THEIR VERSION 

In general, you have a choice whether to use full stops or not.  However, when an abbreviation is a company title, you should copy the version the company uses.
Please remind me to renew my BUPA policy on Saturday.
      (Note: BUPA does not use full stops in "BUPA" in its own
       correspondence.)

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Abbreviations made up of capital letters tend not to have full stops; whereas, abbreviations made up of lowercase letters tend to have them.
1.   Uppercase abbreviations tend to be written without full stops.

Example:
BBC / LRS (Linear Recursive Sequence) / BUPA
      (This is a tendency not a rule.)

2.    Lowercase abbreviations tend to be written with full stops.

Example:
a.m. / i.e. / e.g. / p.m. / p.p.
       (This is a tendency not a rule.)
 


 "IN OTHER WORDS" OR "FOR EXAMPLE" ?

The abbreviation i.e. (id est) means "in other words" or "that is to say"; whereas e.g. (exempli gratia) means "for example".  Do not confuse the two.
It happened in August; i.e. two months ago.
All amphibians are thriving in the new pond; e.g. two bullfrogs
       were spotted yesterday.  
They all passed easily, i.e. Jane scored 80%. 
 

 ETC. ETC.

The abbreviation etc. is a contraction of et cetera.  However, it is often mistakenly written as ect.  (This is because many people pronounce it "eccetra".)
For a small monthly bonus, you can present your staff with 
       shop tokens, flowers, chocolates, theatre tickets, ect.

(Note: It is normal to include the full stop with etc.)
 

 FINISH THE ABBREVIATION  

If using full stops in abbreviations, ensure you give the last letter a full stop too.
  [picture]
 

 ONE FULL STOP WILL DO 

If a sentence ends with the full stop from an abbreviation, then that full stop will suffice. There is no need to put two.
Angela was a journalist in Sierra Leone for the B.B.C..
She cannot tolerate any dairy products. She will not eat milk,
       cheese, eggs, etc.
       (Note: "etc." usually includes a full stop)

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The plural of an abbreviation is formed by adding s.  However, on occasion, the plural of an abbreviation can be formed by adding 's. (Read this section carefully.)
1.    The plural of an abbreviation is usually formed by adding s to the end.  However, although not common practice, it is acceptable to use 's if it is deemed to assist the reader.
Examples:
Once I have finished this PC, I will only have 3 PCs to configure.
We have a dozen SUS's to collect from the station.
       (SUS - Soldier under Sentence)
       (In this example, the writer considers that SUS's is clearer than SUSs and has
       opted to use the 's version.  This is acceptable.)

2.    This applies to abbreviations with full stops too.

Examples:
Once I have finished this P.C., I will only have 3 P.C.s to configure.
Not one of the S.O.S.'s was received by the coastguard.
 

 AVOID THE VERSION WITH AN APOSTROPHE 

As covered in Section 2 of the lesson "Apostrophes", 's can be used to show possession. For example:
 The MP's photo shoot will be held at 7 o'clock.
      (This is the photo shoot of one MP.) 

Therefore, using 's to show a plural can lead to ambiguity or, at the least, cause the reader to pause momentarily while a mental check is performed to determine whether the abbreviation is a plural or showing possession.

In summary, you should be aware that the 's version is an option you can employ to assist the reader in spotting an unwieldy abbreviation instantly. However, in all other cases, you should opt for the s version.  (Very few grammar books condone the 's version.)  This is covered more in Section 4 of the lesson "Apostrophes".

The firefighters could not assist with three of the RTAs, because the BA's were 
       still in the stores. Is this example right or wrong?  (Mini Test)
       (RTA - Road Traffic Accident / BA - Breathing Apparatus)

3.    A full stop is not required after the s when forming the plural of an abbreviation with full stops.

Examples:
  [picture]
Anna was refused credit due to three C.C.J.s. and mortgage arrears.
       (CCJ - County Court Judgement)
 We have only done two M.O.T.s since January. Is this example right or wrong?  (Mini Test)

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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 is required.

 CONTRACTION? 

A contraction is a cut-down version of a word.
Mr (contraction of Mister)
Revd (contraction of Reverend)
para. (a contraction of paragraph)

1.    Only use a full stop 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. Is this example right or wrong?  (Mini Test)
 

 DON'T WORRY 

This is not a hard and fast rule.  All contractions used to be followed by full stops.  However, nowadays, the rule above is widely accepted.

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With years, AD is written before the year, and BC is written afterwards.
1.    The abbreviation AD (Anno Domini) denotes "of the Christian Era" and should be written before the year; whereas BC (Before Christ) should be written after the year. 

Examples:
AD 2001
487 BC
  [picture 1]  [picture 2]  [picture 3]
Caesar reigned from 63 BC to AD 14. Is this example right or wrong?  (Mini Test)
 

 CATER FOR RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY 

BCE (Before Common Era) equates to the time before Christ (BC). CE (Common Era) equates to the time after the birth of Christ (AD).  They are often used to cater for religious diversity; both are written after the date.
2001 CE
487 BCE

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