- Truncated forms as codes or symbols
Truncated forms used as codes or symbols do not take points.
EN (English) kg (kilogram) - Contractions and truncations in Latin
Latin forms that are full words do not take a point; Latin forms that are not full words do take a point.
sic (meaning as was written in the original) et al. (short for et alii meaning and others) no. (short for numero meaning number, with a point in this case to avoid confusion with the word no) - Abbreviating people’s names
Abbreviate people’s first names with a single letter only, followed by a point and a space.Philippe JunotP. JunotTheodore RooseveltT. Roosevelt
Write multiple initials with points and spaces.Elwyn Brooks WhiteE. B. White
Represent compound first names by both initials.Joan Manuel SerratJ. M. SerratJean-Paul SartreJ.-P. Sartre
Note, however, that in formal institutional texts like contracts or certificates you should avoid abbreviating people’s first names. For example, M. or M.a should be written out as Maria or María, while J. Ramon should be written out as Joan Ramon or Josep Ramon (for further details, see People in the section on translation). - Lower-case abbreviations
Some common abbreviations are never written in upper case, even at the beginning of a footnote.c. (circa) e.g. (for example) i.e. (that is) l., ll. (line, lines) p., pp. (page, pages)
When possible, however, avoid beginning a note with an abbreviation. For example, not
²¹pp. 125–132.
but²¹See pp.125–132. - Use of Article
Note that the word Article may be abbreviated to Art. in footnotes or tables but should not be abbreviated in running text. - Use of etc.
Only use etc. at the end of a series of examples and never at the end of a series introduced by the words like, for example or such as.
Recommended citation:
«Using contractions and truncations» [en línia]. A: Llibre d’estil de la Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona. Serveis Lingüístics. <https://www.ub.edu/llibre-estil/criteri.php?id=2361> [consulta: 19 abril 2024].