Practice Typing  Abbreviations 

Practice typing drafts using abbreviations in draft correspondence was considered traditional or old fashioned back then.  Now abbreviations are used so often that some persons especially our youths have forgotten how to spell a word in full.  This article practice typing abbreviations will help you to understand:

  • What is an Abbreviation? 
  • Do you know what it means to abbreviate a word? 
  • When should you abbreviate a word?
  • When should you not abbreviate a word?
  • What words can be left abbreviated?

You may not at first understand what it means but surprisingly you do know what an abbreviation is.

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word.  For example:

etc. - etcetra

asap - as soon as possible

dr.- Dear or doctor

feb - February

yr -  year or your

dtd - dated

  1. We use it every day in written communication with family or friends either on social media or platforms like WhatsApp and email others.  I am sure you would have received it from a friend on your phone during her conversation with you. For example a friend is greeting you on a social media platform and his or her greeting goes like this. "Gm, hw r u".  The friend has abbreviated the conversation so it take seconds to write this greeting.  What does he or she mean or is saying to you?  "Good morning, how are you?"
  2. It is also used in the movies especially on Crime shows to show urgency in a matter. When speaking on the phone o each other in a crime scene and they agree with each other they used the statement "copy that" meaning ok.
  3. It is also used in the office or when we are drafting a letter or other correspondence to send to a customer or clients.
  4. Some  employers use it to write out something for their employee to type for them. Even when drafting a letter for you to type they tend to scribble it quickly using abbreviations to help them finish in a short time especially when it is urgent.
  5. In an invoice abbreviation E & OE is printed at the bottom of an invoice form or statement. This means "errors and omissions excepted".

so as you can see abbreviations are here to stay whether we use it or not.

So it is good to practice typing abbreviations in drafts and other written communication so that you can read quickly and understand other persons abbreviations and even use it for your own personal use.  

There are also terms used in business documents like for example invoices. Such as fob, cp, cod, etc. It is good to know their meanings. You can never know when they will come in handy.                     

Practice Typing Abbreviations  When and When not?

  • Abbreviations can be left as it is during informal conversations on social media with friends or family. For example
  • in  an informal note to a family or close friend 

When it comes to business correspondence you will not leave the abbreviations in the business document when you are preparing the final copy of that document to mail out to someone in authority. 

Type out the full meaning of the abbreviated word.  The correspondence is considered important or something formal to send to someone who holds a very important position in a company or government office. 

Never leave abbreviations in this correspondence. It is good to know which abbreviated words should be spelt out or is left abbreviated.

Some words that are left abbreviated are:

Mr. - Mister

Mrs. - Mistress

eg. - example

etc - etcetra

i.e. - that is

These and many others I am sure that you know of, are left abbreviated or as it is in your final copy of your document.

Practice Typing Abbreviations 
 What is a draft?

  • What is a Draft?
  • Why do you use a draft?

A draft or manuscript is a document written by hand. It is sometimes described as a rough layout or informal layout of a letter or other correspondence that you are now putting together or sketching out before you type out the final copy.  As you do so you will not write or type out all the words in full. Some words will be abbreviated.

This is a good way of putting a piece of correspondence together before you sign it.  You may even wish to look up and practice typing new words and also chose words that sounds appealing or understandable to the reader.

If you are good with English then by following up the topic or conversation of each sentence you will be able to choose suitable words according to the shortened form you use from the draft or manuscript form. 

Learning to practice typing drafts using abbreviations and what they stand for can relieve you from writing out words fully in your draft. If you have not fully understand some of these abbreviations practice-typing.net is here to assist you with those abbreviations.

You will also find yourself spelling words wrongfully because of the constant use of abbreviated words you use daily in your handwritten draft or manuscripts.  Click the link below to get acquainted with misspelt words before you type your final copy of your document.

Words Misspelt

Correction Signs