Definitions

Abbreviation

An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning "short") is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase. For example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation abbr. or abbrev.¹

Acronym

Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations that are formed using the initial components in a phrase or name. These components may be individual letters (as in CEO) or parts of words (as in Benelux). There is no universal agreement on the precise definition of the various terms, nor on written usage. While popular in recent English, such abbreviations have historical use in English as well as other languages. As a type of word formation process, acronyms and initialisms are viewed as a subtype of blending. ²

Usage

Spell out the term and then mention the acronym/abbreviation in parenthesis just after the first reference. It’s not necessary to mention the acronym if there is no second reference of the term.

Use only acronym (abbreviations pronounced as words) on their own if they are very familiar to most readers. Do not use periods (.).

CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
BC (British Columbia)
MP (Member of Parliament)
RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)
UBC (University of British Columbia)

If you are using an acronym that is not well known, spell out the full name in the first reference with the abbreviation in parentheses. Then use the abbreviation or a short form of the full name in all subsequent references.

The University is the home base for the Tri-University Meson Facility (TRIUMF). Lab tours of TRIUMF will be held to celebrate the World Year of Physics.

For ease of reading or variety, a general term is often preferable to an acronym.

The subatomic physics laboratory is located at the University of British Columbia.

No more than one or two abbreviations or acronyms should be used within the same text.

Abbreviations include the shortening of items such as:

Inc	Incorporated
etc.	et cetera (and so on)
e.g.	exampli gratia (for example)
i.e.	id est (that is to say)