Abbreviated styles in English

Some styles of writing and speech have their own special grammar rules, often because of the need to save space or time:

1) advertisements and instructions:

Small ads and instructions often leave out articles, subject or object pronouns, forms of be and prepositions.

Cars wanted for cash. Contact Evans, 6 Latton Square. (*not Cars are wanted for cash...)
Single man looking for flat Oxford area. Phone 806127 weekends.
Job needed urgently. Will do anything legal. Call 312654.
Pour mixture into large saucepan, heat until boiling, then add three
pounds sugar and leave on low heat for 45 minutes.
Can be assembled in ten minutes. Easy to clean. Simple controls. Batteries
not included.

2) notes:

Informal notes, diary entries etc often follow similar rules.

Gone to hairdresser. Back 12.30.
Book tickets phone Ann see Joe 11.00 meeting Sue lunch

The same style may be used in postcards and short informal letters.

Dear Gran,

Watching tennis on TV. A good book. Three meals a day. No washing-up.
Clean sheets every day. Everything done for me. Yes, you've guessed - in
hospital!!
Only went to doctor for cold - landed up in hospital with pneumonia!! If
you have time please tell the others - would love some letters to cheer me up.
Hope to see you.
Love,
Pam

3) commentaries:

Commentaries on fast-moving events like football matches also have their
own grammar. Less important verbs are often left out.

Goal kick... And the score still Spurs 3, Arsenal 1... that's Pearce... Pearce to Coates... good ball... Sawyer running wide... Billings takes it, through to Matthews, Matthews with a cross, oh, and Billings in beautifully, a good chance there - and it's a goal!

4) titles, notices, etc:

Titles, labels, headings, notices and slogans usually consist of short phrases, not complete sentences. Articles are often left out, especially in the names of buildings and institutions.

ROYAL HOTEL
SUPER CINEMA
INFORMATION OFFICE
BUS STOP
POLICE OUT!MORE MONEY FOR NURSES!

5) headlines:

Newspaper headlines have their own special grammar and vocabulary.

RECORD DRUGS HAUL AT AIRPORT. SIX HELD
FOUR DIE IN M6 BLAZE

6) abbreviations and acronyms:

a) punctuation

We usually write abbreviations without full stops in modern British English.
Full stops (US 'periods') are normal in American English.

Mr (US Mr.) = Mister (not usually written in full)
Ltd (US Ltd.) = Limited (company)
kg (US kg.) = kilogram

b) initial-letter abbreviations

Some abbreviations are made from the first letters of several words. This
often happens with the names of organizations.

the BBC = the British Broadcasting Corporation
UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Some initial-letter abbreviations are pronounced letter by letter (e.g. the
BBC).

Others are pronounced like words (e.g. UNESCO). These are often
called acronyms.

c) acronyms: articles

Articles are usually dropped in acronyms (abbreviations that are pronounced like words).

UNESCO (*not the UNESCO)

7) plurals

An apostrophe (') is sometimes used before the s in the plurals of abbreviations: MP's or MPs; CD's (= 'compact discs') or CDs.