Abbreviations

1. You will often see abbreviations used in books - particularly in the notes and indexes of textbooks.

2. They are nearly all short forms of expressions in Latin.

3. You might use them when making notes.

4. Don't use abbreviations in your writing. If you want to use these terms, they should be written out in full.

5. That is, don't put e.g., but write out for example.

6. Note that these terms are normally printed in italics.

7. You should never begin a sentence with an abbreviation.

app. appendix

b. born. For example, b.1939

c. (circa) about: usually with a date. For example: c.1830.

cf. (confer) compare.

ch. chapter (plural chaps.)

col. column (plural cols.)

d. died. For example, d.1956

do. (ditto) the same.

e.g. (exempli gratia) for example.

ed. edition; edited by; editor (plural eds.)

esp. especially.

et al.(et alii, aliae, or alia) and others. For example, Harkinson et. al.

et seq. (et sequens) and the following. For example, p.36 et seq.

etc. (et cetera) and so forth. [An over-used term. Worth avoiding.]

fig. figure (plural figs.)

f./ff. following. For example, 8ff. = page 8 and the following pages.

ibid. (ibidem) in the same place: from the source previously mentioned.

i.e. (id est) that is.

inf. (infra) below: refers to a section still to come.

l. line (plural ll.) [NB! easily mistaken for numbers 'One' and 'Eleven'.]

loc. cit. (loco citato) at the place quoted: from the same place.

n. note, footnote (plural nn.)

n.d. no date given

op. cit. (opere citato) from the work already quoted.

p. page (plural pp.) For example, p.15 [Always precedes the number.]

para. paragraph (plural paras.)

passim in many places: too many references to list.

q.v. (quod vide) look up this point elsewhere. For example, q.v. p.32.

sic thus. As printed or written in the original. usually in square brackets [sic].

supra above: in that part already dealt with.

trans. translator, translated by.

viz. (videlicet) namely, that is to say. For example: Under certain conditions, viz...

vol. volume (plural, vols.)