Basics of Abbreviations
Using abbreviations can be an effective way to avoid repeating lengthy, technical terms throughout a piece of writing, but they should be used sparingly to prevent your text from becoming difficult to read.
Many abbreviations take the form of acronyms or initialisms, which are abbreviations consisting of the first letter of each word in a phrase. Examples are National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Better Business Bureau (BBB). Note that the abbreviation uses all capital letters, and there are no periods between the letters.
To use an abbreviation, write out the term or phrase on first use, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses. See these examples:
The patient had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in March of the previous year.
Walden students need to know how to cite information using the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines.
