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Paul Sparks - Xiangtan University, Online Postgraduate (Masters Degree) English Lesson Plans, Lesson Material and Ideas...

 

 

Speaking Lesson: ABBREVIATIONS


Lesson Objectives: The purpose of this lesson is to make the students aware of common English abbreviations.

Lesson Activities: Class discussion followed by group exercises.


ABBREVIATIONS: We all use abbreviations everyday and we see lots of them in newspapers, magazines etc. Although the meanings of the abbreviations are usually known, people may not know the actual words used to create the abbreviation. (For Example "WTO" = "World Trade Organisation".

Sometimes we use a full stop "." after or in abbreviations, but not always. Normally if the last letter of a word is the same as the last letter of the abbreviation then there is no full stop (eg: "Limited" = "Ltd"), but when the last letter is not the same then we use a full stop (eg: "Company" = "Co.")

Different countries use different abbreviations, the head of a company in America is the "C.E.O." but in the UK it is the "M.D." (Managing Director).


Common Abbreviations:

a.m. - before noon (ante meridiem) 

a.s.a.p. - as soon as possible 

cc: - copies to 

Co. - Company 

enc. - enclosed 

G.M.T. - Greenwich Mean Time 

HQ - headquarters 

Inc. - Incorporated 

Ltd - Limited 

Mr - (pronounced Mister) 

Mrs - (pronounced Missiz) 

Miss

Ms - (pronounced Miz) 

no. - number 

p.a. - per annum 

p.m. - after noon (post meridiem) 

p.t.o. - please turn over 

Rd - Road 

St - Saint 

St. - Street 


Abbreviations Used in Employment Ads:

FT - full-time work 

PT - part-time work 

FT/PT - full-time work or part-time work 

20 hrs - 20 hours per week 

am/pm - day or night work 

eves -evenings 

M-F - Monday through Friday 

sal -salary 

$9 p/h - $9 per hour 

$450/wk - $450 per week 

$1,200/mo - $1,200 per month

No exp req - no experience required 

exp pref - experience preferred 

exp req - experience required 

2 yrs exp pref - 2 years of experience preferred 

min 2 yrs exp - minimum of 2 years experience 

refs - reference letters required 

avail immed - available immediately 

apply ASAP - apply as soon as possible


ACTIVITY: Abbreviations Used in Business:

Select the correct answer for each of the following:

1. R.S.V.P. 

   as soon as possible 

   please reply 

   per week 

   value added tax 

   paid

2. qty 

   as soon as possible 

   please reply 

   please 

   quantity 

   paid

3. thx 

   thanks 

   please reply 

   please 

   quantity 

  with reference to

4. E.T.A.

   thanks 

   for the attention of 

   estimated time of arrival 

   quantity 

   with reference to

5. pls cfm 

   thanks 

   for the attention of 

   estimated time of arrival 

   number 

   please confirm

6. @ 

   at 

   for the attention of 

   estimated time of arrival 

   number 

   please confirm 

7. a/c 

   at 

   account 

   estimated time of arrival 

   number 

   please confirm 

8. A.G.M. 

   at 

   account 

   annual general meeting 

   number 

   please confirm 

9. A.O.B. 

   at 

   account 

   annual general meeting 

   any other business 

   please confirm 

10. attn 

   thanks 

   for the attention of 

   please 

   quantity 

   with reference to 

11. I.P.O. 

   copies to 

   Chief Executive Officer 

   initial public offer 

   any other business 

   approximately 

12. ASAP 

   as soon as possible 

   please turn over 

   per week 

   value added tax 

   paid 

13. re 

   as soon as possible 

   please reply 

   please 

   quantity 

   with reference to 

14. C.O.D. 

   copies to 

   Chief Executive Officer 

   initial purchase offer 

   cash on delivery 

   approximately 

15. approx 

   at 

   account 

   annual general meeting 

   any other business 

   approximately 

16. E.G.M. 

   copies to 

   Chief Executive Officer 

   initial purchase offer 

   cash on delivery 

   extraordinary general meeting 

17. G.D.P. 

   gross domestic product 

   Chief Executive Officer 

   initial purchase offer 

   cash on delivery 

   extraordinary general meeting 

18. G.N.P. 

   gross domestic product 

   gross national product 

   initial purchase offer 

   cash on delivery 

   extraordinary general meeting 

19. pls 

   as soon as possible 

   please reply 

   please 

   value added tax 

   paid 

20. no. 

   thanks 

   for the attention of 

   estimated time of arrival 

   number 

   with reference to 

21. lb 

   public limited company 

   gross national product 

   pound (weight) 

   incorporated 

   limited company 

22. C.E.O. 

   copies to 

   Chief Executive Officer 

   annual general meeting 

   any other business 

   approximately 

23. I.O.U. 

   public limited company 

   I owe you 

   pound (weight) 

   incorporated 

   limited company 

24. Jr. 

   public limited company 

   I owe you 

   pound (weight) 

   junior 

   limited company 

25. mo. 

   public limited company 

   I owe you 

   pound (weight) 

   junior 

   month 


26. mth 

   public limited company 

   I owe you 

   pound (weight) 

   junior 

   month 

27. Inc. 

   gross domestic product 

   gross national product 

   hire purchase 

   incorporated 

   extraordinary general meeting 

28. H.P. 

   gross domestic product 

   gross national product 

   hire purchase 

   cash on delivery 

   extraordinary general meeting 

29. VAT 

   public relations 

   please turn over 

   per week 

   value added tax 

  paid 

30. N/A 

   not applicable 

   I owe you 

   pound (weight) 

   junior 

   month 


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