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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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