Commonly used shorthand for dictionaries Page 1 of 4

Abbreviations

z Common Latin Abbreviations

(Current usage/news)

Abbreviation Latin English usage

------------ ----- -------------
ca. circa approximately
cf. confer compare
e.g. exempli gratia for example
et al. et alii and the others
etc. et cetera and so on
ibid. ibidem in the same place as the
previous reference
i.e. id est that is
N.B. Nota Bene note well
P.S. post scriptum an addition to the main text
viz. videlicet namely

Usage notes
-----------

ca. This works best with dates and in parenthesis.

The house was built during the Depression (ca. 1932).

cf. This can be replaced with "see" or "compare".

e.g. Style manuals disagree on the use of periods. Where possible, the
words "for example" (spelled out and in English) can be used to improve
clarity.

They purchased luxury goods (for example, champaign).

etc. Where possible, the words "and so on" to improve clarity.

i.e. Style manuals disagree on the use of periods. Where possible,

the words "that is" are preferred.

John left the city of his birth (that is, New York).

N.B. This is capitalised.

Commentary and usage suggestions on Latin abbreviations found on the

web...

{ Latin Abbreviations (University of Michigan, US)

Commonly used shorthand for dictionaries Page 2 of 4

All of these antiquated Latin abbreviations at one time had an important

purpose. They functioned as a secondary, parenthetical language which
sifted through, evaluated, qualified references for the reader. Eighteenth-
century scholars used all of these designations as a way of talking to each
other in code, telling each other what to expect from their sources. It was
a natural mode of discourse for them--they all studied Latin, of course.

{ Abbreviations of Latin Expressions (English Plus+, US)

In standard writing, use the English equivalent or write out the whole
word.

{ Some common Latin expressions (University of Edinburgh, UK)

Nowadays many publishers discourage the use of these Latin expressions

and their abbreviations in footnotes and endnotes (presumably because
so few people know what they mean!), but some publishers (Oxford
University Press, for example) seem to insist on them. Anyway, these are
the most commonly used in references, footnotes etc., should you come
across them, or feel the urge to start using them yourselves.

{ Abbreviations (Capital Community College, US)

Do not italicize or underline these abbreviations. Most sources

recommend avoiding the use of Latin abbreviations except within
parenthetical notes and some sources say not to use Latin abbreviations
at all (use the English terms instead) except within citations or reference
lists.

{ Abbreviations (University of Sussex, UK)

The rule about using these Latin abbreviations is very simple: don't use
them. Their use is only appropriate in special circumstances in which
brevity is at a premium, such as in footnotes. It is very poor style to
spatter your page with these things, and it could be disastrous to use
them without being quite sure what they mean. If you do use one, make
sure you punctuate it correctly.