Abbreviations: helpful list, to shine a light on the subject.

(Some of the abbreviations, marked *, are also used in everyday speech.)

a/c: account (�Re. the American a/c, ��)

AGM*: annual general meeting (�TBD at next AGM in March,� pron. �ay-gee-em�)
AOB: any other business (usually at the end of a meeting agenda)
approx.: approximately (�Delivery takes approx. 4 days.�)
asap*: as soon as possible (�Pls do this asap,� pron. �ay-ess-ay-pee�)
asst: assortment (�Please send asst of products.�)
atm: at the moment (�Can�t decide atm � will let you know.�)
attn: for the attention of (written at the top of letters/faxes etc.: �Attn: Mr
Jones�)

b/c: because (�Have to cancel meeting b/c Mr Jones unwell.�)

btw: by the way (�Btw, how was your holiday?�)

cc*: copy to (�I�ll put him on cc,� pron. �see-see�)

cd: could (�Cd you please get in touch with our sales dept?�)
CEO*: chief executive officer (�She�s our CEO,� pron. �see-ee-oh�)
cf: compare with (�Cf January orders.�)
CIO*: chief information officer (�Mr Jones is our CIO,� pron. �see-eye-oh�)
c/o: care of (usually written over an address. �Please send it c/o Mr Jones.�)
cob: close of business (�It should be ready today cob.�)
cod: cash on delivery (�Please pay cod.�)
crm: customer relationship management (�The company has excellent crm.�)
cv*: curriculum vitae (�Please send your cv with your application,� pron. �see-
vee�)

dept: department (�He�s in the sales dept.�)

devt: development (�January saw good devt.�)
diff: difference (�Please specify diff. between products A and B.�)

e.g.*: for example (�Different depts., e.g. marketing, sales,� pron. �ee-gee�)
EGM: extraordinary general meeting (�TBD at an EGM,� pron. �ee-gee-em�)
encl.: enclosed (�Pls find attachment encl.�)
eob: end of business (�Please finish by eob.�)
eod: end of day (�To do by eod.�)
esp.: especially (�This is esp. interesting.�)
ETA: estimated time of arrival (�ETA two o�clock.�)
et al: and everyone else (�Mr Jones, Mr Brown et al.�)
etc. (et cetera): and the rest (�Marketing, sales etc.�)

FAQ: frequently asked questions (�Here are some FAQs.�)

fig: figures (�Here are sales figs for 2010.�)
FOB: freight on board (�This will be sent FOB.�)
fwd: forwarded (�Pls fwd to Mr Jones.�)
FYA: for your attention (at top of document)

HQ*: headquarters (�See you at HQ,� pron. �aitch-queue�)

hr: hour (�It will take approx. 2 hrs.�)

i.e.*: that is (�We will do it by eob, i.e. 5:30 pm,� pron. �eye-ee�)
incl.: including (�Pls send it incl. new propsal asap.�)
info.: information (�Thanks in advance for the info.�)
IOU*: I owe you (�We will send an IOU,� pron. �I owe you�)

K*: a thousand (�It will cost around 3K,� pron. �three-kay�)

m: million (�It will cost $6m.�)

max*.: maximum (�It will cost $3K max.�)
MD*: managing director (�He�s our MD,� pron. �em-dee�)
min*.: minimum (�It will cost 3K min.�)

n/a: not applicable (�This is n/a in this context.�)

NB: please note (at foot of document, �NB: Holidays this year are cancelled.�)
no.: number (�Pls advise no. of deliveries.�)

p.a.: per year (�How much p.a.?�)

pd: paid (�This invoice was pd in December.�)
pfi*: pay for inclusion (paying to have web pages included in a search engine�s
database and updated; pron. �pee-eff-eye�)
pls: please (�Pls advise.�)
ppc*: pay per click (way of charging for publication of advertisements on the
Internet; pron. �pee-pee-see�)
ppi*: pay per impression (where advertiser pays for each display of their
advertisement � usually a banner; pron. �pee-pee-eye�)
pps*: pay per sale (where a commission is paid for each sale, usually a % of the
sale; pron. �pee-pee-ess�)
pto: please turn over (at foot of page)
p.w.: per week (�How many p.w.?�)

qtr: quarter (�How many per qtr?�)

qty: quantity (�Pls advise re. qty.�)

r&d: research and development (�Need to do some R&D.�)

re.: with reference to (�Pls advise re. qty.�)
roi: return on investment (�What will the ROI be?�)
RSVP: please reply (in invitation)

sae: stamped addressed envelope (�Pls send sae.�)

SE: seach engine (searchable database of pages on the web)
SEO: search engine optimisation (�An SEO� is the person who carries out the
optimisation)

TBA: to be announced (�This news TBA at next week�s AGM.�)

TBD: to be determined (�Exact date still TBD.�)
thx: thanks (�Thx for your mail.�)
TCO: total cost of ownership (�Pls estimate TCO.�)

USP: unique selling point/proposition (�Sounds great! What�s the USP?�)

vs.: against (abbreviated form of �versus�, �This is us vs. them.�)

VAT*: value added tax (�Pls advise price incl. VAT,� pron. �vee-ay-tea�)
VIP*: very important person (�They are VIPs,� pron. �vee-eye-peas�)

w/: with (�He will be w/ Mr Jones.�)

wd: would (�Wd you mind writing to Mr Jones?�)
w/o: without (�Will you be there w/o Mr Jones?�)

ytd: year to date (�Pls give sales figs for ytd asap.�)

24/7*: non-stop � 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (�We�re available 24/7,� pron.
�twenty-four seven�)