Abbreviations are usually written without full stops in British English. In American English, full stops are common.

Compare:

• Mr (GB), Mr. (US) = Mister
• Ltd (GB), Ltd. (US) = Limited
• Dr (GB), Dr. (US) = Doctor

Sometimes we make abbreviations from the first letters of several words. This usually happens with the names of organizations.

• UNESCO = United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• LASER = Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation
• the UNO = the United Nations Organization

Some initial letter abbreviations are pronounced letter by letter (e.g. the UNO). Others are pronounced like words (e.g. SCUBA). Note that abbreviations that are pronounced like words are called acronyms.

Plurals

An apostrophe is sometimes added before the s in the plurals of the abbreviations.

• MP’s or MPs
• CD’s or CDs

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