Distance Learning Support Kit: Welcome

	Scientific writing - Scientific abbreviations

The use of abbreviations is common throughout science. In many instances their use makes writing easier to read and understand. If you are writing about a particular chemical or enzyme which has a long name, it is often easier to refer to it by its shorter name. For example, you may be writing a research report about guanosine triphosphate and rather than typing out the name in full each time it may be simpler to use its recognised shortened name, GTP. Similarly you may be writing about a laboratory technique, capillary zone electrophoresis, and find it better to use CZE.

However, excessive use of abbreviations can make your writing obscure and difficult to read.

Poor example

DNA was extracted from blood and analysed for the presence of factor V-L and factor II gene G20210A. In addition we measured anti-Thr, proteins C and S, and Ig-G. The patient had received DHAP 5 days previously, was on PICC and suffered a massive SVC immediately. Hyper-CVAD given IV but not SV or IM appeared to improve BP, HR, GFR and CAI.

Even if all the abbreviations in this paragraph had been used in full and/or explained earlier this paragraph would be difficult to read and understand. Since the reason to write is to communicate something, you must ensure your use of abbreviations enhances readability rather than reduces it.

ALWAYS

Introduce the abbreviation on the first occasion you use the term in each piece of written work. This is true even for well known abbreviations such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
Only introduce an abbreviation if you are going to use the term several times throughout the written piece. If you are only using the term once or perhaps twice it may not be worth introducing an abbreviation.
Consider whether too many abbreviations are going to confuse rather than help the reader and introduce abbreviations only to help the readers.
If you are including an abstract then either don't use abbreviations in it or introduce them there but you'll need to introduce them again in the main text.
In a larger piece of written work if the use of a particular term occurs in two parts separated by many other parts (eg. in different and not consecutive chapters) then you may need to remind the reader of the meaning of the term when you start to use it the second time.
In a larger piece of written work consider using a glossary of terms if appropriate to help the reader.

Useful links in this kit

Jargon