Minimise abbreviations

Summary: Only use abbreviations that your users already know.

An abbreviation is any shortened form of a word or phrase. For example: ‘NSW’ for New South Wales, or ‘CD’ for compact disc.

Acronyms are a type of abbreviation where words are made from first letters in each word in a title or name. For example, ‘DEET’ (Department of Employment, Education and Training), ‘AIDS’ (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

Initialisms are like acronyms, but the word they form is read as a series of letters. For example, ‘ABC’ (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), ‘ATM’ (automated teller machine).

Avoid acronyms and initialisms

Avoid using acronyms and initialisms, especially when they’re unique to your organisation or content.

Providing a definition doesn’t really help. It assume users read every word on the page and will see the definition and remember it.

Your users may never have to use your acronyms again. So, the motivation for learning them is low.

Replace abbreviations with a word or pronoun

Instead of defining abbreviations, replace them with a word from the full name or title. For example:

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992 — use ‘the Act’ instead of ‘DDA’.
• Industry Advisory Panel — use ‘the panel’ instead of ‘IAP’.

You could also use the pronoun ‘we’ or ‘our’ instead of abbreviations for your organisations’ name. For example:

• Australian Institute of Marine Science — use ‘we’ or ‘our’ instead of ‘MAV’)
• Department of Transport — use ‘we’ or ‘our’ instead of ‘DoT’ (or ‘the department’).