Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
(OP)
I found a very old thread here on the same topic, but would like to know if anything changed in the last few years.
The company I work for is developing their Drafting Standards and most likely is going to end up forcing everybody to use abbreviations with periods (T.O.S., O.C., W.P., etc.).
I didn't use periods in abbreviations for the past 10 years or so, and the drawings look so outdated (IMHO) with periods everywhere.
ASME Y14.38-2007 Abbreviations and Acronyms for Use on Drawings and Related Documents simply has this:
"Punctuation
An abbreviation spelling a whole word should include a period if the abbreviation could be misinterpreted."
Then they just list 100 or so pages of all sorts of abbreviations without periods or spaces.
The company I work for is developing their Drafting Standards and most likely is going to end up forcing everybody to use abbreviations with periods (T.O.S., O.C., W.P., etc.).
I didn't use periods in abbreviations for the past 10 years or so, and the drawings look so outdated (IMHO) with periods everywhere.
ASME Y14.38-2007 Abbreviations and Acronyms for Use on Drawings and Related Documents simply has this:
"Punctuation
An abbreviation spelling a whole word should include a period if the abbreviation could be misinterpreted."
Then they just list 100 or so pages of all sorts of abbreviations without periods or spaces.






RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
Or, look at ASME Y14.4M, which is littered with abbreviations with no periods in sight, and this is the 1989 edition.
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RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
"If thou sayeth the sky is green, my Lord, then the sky is green" E. Taylor, "Taming of the Shrew".
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
I wonder if there is a clear stating anywhere in ASME Standards on what is the recommended way to go.
I found it in the Military Standards MIL-STD-12D (1981) and they sure suggest NOT to use punctuations.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
It seems like grabbing some reference could lead to problems if other professionals, customers, suppliers and contractors cannot relate to an older reference.
Can you imagine the confusion and costs involved when ASTM (or is to A.S.T.M.?.) had to renumber all 100,000 or so standards, methods and requirements. It becomes very costly for a firm or professional to convert their reference to perform effectively.
Right now, just changing a couple of words in a ASTM (A.S.T.M.) standard takes about two years if the proposer is familiar with the requirements and procedures.
I think ASME (A.S.M.E. ?) is probably an acronym and not a abbreviation (a.b.r.).
A cute subject to bring up.
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/abbreviations/abb...
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/05/th...
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
The point is that these abbreviations are 'without' period. For example, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), powder-actuated fastened (PAF), cement kiln dust (CKD) etc. Similarly, the abbreviations used for organization names are invariably all WITHOUT period. (e.g., AASHTO, AISC, AISI, API etc., besides those mentioned above.)
In case of standards and codes however the abbreviations used may be given either at the start of each chapter, or at the beginning of the document itself. These definitions may include both the internationally recognized abbreviations, and the ones specific to that standard or code only.
A good structural engineer is often a blessing for others.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
So, saving space, time, gaining clarity....... should make reasonable people to see which way to go, right?
That is if you happen to work with REASONABLE people...
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
It's a minor thing but the periods even bother me aesthetically. I hate that my business cards say B.Eng., M.Eng. Ph.D., P.Eng., M.B.A., D.D.S, L.L.B. BEng, MEng, PhD, PEng, MBA, DDS, LLB seems so much cleaner and compact. But then, what do I know? My professional association actually regulates this.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
How do you punctuate fun fun fun worry worry worry?
Fun period, fun period, fun no period, worry worry worry period.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
But going back to my problem...there is NO fun at workplace anymore.....I'll have endless flow of periods........and I worry!
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
I am glad we all having FUN with that!............. :)
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
An editor friend once explained the importance of commas to me by asking me to compare the two sentences:
"Let's eat, Grandma."
and
"Let's eat Grandma."
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
That's how I was taught, although I don't believe they anticipated how many commas would be in a smoker's sentence compared to a non-smoker.
RE: Abbreviations-periods or no periods?
Oh... but I am trying sooooo hard to restrain myself...
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)