Pronouncing Abbreviations

Abbreviations are commonly used in most work settings because they represent a shortened or abbreviated form of a word or phrase. If you use them, here are a few suggestions to maximize understanding:

1. Just like acronyms, make sure that your listener is familiar with the abbreviation that you are using. (this is especially crucial when you are making a formal presentation or writing a memo).  It may be common to you but not to other people.
2. If initials are used, the letters are said individually and the stress is placed on the last letter of the abbreviation.  For example,  “to be announced” is pronounced as TBA.
3. Formal abbreviations have periods after them but informal ones do not (M.D. for doctor vs. PM for project manager).
4. Usually, the abbreviation is formed by using the first letters of each word in the phrase.  Some abbreviations seems to ignore this completely.  For example, lb stands for pound and Dr. stands for doctor.

Would you like more practice with this skill? Join our online Stressing Out membership class and learn about this in more detail so that you become an expert at correctly stressing words!