Use of Abbreviations

To maximize clarity, APA prefers that authors use abbreviations sparingly. Although abbreviations are sometimes useful for long, technical terms in scientific writing, communication is usually garbled rather than clarified if, for example, an abbreviation is unfamiliar to the reader.

APA style does permit the use of abbreviations that appear as word entries (i.e., that are not labeled abbr) in Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Such abbreviations do not need explanation in text.

Examples:

• IQ
• REM
• ESP
• AIDS
• HIV
• NADP
• ACTH

(adapted from the fifth edition of APA's Publication Manual, © 2001)

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