Learn English – How to properly write multiple abbreviations

abbreviationsacronyms

I have been taught that if you want to use an acronym or abbreviation you should write it in full the first time like this:

World Health Organisation (WHO)

But what happens if there are two or more different abbreviations which you are going to use in your text. My programming brain wants me to write the following but I am pretty sure it isn't proper English!

World Health Organisation (WHO | WHOrg)

I know my particular example is nonsense, it was just for illustrative purposes.

The actual reason I need to have multiple abbreviations is for defining mathematical symbols as well as acronyms. So an example would be:

Collision cross section (CCS, Ω)

Best Answer

If you are simply mentioning alternative identifiers, list them as you would any other itemized list of any other kind of alternative name: parenthesized or not, and separated with commas, semicolons, or conjunctions according to the style guide in use. English has no universally accepted symbol representing or while the ampersand (&) is often frowned upon outside of names.

The inline-four engine (I4, F4) is common in Japanese motorcycles.

Titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4, also known as FM) is a smokescreen agent.

Kansas City International Airport (KCI; IATA: MCI, ICAO: KMCI) was formerly a TWA hub.

California may be referred to in the sources as Cal., Calif., Ca., or CA.

There is really no good reason to invent multiple abbreviations for your own writing; choose one and stick with it.

Related Topic