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List of Latin abbreviations


Nearly all the abbreviations below have been adopted by Modern English. However, with some exceptions (for example, versus or modus operandi), most of the Latin referent words and phrases are still foreign and unknown to English. In a few cases, English referents have replaced the original Latin ones (e.g., "rest in peace" for R.I.P. and "post script" for P.S.). on July 2016 government of the United Kingdom announced that its websites no longer use Latin abbreviations.

Latin was once the universal academic language in Europe. From the 18th century authors started using their mother tongues to write books, papers or proceedings. Even when Latin fell out of use, many Latin abbreviations continued to be used due to their precise simplicity and Latin's status as a learnèd language.

All abbreviations are given with full stops, although these are omitted or included as a personal preference in most situations.

It is also widely used as an abbreviation for "see", although some styles recommend against such use.

"Etc." should not be used for people.

Example: I need to go to the store and buy some pie, milk, cheese, etc.

Because cetera implies inanimate objects, et al. is preferred when speaking of people.

Example: The great author Joseph Someone (fl. 2050–75) was renowned for his erudition.


Example: The noble gases, viz. helium, neon, argon, xenon, krypton and radon, show a non-expected behaviour when exposed to this new element.


Example: The next football game will be the Knights vs. the Sea Eagles. In English law the v has no full stop (period) and is never vs and is never pronounced versus but rather as and Example: R(egina) v Gadd (a criminal case) which is pronounced as The Crown and Gadd. Similarly the film Kramer vs. Kramer is in England (at least to a lawyer): Kramer and Kramer although it would be written Kramer v Kramer. In Scots Law, the v is pronounced against. For example, Donoghue v Stevenson is pronounced Donoghue against Stevenson.

Words and abbreviations that have been in general use, but are currently used less often:


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