ABBREVIATIONS
It happens sometimes that while reading something in English there are words that don’t mean anything alone but are short for something. We call those words “abbreviations”. Here are some business English abbreviations for you to know about.
@ at
a/c account
AGM annual general meeting
a.m. ante meridiem (before noon)
a/o account of (on behalf of)
AOB any other business
ASAP as soon as possible
ATM automated teller machine (cash dispenser)
attn. for the attention of
approx. approximately
cc copy to
CEO chief executive officer
c/o care of (on letters: at the address of)
Co company
cm Centimeter
COD cash on delivery
dept. department
e.g. exempli gratia (for example)
EGM extraordinary general meeting
ETA estimated time of arrival
etc. et caetera (and so on)
GDP gross domestic product
GNP gross national product
GMT Greenwich mean time (time in London)
i.e. id Est (meaning: 'that is')
Inc. Incorporated
IOU I owe you
IPO initial public offer
Jr junior
K thousand
lb. pound (weight)
£ pound (money/currency)
Ltd limited
mo. month
N/A not applicable
NB Nota Bene (it is important to note)
no number
PA personal assistant
p.a. per annum (per year)
Plc public limited company
pls please
p.m. post meridiem (afternoon)
p.p. per pro (used before signing in a person's absence)
PR public relations
p.s. post scriptum
PTO please turn over
p.w. per week
qty quantity
R & D research and development
re with reference to
ROI return on investment
s.a.e. stamped addressed envelope
VAT value added tax
VIP very important person
As you can see each one of them has a special meaning that is essential for a learner to know about.
So, next time that you cope with the one you know what it means.
