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List of Abbreviations | Example, Template & Best Practices

Published on 23 May 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on 25 October 2022.

A list of abbreviations is an alphabetical list of abbreviations that you can add to your thesis or dissertation. If you choose to include it, it should appear at the beginning of your document, just after your table of contents .

Abbreviation lists improve readability, minimising confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader. This can be a worthwhile addition to your thesis or dissertation if you find that you’ve used a lot of abbreviations in your paper.

If you only use a few abbreviations, you don’t necessarily need to include a list. However, it’s never a bad idea to add one if your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they will not be known to your audience.

You can download our template below in the format of your choice to help you get started.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Example list of abbreviations

Best practices for abbreviations and acronyms, additional lists to include, frequently asked questions.

abbreviations example scribbr

There are a few rules to keep in mind about using abbreviations in academic writing. Here are a few tips.

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As well as the list of abbreviations, you can also use a list of tables and figures and a glossary for your thesis or dissertation.

Include your lists in the following order:

As a rule of thumb, write the explanation in full the first time you use an acronym or abbreviation. You can then proceed with the shortened version. However, if the abbreviation is very common (like UK or PC), then you can just use the abbreviated version straight away.

Be sure to add each abbreviation in your list of abbreviations !

If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation, you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .

If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimising confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

A list of abbreviations is a list of all the abbreviations you used in your thesis or dissertation. It should appear at the beginning of your document, immediately after your table of contents . It should always be in alphabetical order.

An abbreviation is a shortened version of an existing word, such as Dr for Doctor. In contrast, an acronym uses the first letter of each word to create a wholly new word, such as UNESCO (an acronym for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Your dissertation sometimes contains a list of abbreviations .

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List of Abbreviations for Dissertation

Published by Owen Ingram at August 11th, 2021 , Revised On January 11, 2023

What are abbreviations?

Oxford English Dictionary defines an abbreviation as ‘a short form of a word’. For example, UN is the short form – an abbreviation – for United Nations. Abbreviations are commonly used in every form of writing, including academic writing. Abbreviations in dissertations generally have to do with names of organisations, institutions, theoretical models and the like. 

If your dissertation includes many abbreviations, it will make sense to define all these abbreviations in an alphabetically-organised list. 

This can really help your readers understand the jargon and specific terms they might not be familiar with. Here is all you need to know about the  list of abbreviations for the dissertation .

Placement of a List of Abbreviations 

Abbreviations’ list should be placed at the start of the dissertation and right after the  table of contents . The list of abbreviations should also be a part of the table of contents. If you aren’t using many abbreviations, there isn’t a need to include a whole list. Underneath, we will guide you on how to define abbreviations within the text.

Abbreviations don’t need to be numbered in the list.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

There are various ways of placing acronyms and abbreviations in a dissertation. While using acronyms formed by combining the first letter of each word from a phrase, you should write that phrase in its full form and then write the abbreviation in parenthesis right after that. You can then make use of that acronym for the  rest of the dissertation .

Acronyms example in a dissertation

 I met the regional sales manager (RSM) of 5 different multi-national companies (MNC). I conducted in-depth interviews with the RSM, through which I came to know that every MNC  has a different strategy for its product marketing.

Some exceptions don’t apply to this rule, such as when acronyms like AI, URL, FIFA, etc. are involved You can still write the full acronym if unsure.

Point to remember: In research, it is not considered right to create your own abbreviations and/or acronyms. You can only abbreviate terms that have officially been abbreviated in books, journals and other published materials. For instance, you cannot abbreviate ‘women leaders in private sectors’ to ‘WLiPS’. Unless such an abbreviation actually exists, this would be unethical in the context of research.

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APA Style of Abbreviations

If you are working with APA referencing style, there are additional and specific requirements for creating a list of abbreviations for the dissertation.

Other Types of Lists in a Dissertation

In addition to the list of abbreviations, there are other lists that you can include in your dissertation paper, including:

Point to note: You might come across some types of research or theses where the abbreviations’ column is placed in front of an ‘explanation’ column. The latter is simply another way of ‘defining’ the acronyms/abbreviations or rather, giving their full forms. Here is an example of such a list of abbreviations from a thesis:

List-of-abbreviations-and-acronyms-used-in-this-article

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Thesis and Dissertation Guide

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Dedication, acknowledgements, preface (optional), table of contents.

List of Abbreviations

List of symbols.

I. Order and Components

Please see the sample thesis or dissertation pages throughout and at the end of this document for illustrations. The following order is required for components of your thesis or dissertation:

Many of the components following the title and copyright pages have required headings and formatting guidelines, which are described in the following sections.

Please consult the Sample Pages to compare your document to the requirements. A Checklist is provided to assist you in ensuring your thesis or dissertation meets all formatting guidelines.

The title page of a thesis or dissertation must include the following information:

Notes on this statement:

Include a copyright page with the following information single-spaced and centered 2″ above the bottom of the page:

© Year Author's Full Name (as it appears on the title page) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This page immediately follows the title page. It should be numbered with the lower case Roman numeral ii centered with a 1/2″ margin from the bottom edge.

Inclusion of this page offers you, as the author, additional protection against copyright infringement as it eliminates any question of authorship and copyright ownership. You do not need to file for copyright in order to include this statement in your thesis or dissertation. However, filing for copyright can offer other protections.

See Section IV for more information on copyrighting your thesis or dissertation.

Include an abstract page following these guidelines:

Please write and proofread your abstract carefully. When possible, avoid including symbols or foreign words in your abstract, as they cannot be indexed or searched. Avoid mathematical formulas, diagrams, and other illustrative materials in the abstract. Offer a brief description of your thesis or dissertation and a concise summary of its conclusions. Be sure to describe the subject and focus of your work with clear details and avoid including lengthy explanations or opinions.

Your title and abstract will be used by search engines to help potential audiences locate your work, so clarity will help to draw the attention of your targeted readers.

You have an option to include a dedication, acknowledgements, or preface. If you choose to include any or all of these elements, give each its own page(s).

A dedication is a message from the author prefixed to a work in tribute to a person, group, or cause. Most dedications are short statements of tribute beginning with “To…” such as “To my family”.

Acknowledgements are the author's statement of gratitude to and recognition of the people and institutions that helped the author's research and writing.

A preface is a statement of the author's reasons for undertaking the work and other personal comments that are not directly germane to the materials presented in other sections of the thesis or dissertation. These reasons tend to be of a personal nature.

Any of the pages must be prepared following these guidelines:

Include a table of contents following these guidelines:

Lists of Tables, Figures, and Illustrations

If applicable, include a list of tables, list of figures, and/or list of illustrations following these guidelines:

If you use abbreviations extensively in your thesis or dissertation, you must include a list of abbreviations and their corresponding definitions following these guidelines:

If you use symbols in your thesis or dissertation, you may combine them with your abbreviations, titling the section “LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS”, or you may set up a separate list of symbols and their definitions by following the formatting instructions above for abbreviations. The heading you choose must be in all capital letters and centered 1″ below the top of the page.

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List of Abbreviations for a Thesis or Dissertation

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List of Abbreviations Thesis

What are Abbreviations and Acronyms?

An abbreviation is a shortened version of a term or phrase, e.g. kg for kilogram or Dr. for doctor.

An acronym is a type of abbreviation constructed from the first letters of a term, e.g. FRP for Fibre Reinforced Polymer or STEM for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

List of Abbreviations in a Thesis or Dissertation

If your thesis or dissertation contains several symbols or abbreviations, it would be beneficial to include a list of abbreviations to assist your reader. This is a list sorted in alphabetical order that gives their definitions.

This will not only help the reader better understand your research, but it will also improve the flow of your paper, as it prevents continually having to define abbreviations in your main text.

Where Does a List of Abbreviations Go?

When including a list of abbreviations, insert them near the start of the report after your table of contents. To make it clear that your document contains an abbreviated list, also add a separate heading to your table of contents.

Note: The page number for your list of abbreviations should continue from the page number that proceeds it; there is no need to reset it for this section.

Rules for Using Abbreviations and Acronyms

The first time you use an abbreviation or acronym, it is good practice to write out the full terminology or phrase followed by the abbreviation or acronym encased in parenthesis.

After defining an abbreviation or acronym for the first time in your main text, you no longer need to use the full term; for example:

Example of Acronyms in a Thesis or Dissertation

This allows the reader to understand your report without having to rely on the list of abbreviations; it is only there to help the reader if they forget what an abbreviation stands for and needs to look it up.

Note: In academic writing, abbreviations that are not listed should always be defined in your thesis text at their first appearance.

Abbreviated Exceptions

Very common abbreviations should not be included in your list because they needlessly overload your list with terms that your readers already know, which discourages them from using it.

Some examples of common abbreviations and acronyms that should not be included in your standard abbreviation list are USA, PhD , Dr. and Ltd. etc.

Example of List of Abbreviations for a Thesis or Dissertation

An example abbreviation list is as follows:

Abbreviations Listing - Example

The above example has been extracted from here .

List of Symbols

You can add symbols and their definitions to your list of abbreviations, however, some people like to keep them separate, especially if they have many of them. While this format will come down to personal preference, most STEM students create a separate list of symbols and most non-STEM students incorporate them into their list of abbreviations.

Note: If you are writing your report to APA style, you will need to consider additional requirements when writing your list of abbreviations. You can find further information here .

Further Reading

Whether you’re writing a Ph.D. thesis or a dissertation paper, the following resources will also be of use:

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dissertation abbreviation list

Dr Hothi gained his PhD in Orthopaedic Engineering from Queen Mary University of London in 2012. He is now the Implant Science Fellow at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, researching how to improve knee, hip and spine implants.

dissertation abbreviation list

Kat is in the second year of her PhD at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Perth, Western Australia (WA). Her research involves studying supermassive black holes at the centres of distant galaxies.

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How to Write a List of Abbreviations in a Dissertation | Definition, Examples

dissertation abbreviation list

A list of abbreviations is often found in the front matter of a book or thesis. It provides information about the acronyms and initialism used throughout the text.

The purpose of a list of abbreviations is to save space and make the text more readable. By providing the full forms of these terms in one place, readers can easily find the meaning of an unfamiliar acronym.

In addition, a list of abbreviations can be useful for cross-referencing purposes. For example, if a reader encounters a term that is not defined in the text, they can consult the list of abbreviations to see if it is defined there.

Chapters of a Dissertation

Finally, a list of abbreviations can serve as a resource for future researchers who may be interested in your topic. By including all relevant acronyms and initialisms, you can make it easier for others to find and understand your work.

Where is the list of abbreviations found in a dissertation?

There are generally two places where you will find the list of abbreviations used in a dissertation. The list of abbreviations is can be found at the beginning of a dissertation, after the table of contents. This can be helpful for readers who may not be familiar with all of the abbreviations used throughout the text.

The second place where you will find a list of abbreviations is at the end of the dissertation, in the appendices. This list is often more comprehensive and can be helpful if you need to look up an abbreviation that you don’t immediately recognize. In either case, having a list of abbreviations can be a valuable resource for anyone reading your dissertation.

Rules in using abbreviations

There are a few key rules to keep in mind when using abbreviations in your dissertation.

Abbreviations in APA in dissertation

The most important rule for abbreviations in APA Style is to use them sparingly. In general, you should only use abbreviations if they will help your readers understand your paper more easily. For example, using “etc.” is often unnecessary because the reader can usually infer that you have omitted something. When in doubt, it is best to spell out the full term. There are a few other rules to keep in mind when using abbreviations in your paper:

Abbreviation Exceptions

Many abbreviations are exceptions to the rule that all abbreviations must be written out in full when they are first used in a dissertation. These exceptions include common abbreviations, such as, etc., i.e., e.g., and so on.

Another common exception is “Dr.,” which is always abbreviated with a period after the letters, regardless of whether it is used as a title before a name or as an abbreviation for “doctor.”

Ordinarily, academic degrees are not abbreviated when used after a name (e.g., “Joe Smith, Ph.D.”), but they are when used as part of a title before a name (“Dr. Joe Smith”). Other common exceptions include “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” “Ms.,” and ” Messrs.” (plural of “Mr.”).

These abbreviations are always followed by a period. There are also abbreviations for certain honorifics, such as “Hon.” (Honorable) and “Lt.” (Lieutenant). These abbreviations are typically only used before names; however, there are some instances where they may be used after names as well (“the Hon. Joe Smith”).

Sample of the list of abbreviations when writing a dissertation

The following is a list of commonly used abbreviations when writing a dissertation:

A.D. – Anno Domini ( Latin for “in the year of our Lord”)

B.C. – Before Christ

ca. – circa (approximately)

e.g. – exempli gratia (Latin for “for example”)

et al. – et alii (Latin for “and others”)

i.e. – id est (Latin for “that is”)

etc. – et cetera (Latin for “and so forth”)

N.B. – nota bene (Latin for “note well”)

O.T. – Old Testament

P.S. – post scriptum (Latin for “after writing”)

Q.E.D. – quod erat demonstrandum (Latin for “which was to be demonstrated”)

T.B.C. – to be continued…

When writing a dissertation, it is important to use abbreviations sparingly. Only use abbreviations if they will help your readers understand your paper more easily. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as common abbreviations and academic degrees. Be sure to proofread your thesis or dissertation carefully to ensure that all abbreviations are used correctly.

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List of Abbreviations in Dissertation

List of Abbreviations in Dissertation

Students pursuing university courses need to prepare a fully functional dissertation for acquiring the degree. However students prepare the dissertation, students usually feel confused about including abbreviations, its list, and the right usage. Abbreviations can be typically included in the table of content as enlisted at the beginning of an assignment.

Understanding an abbreviation:

An abbreviation refers to a short form of a word and a phrase that is made by deleting a few letters. If your dissertation comprises a long list of abbreviations, it tends to make reasonable sense to define the necessary abbreviations in the list and in an alphabetical format. Abbreviations hence are a short form of long sentences and if many abbreviations have been utilized, in such a case, you are recommended to prepare a list of abbreviations in an alphabetical form.

This enables readers to be familiar with plenty of unknown terms that they were not aware of before. This can help readers to thoroughly understand several jargons and a few terms of which you might not well be aware. Let us explore the long list of abbreviations for dissertations. But before diving into the list, let us analyze its placement and each detail pertaining to it.

When do you need to place the abbreviations?

The list needs to be placed right at the start of the dissertation and a post mentioning the table of contents. This list should be a part of the table of contents. If you have not been using way too many abbreviations, there is no need to offer the entire list. While enlisting the abbreviations, you can seek the support of a paraphrasing tool to rewrite a particular context. Let us explore a few examples of abbreviations in the dissertation:

How to make use of abbreviations?

While preparing the list of abbreviations for a dissertation paper, it is recommended that the author complies with a few rules and regulations.

While utilizing an acronym, you need to write just the first phase while putting abbreviations in parentheses. After having done the procedure, you can make use of the acronym in the entire content. If you utilize a few abbreviations, there is no need to include a list, instead, adhere to the following guidance tips to define the abbreviations within a text.

Making use of acronyms and abbreviations:

There are multiple rules for using abbreviations in a particular dissertation. While using acronyms which have been typically formed with the help of the first letter of work in a phrase, you need to write down the first occurrence of the phrase in the full form. Along with this, you also need to place the abbreviation right in the parentheses immediately after placing it. The acronym can then be used throughout the entire context. A referencing generator can be used to organize and keep a sustainable track of all sources that have been referenced in the academic paper.

However, there are exceptions to this rule as well, and the exceptions are extremely common acronyms that aim to replace the phrase in regular use. However, if you feel confused, it is always a safe option to write the entire phrase in its full context.

List of Abbreviations in Dissertation:

A list of abbreviations used in an academic dissertation:

In addition to the above-mentioned list of abbreviations, there are myriad abbreviations used in a dissertation paper. While you are using the APA style, there are several additional requirements for using abbreviations in an academic paper or in a dissertation. Hence, depending upon the style of citation you have chosen for your dissertation, your usage will vary accordingly.

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List of Abbreviations in the Dissertation

Abbreviations in the Dissertation

An abbreviation is the short form of a word or phrase used while writing. Such as Doctor is written as Dr. While, acronym is the abbreviation formed using the first letter of every word, also known as initialism. The newly combined letters make a new word for everyday language. Like RAM for Random Access Memory.

Rules to use Acronym in Dissertation

During the start of your thesis, you must write the full phrase or terminology of acronym with its abbreviation in parentheses, to make your reader understand it when he reads it the first time, and then start using the acronym or abbreviation throughout your dissertation. Then there will be no longer need to write the full spelling or terminology after it.

Examples of Acronym

The existing literature suggests that the symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) includes fear of dirt, need things to be in order, or unwanted and repetitive thoughts. Many people do not have knowledge to deal with OCD but treatment can be effective in it.

If you are using common terms of everyday life then there is no need to write acronyms with those. Furthermore, avoid adding common abbreviations or acronyms in the list to avoid an abundance of words in it.

List of Abbreviation in Dissertation

If you have written a lot of abbreviations in your dissertation, then it is essential to make a list of all the abbreviations in alphabetical order with their explanation and definitions. This will help to organize your research thesis and help the reader to easily look up for abbreviations and to understand it. List of abbreviations help forming the course of your thesis without explaining your abbreviations over and over again.

Where do you put the Abbreviations List?

Include the list of abbreviations at the start of your thesis, usually after the list of contents. The title should also be included in the list of contents. Give a separate heading to your abbreviation list, with the same proceeding page number like the rest of your thesis numbering.

Example of List of Abbreviations

You can either add all of the additional material in one appendix but it is favorable to break down the appendix into different sub sections giving them identification letters so that they are easily documented and found, if and when needed. It can also allow you to categorize your supplemental information. Keep a few points in your mind while forming an appendix in your dissertation.

Abbreviations in APA Style

According to APA, abbreviations are essential to use if it does not get in the way of comprehending the text, so it helps you to create a clear image and understanding of your research in the reader’s mind and allows clear communication. One should not overuse or underuse the abbreviations and it should be used at least three times in your research thesis, otherwise the reader can forget about it.

There are few rules to consider while writing the abbreviations in APA style , though there are always few exceptions to them.

When to Use Abbreviations?

While writing a dissertation , abbreviations should only be used if it helps the reader to grasp your work. Keep a few things in mind while using or creating your own abbreviations.

Familiarity with the abbreviation

If you are using a new term as an abbreviation or you think that your reader does not have any background knowledge of your topic then you can use it.

Using more than three times

According to APA, abbreviations are only needed to be written if you are going to use them in text more than three times, if less then you should spell the word every time. Less usage of an abbreviation does not resonate with the reader’s mind causing him to lose his interest.

Avoid repetition

Recurring and frequent use of words can be uninteresting for your reader, so if you think that it can impact your supervisor then use the abbreviations.

Not too many, not too less

There is no hard line regarding how many abbreviations to use in one dissertation. Writing and spelling out most of the words gives a flow to your writing and it can better communicate with your reader. Use the abbreviation when and if necessary.

Technical terminology

If you have selected a topic which has a lot of technical terms, then it is advisable to use and provide a list of abbreviations to your reader.

List of Symbols

You can also add the list of symbols with the list of abbreviations. But if you have a long list of symbols then it is advised to write them with a separate heading on a separate page.

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List of Abbreviations in Dissertation

Students Pursuing a Ph.D. from the college of the UK have to prepare a professional dissertation for getting the degree. While preparing the dissertation, students often get confused about where to include the list of abbreviations. They have a question of whether the list of Abbreviations can be included in the table of content or not. Our expert team of StudentsAssignmentHelp.co.uk by writing this article has provided answers to student queries. You can see the answers below.

dissertation abbreviation list

Abbreviations definition

Abbreviations are basically a short form of long sentences. If you have utilized many abbreviations then in such case use should prepare a list of such phrases with is definitions. You should arrange the list of abbreviations in alphabetical order. It is the tactic that will help you in increasing the readability of the research paper.  When the abbreviation list is arranged in Alphabetical order it helps readers in getting themselves familiar with Unknown terms.

Where do abbreviations go into a dissertation?

You need to include a list of Abbreviations at the starting of the dissertation but after the table of the content page. List of abbreviations you could include in the table of contents.  .When you are only utilizing only a few abbreviations then you need not prepare a List of Abbreviations.

List of Abbreviation:  Example

Some key abbreviations and their definitions

How to use Abbreviations?

At the time of preparing the list of Abbreviations for the dissertation, you need to utilize a few rules. When utilizing Acronym you should use the initial letter of each word in a phrase, you need to write the first phase completely and put abbreviations in Parentheses. After completing all the procedure you can you utilize acronym in the content of your entire dissertation.

Acronym in the dissertation Example: At the time of the investigation, the Data management system (DMS) is observed in Telsa Ltd. DMS system has been utilized in Telsa Ltd for many years for managing and controlling the flow of information. The main objective of implementing the DMS system in Telsa is to prevent business data from unauthorized usage.

Abbreviations- APA style

While writing the abbreviations of APA style, you need to fulfill additional requirements.

Other types of lists in Dissertation?

Like a list of Abbreviations, there are other types of lists that you should include in the dissertation are:

dissertation abbreviation list

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Using Abbreviations and Acronyms in Academic Writing

Published on August 1, 2015 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on September 29, 2022.

An abbreviation is a short form of a word or phrase that is usually made by deleting certain letters. In the following sentence, everything underlined is an abbreviation:

Dr. Jones, who’s currently undertaking research on DNA , can’t attend the WHO conference being held in the US in Oct. 2016.

Not all of the abbreviations used in this example have the same look and feel. This is because while Dr. and Oct. are general abbreviations, who’s and can’t are contractions and DNA , WHO , and US are acronyms. In academic writing, contractions should be avoided, but acronyms are commonly used.

Table of contents

Contractions, latin abbreviations, punctuating abbreviations, abbreviations in legal texts, abbreviations in apa.

Contractions are mostly used to simplify common pronoun / verb combinations. Deleted letters are replaced by an apostrophe.

However, contractions are generally considered too informal for academic writing. In this context, always write out the full words instead.

Acronyms are usually formed using the first letter (or letters) of each word in a phrase. When they are read, some are pronounced as if they are words (such as OPEC ); others are read as letters (such as the UK ).

Pluralize acronyms by adding “s” without an apostrophe.

Introducing acronyms

Introduce every acronym before using it in the text. The first time you use the term, put the acronym in parentheses after the full term. Thereafter, you can stick to using the acronym.

Note that when introducing an acronym, the full term should only be capitalized if it is a proper noun (e.g. the name of an organization).

Do not introduce an acronym unless you will use it a minimum of three or four times. If it only appears once or twice, write out the full term. If you use a lot of acronyms in the document, you can also introduce them in a list of abbreviations .

There are some extremely common acronyms that do not need to be introduced. However, the list is small. Some examples of acronyms that don’t need to be spelled out include:

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dissertation abbreviation list

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There are some Latin abbreviations that are common in academic writing.

Make sure not to confuse “e.g.” and “i.e.”. In general, it’s best to avoid using these abbreviations in the main text, especially in US English. Instead, put them inside parentheses followed by a comma, or write out full words.

Periods should always be used with Latin abbreviations, but not with contractions or acronyms. For general abbreviations, there are differences in punctuation between US and UK English.

Abbreviations (including acronyms) are heavily used in legal writing. The conventions must be strictly followed, but they vary between countries and universities. If you are writing on a legal topic, you should adhere to the relevant style.

If you are following the APA style guidelines , there are some specific guidelines for certain types of abbreviation.

Measurements

Only abbreviate statistical terms (such as SD and M ) and units of measurement (such as kg and min ) if you are also using a number.

Punctuation

Use periods if you are abbreviating a Latin term (such as g. , a.m. , and etc. ) or referring to something related to your references (such as ed. or p. ).

Use periods when US serves as an adjective , but not when it refers to the country.

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Main navigation, section-specific, list of abbreviations.

Example: List of Abbreviations

The List of Abbreviations is an alphabetical list of the abbreviations used in your thesis/dissertation that aims to improve clarity and minimize confusion for the reader. If your thesis/dissertation contains numerous abbreviations, or if you think your audience may not be familiar with the abbreviations used, a List of Abbreviations is recommended.

Setting Up Tabs

General Formatting

Section Heading Formatting

Consistent Formatting

All Abbreviations must match verbatim (word-for-word) to those used in the body of manuscript.

Definitions should not be closer than 0.5" from the right margin so they do not overcrowd the page numbers.

The "Abbreviation" should be against the left margin while the "Definition” should be indented to 1.5". All lines of the definition must be indented the same. See the above example for help.

Page numbers are not required for the abbreviations. 

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Table of Contents

What are Abbreviations and Acronyms?

The abbreviation is simply a reduced form of a term. In a thesis, abbreviations are handy as the researcher needs to embrace loads of writing in a small space. Researchers can also utilise them in places where there are awkward or long phrases for your document to be much easier to read. For example Corp. for Corporation, or Govt. for Government.

abbreviation

Figure 1 : List of Abbreviations

        While, when talking about acronyms, it consists of the initial letters of a phrase which generally form another term. These new combinations of words form another term which then becomes a part of our daily life. E.g. RADAR for Radio Detection and Ranging, or SMART for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely.

aids

Figure 2 List of Acronyms

List of Abbreviations in a Thesis or Dissertation

If a dissertation comprises several abbreviations, then there is a definite need to provide all the abbreviations in an alphabetical list along with their meanings or definitions. This is a good step to enable and be aware of the unfamiliar abbreviations that you might read in the dissertation. Hence, it improves your readability and insights about the document.

Making a list of abbreviations does not only make you have a better insight into the document, but it also improves the course of your designation, as it frequently and repeatedly avoids explaining the abbreviations in your main writing or text.

Where Does a List of Abbreviations Go?

Whenever you are placing the list of abbreviations in your dissertation, introduce them close to the start of your dissertation just after the table of contents. Just to be sure and clear that your dissertation comprises an abbreviated list, you can also add another heading to your designations’ table of content.

Note that the page numbers of your abbreviated list need to be continuous from the number of pages that ensues it, and it is needless to recommence it for this segment.

Where do you put the List of Abbreviations?

In any case, if you have used only a few abbreviations, then there is no need to add a separate list to your designation. You can just follow the directions given below to have a better idea of how to explain the abbreviations in between a text.

abbreviation-explanation

Figure 3 List of Abbreviations in Between Text

Another example is given below;

figure-abbreviation-explanation

Figure 4 List of Abbreviations in Between Text

Rules for Using Acronyms and Abbreviations

When using acronyms and abbreviations certain rules need to be kept in mind. When you are using acronyms or abbreviations first time in your designation, it is considered a good and healthy practice to write a full phrase or terminology along with the acronym or abbreviation (within parentheses). After that, there is no longer a need to use the full terminology again, you can then use the acronym or abbreviation in the whole dissertation. E.g.:

‘It would create a countless range of opportunities for the local developers of Information Communication Technology (ICT) if they utilise the ICT in the agriculture sector.’

However, there are some exceptions to this rule which are very common acronyms that substitute the terms that you use in your daily life, such as NASA, IT, UK, etc. But, it is better to use the full form of phrase to clear out any doubt.

Example of Abbreviated List for a Dissertation or Thesis

The following table deliberates the importance of numerous acronyms and abbreviations utilised throughout the dissertation. The page number is also given in which the acronym or abbreviation is firstly used or defined.

abbreviation-meaning

Figure 5 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms in a Dissertation

Abbreviations in APA

Whenever you are using American Psychological Association (APA), some common practices are necessary to follow. Whenever you are abbreviating a phrase, you should write the full terminology when you use it the first time, and it should be followed instantly by the abbreviation within the parentheses (as discussed above).

Following are some dos and don’ts that can further guide you in using the abbreviations in your dissertation;

abbreviation-dos-donts

Table 1: Do’s and Don’ts in APA Abbreviations

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Journal Abbreviations

Journal Abbreviations are common among journals in the sciences. Since words and abbreviations used in journal titles are from a variety of languages, journal abbreviations can sometimes be difficult to work with. The following resources provide help in identifying the full journal title for a given abbreviation, and for determining the correct journal abbreviation for a given journal title.

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Importance of Abbreviations and Acronyms in Dissertation

You see a dissertation that has a perfect first chapter and a flawless last chapter, and everything in between is spot on as well. Can you call this dissertation perfect? Well, a big “YES” may seem like the right answer here, but guess what? You cannot call a dissertation perfect only based on the information given above. Here’s why?

A dissertation is composed of many portions, and you have to get every one of them right. As opposed to what most think, a dissertation does not start with chapter 1 and it surely doesn’t end on the last chapter.

Here, Portions do not mean chapters. Apart from the chapters, a dissertation has other little portions like, abstract, acknowledgements, list of figures, appendices, and list of abbreviations.

Your dissertation can not be perfect if you don’t get these portions right – and this blog will discuss one such portion in detail – the list of abbreviations.

In this blog, you will find all the information you need to nail the “list of abbreviations” section.

What are Abbreviations and Acronyms?

Let’s first start with understanding what abbreviations are, the purpose behind their usage and the rules for using abbreviations in your dissertation.

You probably already know what abbreviations are – they are short forms of words. For example, the word, “doctor” can be written as, “Dr.” which is an abbreviation.

Whether you plan to hire a premium thesis service or go for a  cheap thesis writing service  you should let them know if you want  to add a list of abbreviations in your thesis,

Acronyms, on the other hand, are abbreviations that are constructed using the first letters of all the words in a term. For example, USA is an acronym of United States of America.

Be Careful!

The first letters of words like “and”, “of” and “for” don’t make it to the abbreviation.

Why do you include them in your dissertation?

Generally, acronyms and abbreviations are used to avoid the use of long words. They serve the same purpose in your dissertation as well. They help maintain the flow of your paper by allowing you to use the shortened form of a term instead of using the full word or phrase.

Rules for Using Abbreviations and Acronyms

Rule#1 – When using a particular abbreviation in your dissertation for the first time, always use the full form followed by the abbreviation in parenthesis. Rule#2 – Only follow Rule#1 on the first appearance of a particular abbreviation – when using the same abbreviation again, just use the shortened form.

If you choose to omit any abbreviation from the list, always define it on the first appearance.

Example of Acronyms in a Thesis or Dissertation

“The literature suggest that reinforced concrete (RC) has a wider range of application than Fibre Reinforced Polymers (FRP). As a result, RC is used more frequently in the construction industry than FRP. “

This example is the perfect demonstration of both the rules. The text in green shows the first appearance of the abbreviations (rule#1) and the text blue shows how abbreviations are used later in the thesis (rule#2).

List of Abbreviations in a Thesis or a Dissertation

You are now familiar with abbreviations and acronyms and you know how to use them in your dissertation, now is the time to compile the actual list of abbreviation.

When and why is there a need for a list?

A typical dissertation contains several abbreviations. If your dissertation contains abbreviations that your readers (which in case of a dissertation, are supervisors and evaluators) might not be familiar with, having a list of abbreviations section can assist them in understanding those abbreviations and they can refer to it as a guide.

This is not a mandatory section and if your dissertation contains only a few abbreviations, there is no need for a list.

Where Does a List of Abbreviations Go?

When including a list of abbreviations, insert them near the start of the report after your table of contents. To make it clear that your document contains an abbreviated list, also add a separate heading to your table of contents.

Note: The page number for your list of abbreviations should continue from the page number that proceeds it; there is no need to reset it for this section

Where do you put the list of abbreviations?

The list of abbreviations should appear at the beginning of the document, just after the table of contents. The list should also be included in your table of contents.

If you only use a few abbreviations, you don’t need to include a list—follow the guidance below on how to define abbreviations within the text

How is it written?

The abbreviations in the list must be arranged in alphabetical order.

What purpose does it serve?

This section of your dissertation serves two main purposes:

Do not include common abbreviations – because they will fill out the list with terms that your readers are already familiar with.

Here is a few examples of acronyms and abbreviations that you should not include in your list; USA, PhD,Dr. and Ltd. etc.

You can’t just put the list of abbreviations anywhere you want. Like everything there is a proper place for the list of abbreviations – which is in the beginning of your dissertation, before the first chapter and after the table of contents. And also make sure to include the heading of list of abbreviations in the table of contents.

Do not reset the page number for your list of abbreviations – continue from the page number that precedes the list.

Example list of abbreviations

Here is an example of how a list of abbreviations look like in a dissertation. This list mentions the abbreviation, the full form of it and the page number on which the term is first defined.

dissertation abbreviation list

Abbreviations in APA

APA is among the most popular formats out there and hence a blog on list of abbreviations would be incomplete without discussing the APA guidelines on using abbreviations. So, when using abbreviations in APA formatted dissertation, make sure to follow these guidelines:

The full form of abbreviations and Acronyms must be spelled out completely on the first appearance in the document.

Abbreviation must only be used if they fulfil the following conditions: follows a convention, is apt to be familiar, will prevent unnecessary repetition, and will save space.

An acronym or an abbreviation must not be used at the beginning of a sentence.

Things to do and things to avoid

The take away:.

For a perfect dissertation, you don’t just have to make sure that all the chapters included in it are flawlessly written, you also have to pay attention to the other, smaller sections of your dissertation.

List of abbreviations is one of those portions that are not included in any of the chapters in a dissertation.

List of abbreviations assist your reader by defining the abbreviations used in your thesis.

It comes after the table of contents and before the first chapter.

When using abbreviations in APA format, there are certain guidelines that you must abide by.

Now, you know everything about the list of abbreviations and you’re all set to nail this portion.

Congrats! You are one step closer to a perfect dissertation!

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How to generate list of abbreviations in LaTeX?

I used the acronym package ( usepackage{acronym} ) to create acronyms in my thesis. In the beginning of the document, I define the acronym as, for example, \acrodef{USA}{United States of America} . And then later to use this abbreviation I call it as \ac{USA} . How do we generate a list of Abbreviations (acronyms) as a list of figures and list of tables in LaTeX?

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2 Answers 2

From the acronym package documentation:

Acronyms can either defined from an environment specifically introduced for that purpose or by direct definitions.The acronym environment allows one to define all the acronyms needed by a document at a single place and is self-documenting, since a table of acronyms is automatically produced.
If one does not want an acronym list to be produced at all, acronyms can bedefined directly thanks to the two commands \newacro{〈acronym〉}[〈short name〉]{〈full> name〉} \acrodef{〈acronym〉}[〈short name〉]{〈full name〉}

Therefore, use the acronym environment and the \acro command instead of \acrodef if you want to have a list of acronyms .

Compiling twice, you will get the following result:

enter image description here

For automated sorting and a lot more (formating) options, I'd recommend the glossaries or the glossaries-extra package.

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I suggest the powerful acro package.

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Introduction

When writing a document that contains some field-specific concepts it might be convenient to add a glossary. A glossary is a list of terms in a particular domain of knowledge with definitions for those terms. This article explains how to create one.

Important advisory note : Your project’s main file should always be in the root directory (outside of any folders), to ensure that all of the compilation steps will be run in the correct directory and to ensure that the required auxiliary files are available, for instance, when creating a glossary or adding an index.

Let's start with a simple example.

 Open this example in Overleaf

The following image shows the Glossary produced by the example above:

Glossary1OLV2.png

To create a glossary the package glossaries has to be imported. This is accomplished by the line

in the preamble. The command \makeglossaries must be written before the first glossary entry.

Each glossary entry is created by the command \newglossaryentry which takes two parameters, then each entry can be referenced later in the document by the command \gls . See the subsection about terms for a more complete description.

The command \printglossaries is the one that will actually render the list of words and definitions typed in each entry, with the title "Glossary". In this case it's shown at the end of the document, but \printglossaries can be used in any other location.

Terms and Acronyms

Usually there are two types of entries in a glossary: terms and their definitions, or acronyms and their meaning. This two types can be printed separately in your L a T e X document.

The following image shows part of the output produced by the example above:

Glossary2OLV2.png

The following subsections explain how to create each of the list types.

As seen in the introduction , terms are defined by means of the command \newglossaryentry

The following image shows the Glossary created by the example above:

Glossary3OLV2.png

Let's see in more detail the syntax of each parameter passed to the command \newglossaryentry . The first term defined in the example is "mathematics".

After you have defined the terms, to use them while you are typing your L a T e X file use one of the commands describe below:

Finally, to print the glossary use the command

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters in a phrase. Below is an example of acronyms in L a T e X

Glossary4OLV2.png

To use acronyms an additional parameter must be used when importing the glossaries package. The line to be added to the preamble is

Once this line is added, the command \newacronym will declare a new acronym. For the sake of an example, below is a description of the command \newacronym{gcd}{GCD}{Greatest Common Divisor}

After the acronyms have been included in the preamble, they can be used by means on the next commands:

To print the list of acronyms use the command

The acronyms list needs a temporary file generated by \printglossary to work, thereby you must add said command right before the line \printglossary[type=\acronymtype] and compile your document, once you've compiled your document for the first time you can remove the line \printglossary .

Changing the title of the Glossary

If you want to change the default title of the glossary for something else, this is straightforward, two parameters must be added when printing the glossary. Below is an example.

Glossary5OLV2.png

Notice that the command \printglossary has two comma-separated parameters:

Show the glossary in the table of contents

For the glossary to show up in the table of contents put

in the preamble of your document

The following image shows the content of the 2 pages produced by the example above. Note how the command

produces different titles for the table of contents ("List of terms") and the corresponding heading used in the text ("Special Terms"):

Glossary6OLV2.png

Compiling the glossary

To compile a document that contains a glossary in Overleaf you don't have to do anything special, but if you add new terms to the glossary once you compiled it, make sure to click on Clear cached files first under logs option).

If you are compiling the document, for instance one called glossaries.tex , using pdflatex on your local machine , you have to use these commands:

pdflatex glossaries.tex

makeglossaries glossaries

Reference guide

Styles available for glossaries

The command \glossarystyle{style} must be inserted before \printglossaries . Below a list of available styles:

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IMAGES

  1. List of Abbreviations

    dissertation abbreviation list

  2. Dissertation structure list of abbreviation

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  3. Dissertation structure list of abbreviation

    dissertation abbreviation list

  4. Dissertation structure list of abbreviation

    dissertation abbreviation list

  5. Dissertation structure list of abbreviation

    dissertation abbreviation list

  6. Dissertation structure list of abbreviation

    dissertation abbreviation list

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  5. Alternative Thesis Stuctures

  6. COMMON ACRONYMS IN CHAT

COMMENTS

  1. List of Abbreviations

    A list of abbreviations is an alphabetical list of abbreviations that you can add to your thesis or dissertation. If you choose to include it, it should appear at the beginning of your document, just after your table of contents. Abbreviation lists improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

  2. List of Abbreviations

    A list of abbreviations is an alphabetical list of abbreviations that you can add to your thesis or dissertation. If you choose to include it, it should appear at the beginning of your document, just after your table of contents. Abbreviation lists improve readability, minimising confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

  3. List of Abbreviations for Dissertation

    Abbreviations' list should be placed at the start of the dissertation and right after the table of contents. The list of abbreviations should also be a part of the table of contents. If you aren't using many abbreviations, there isn't a need to include a whole list. Underneath, we will guide you on how to define abbreviations within the text.

  4. Order and Components

    List of Abbreviations. If you use abbreviations extensively in your thesis or dissertation, you must include a list of abbreviations and their corresponding definitions following these guidelines: Include the heading "LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS" in all capital letters, and center it 1″ below the top of the page. ...

  5. List of Abbreviations

    Some examples of common abbreviations and acronyms that should not be included in your standard abbreviation list are USA, PhD, Dr. and Ltd. etc. Example of List of Abbreviations for a Thesis or Dissertation An example abbreviation list is as follows: The above example has been extracted from here. List of Symbols

  6. How to Write a List of Abbreviations in a Dissertation

    The following is a list of commonly used abbreviations when writing a dissertation: A.D. - Anno Domini ( Latin for "in the year of our Lord") B.C. - Before Christ ca. - circa (approximately) e.g. - exempli gratia (Latin for "for example") et al. - et alii (Latin for "and others") i.e. - id est (Latin for "that is")

  7. List of Abbreviations in Dissertation

    The list needs to be placed right at the start of the dissertation and a post mentioning the table of contents. This list should be a part of the table of contents. If you have not been using way too many abbreviations, there is no need to offer the entire list. While enlisting the abbreviations, you can seek the support of a paraphrasing tool ...

  8. List of Abbreviations in the Dissertation

    List of Abbreviations in the Dissertation An abbreviation is the short form of a word or phrase used while writing. Such as Doctor is written as Dr. While, acronym is the abbreviation formed using the first letter of every word, also known as initialism. The newly combined letters make a new word for everyday language.

  9. List of Abbreviations in the Dissertation

    Like a list of Abbreviations, there are other types of lists that you should include in the dissertation are: Table of contents List of tables and figures List of Abbreviations Glossary Get 15% off your first order with Students Assignment Help UK Connect with a professional writer within minutes by placing your first order.

  10. Dissertation Abbreviation

    Dissertation Abbreviation - 3 Forms to Abbreviate Dissertation Abbreviated Abbreviations Common Dissertation Abbreviation How to abbreviate Dissertation? 3 short forms of Dissertation. Abbreviation for Dissertation: Suggest to this list Dissertation in abbreviations Related acronyms and abbreviations Share Dissertation Abbreviation page

  11. Using Abbreviations and Acronyms in Academic Writing

    1. Porter, 63-64. 2. Ibid. Make sure not to confuse "e.g." and "i.e.". In general, it's best to avoid using these abbreviations in the main text, especially in US English. Instead, put them inside parentheses followed by a comma, or write out full words. Many species of primates, e.g. orangutans, are endangered.

  12. List of Abbreviations

    If your thesis/dissertation contains numerous abbreviations, or if you think your audience may not be familiar with the abbreviations used, a List of Abbreviations is recommended. Setting Up Tabs Create the "List of Abbreviations" heading (2" from the top of the page, styled as a 1st level heading). Set page spacing to single-spaced.

  13. List of Abbreviation

    Heading of "LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS" should all be in capital letters and you should center it 1" underneath the top of the page. You should include a double-spaced line between the first entry and the heading. You should alphabetically arrange the abbreviations.

  14. Home

    Journal Abbreviation Sources is a registry of Web resources that list or provide access to the full title of journal abbreviations or other types of abbreviated publication titles (e.g., conference proceedings titles). Covers a variety of subject areas in the sciences and humanities. ISSN List of Title Word Abbreviations.

  15. List of Abbreviations

    A typical dissertation contains several abbreviations. If your dissertation contains abbreviations that your readers (which in case of a dissertation, are supervisors and evaluators) might not be familiar with, having a list of abbreviations section can assist them in understanding those abbreviations and they can refer to it as a guide.

  16. How to generate list of abbreviations in LaTeX?

    4. I used the acronym package ( usepackage {acronym}) to create acronyms in my thesis. In the beginning of the document, I define the acronym as, for example, \acrodef {USA} {United States of America}. And then later to use this abbreviation I call it as \ac {USA}. How do we generate a list of Abbreviations (acronyms) as a list of figures and ...

  17. Glossaries

    Open this example in Overleaf. The following image shows the Glossary produced by the example above: To create a glossary the package glossaries has to be imported. This is accomplished by the line. \usepackage{ glossaries } in the preamble. The command \makeglossaries must be written before the first glossary entry.