Use Of Text Speak And Abbreviations When Posting

[p-no]

Using a list somewhere would mean having to go back and forth from the post you're trying to understand to the list that will fill you in on the meanings of the abbreviations.

If I remember correctly, I came across VA once and asked and was told (if I remember correctly) it's Veteran's Affairs. It got stuck that way but once it didn't fit (context). I'm not a native speaker and it is difficult for me to read a post, and sometimes I will just stop, because I would have to look up several abbreviations.

So, sticking to writing it out would help me tremendously. I'll also from now write therapist instead of 't'.

Thank you to the moderators for taking care of this from now in posts!

 

[anthony]

The point is to cease all this nonsense SMS speak that is becoming used by specific people who utilise lots of SMS talk. It may have a place in that setting, it doesn't on a forum. This is not a SMS conversation, or something that need fit into 140 characters, such as Twitter.

Commonsense prevails. Technically, when abbreviating anything you should always write it the first time, with the abbreviation, then use the abbreviation in the remainder of the post. That is how you would read it in any book, article, journal, etc.

 

[Nicolette]

Shall post if I think of any more Nicolette.

Like both Anthony and I have outlined Abstract, the aim is to minimize abbreviations to stop confusion and prevent SMS talk. Therefore, unless the few in the first post then you follow normal writing etiquette which is:

you do as in what was taught in writing a letter - you write it out in full and the abbreviation is brackets. Then you use the abbreviation for the rest of the POST. Eg if I wanted to use T - I would write Therapist (T) and then use 'T' in that post as I continued.

when abbreviating anything you should always write it the first time, with the abbreviation, then use the abbreviation in the remainder of the post. That is how you would read it in any book, article, journal, etc.

A list is no use if on page 35, post 189 of a thread and have to go searching for this thread and the particular post - it defeats the entire purpose of us keeping this a written forum.

 

[Lucycat]

BP (bipolar)

I have a problem with this one as it also means Blood Pressure. So, depending on the context can be very confusing.

 

[Nicolette]

We are not using Abstract's list as acceptable abbreviations without the full word being written in the post as per the above using the proper writing technique.

 

[Tanishq]

I got your point Nicolette. We need to use minimal list, otherwise list could go on...

 

[Nicolette]

Exactly Jaret :)

 

[Abstract]

Just to be clear I don't have an opinion or feel strongly about any of it. I was merely attempting to be helpful. I just wanted to state that to clear up any misunderstandings.

 

[Nicolette]

It's all fine Abstract. :) I know you were being helpful.

Some members are easily confused so I have just acted to prevent confusion. If I left the list some may interpret that as it being okay . Your list is helpful to some - hence why I didn't remove the content.

 

[Girl3]

Using abbreviations without first alerting the reader as to what the abbreviation means has long been a problem in the medicatl field. I can remember reading notes by consultants who write something like "the PVR was abnormal." Well if it was a Urologist, then it was the Post Void Residual" but if it was a Vascular surgeon then that meant the "Pulse Volume Recording" was abnormal, while for a Cardiologist it would be "Pulmonary Vascular Resistance".

And since you may not personally know what kind of doctor wrote the consulting note, it makes a world of difference in caring for a patient.

As for me - I do not Twitter - so when someone texts me with a bunch of letters, there are times when I do not get what they mean. Guess I'm old.

 

[faraway]

So pleased about this. I bloody hate text speak and won't even use it in texts!

 

[Lady Vet]

Acceptable abbreviations are LOL, IMHO, MHO etc. Other such abbreviations are not to be used on the forum as they are not necessary as there are no character limitations which would call for cutting down written text.

Nicolette: I appreciate this clarification myself, as it took me a while to figure out what people meant when they typed "my T," and there have been amny other abbreviations that I never figured out.

My only suggestion to this thread (if it has not already been done) would be the inclusion of this information into the official Rules thread that we're all supposed to read when we first enter into the Forum so that everyone is aware of this part of the proper form and function of posted content.

Thanks for keeping us all flying straight. :)