Netiquette Basic Abbreviations Most Commonly Used - Definitions

Generally, Netiquette discourages using abbreviations when not necessary or helpful. These most typically are words are not accepted by the most popular dictionaries or those that can lose meaning for those with whom English is a second language. Examples are "thx" for thanks or "rgds" for regards. The following list is outside of this category because they have almost always been written as abbreviations and are even used by other languages with exactly the same meaning.

The list below includes the most common of these abbreviations. Although they are abbreviations, they are also often misspelled. Be careful with the periods!

There are many similar aspects which I discuss on my book, "Netiquette IQ - A Comprehensive Guide to Improve, Enhance and Add Power to Your Email"

1.	c or ©	Copyright (©2013)
2.	c. ca	“About,” “around,” circa; used with dates (He was born c. 2000.)
3.	cf.	Compare or consult—used to provide contrasting or opposing information
4.	ed.	Editor, edited, edition
5.	e.g.	“For example,” the abbreviation for exempli gratia
6.	et al.	“And others,” the abbreviation for et alia; also, elsewhere, the abbreviation for et alibi
7.	etc.	“And so on” or “and so forth,” the abbreviation for et cetera
8.	ibid.	Abbreviation for ibidem, used in citations to refer again to the last source previously referenced
9.	i.e.	“That is,” the abbreviation for id est; used to give specific clarification via a restatement; “in other words”
10.	loc. cit	“In the place cited”; used the same way as ibid.
11.	ms. mss	Manuscript, manuscripts
12.	NB	“Note well,” the abbreviation for nota bene
13.	nd	“No date;” used when the publication or copyright date of a source is not known
14.	op. cit	In the works cited; used the same as ibid. and loc. cit
15.	q.v.	“Which see,” “whom see”; indicates that the reference is within the same source; encyclopedias may use this to refer to other entries within that same encyclopedia.
16.	viz.	“namely”
17.	vs.	Versus In addition to this blog, I have authored the premiere book on Netiquette, " Netiquette IQ - A Comprehensive Guide to Improve, Enhance and Add Power to Your Email". You can view my profile, reviews of the book and content excerpts at:  www.amazon.com/author/paulbabicki  If you would like to listen to experts in all aspects of Netiquette and communication, try my radio show on BlogtalkRadio  and an online newsletter via paper.li.I have established Netiquette discussion groups with Linkedin and  Yahoo.  I am also a member of the International Business Etiquette and Protocol Group and Minding Manners among others. I regularly consult for the Gerson Lehrman Group, a worldwide network of subject matter experts and I have been contributing to the blogs Everything Email and emailmonday . My work has appeared in numerous publications and I have presented to groups such as The Breakfast Club of NJ Rider University and  PSG of Mercer County, NJ. =======================================================