FWIW, it's important to consider when it's OK to use abbrevs (that's right — the internet era has even abbreviated the word "abbreviation") IRL. Let's expand. For what it's worth, it's important to consider when it's OK to use abbreviations in real life. (Fun fact: “OK” isn’t an abbreviation. It’s the correct spelling of the word with some interesting presidential roots.)
It almost seems counterintuitive: Digital typing is easier than writing out longhand with pen and paper, so we should be reducing our reliance on abbreviations, no? Instead, as our communications become more digitized, more informal patterns of speech and writing have crept in. But in the same way you should exercise caution in your use of emoji outside of personal settings, so should you when considering abbreviations in more formal and professional conversations. In other words, when are abbreviations SFW (safe for work)?
The Formal Rules
Outside of general etiquette, there are stylistic and grammatical considerations for your abbreviation usage, so let's start there. For specific punctuation rules, such as when to use a period or when to capitalize certain letters, look at a basic punctuation guide or the AP Style Guide or MLA Style Manual. Unless you work for a publication that dictates style, it's not crucial what you choose. However, the most important thing is consistency. If you use periods with the abbreviation the first time, make sure to use them each time.
Always introduce the abbreviation in parentheses the first time it appears in writing: "University of Maryland (UMD)." Following mentions of the university can be just "UMD."
Always abbreviate personal and professional titles and honors, though the specifics can change depending on the title in question (i.e., Dr., Mrs., B.A.) and where you are, so consult a style guide if in doubt.
Don't get too obscure — only abbreviate terms that are well known to a general audience ("ASAP," for example).
Pay close attention to initialisms, or abbreviations that are pronounced using the individual letters ("DNA" and "CPU," for example). These are usually all capital letters and don't use periods.
Dates, time zones, and addresses all vary, depending on context, style requirements, and local rules, so if you're filling out an important form, or doing something where a misinterpreted abbreviation could cause problems, ask for the correct format (or skip the abbreviation).
Latin abbreviations require periods (e.g., "e.g.," which stands for exempli gratia, Latin for "for example." When using "e.g." and "i.e" (id est or "that is"), there's always a comma after the abbreviation.
The Informal Rules
There are far fewer informal etiquette rules for abbreviations, but they are important nonetheless, especially in professional communications. Always consider the familiarity of the relationship in question before replacing "you" with "u" — save it for close colleagues in chat. Only use abbreviations you would be comfortable saying out loud, meaning you may want to skip "WTF" or any other abbreviated cursing on a work email.
The rule that remains steadfast in questions of both style and etiquette is to use only widely known abbreviations that the receiver would understand the meaning of.
FYI (for your information), you should be ready for your best abbreviated communications. TTFN (ta ta for now)!
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