Not only do we use our own department abbreviations (such as NFP), but there is additional shorthand from other departments, including accounting, human resources, legal and IT.
Communicators use abbreviations—especially the three-letter variety—to save time. It’s much faster to say (or write) CPC than “cost per click.” Unfortunately, not everyone knows what CPC means, and if an abbreviation is not defined immediately, its meaning can get lost.
[Free guide: 10 ways to improve your writing today. Download now.]
Be careful not to rely too heavily on abbreviations, either—they can be writing pitfalls, along with other jargon. The AP Stylebook offers the following advice:
Abbreviations & acronyms: Often a shorthand term is clearer than a complex abbreviation.#APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) February 10, 2015
However, you’ll still probably encounter many abbreviations, whether you use them in your copy or not. ( Editor’s note: An acronym is a particular type of abbreviation, created when initials form a word or pronounceable name: scuba, ZIP code, NASA, FEMA.)
Below is a list of common business abbreviations and their definitions. Please note that this list is not comprehensive, but it’s a good place to start.
1. ABC: always be closing
2. AIDA: attention, interest, desire, action
3. API: application program interface
4. B2B: business to business
5. B2C: business to consumer
6. BCP: business continuity plan
7. CAN-SPAM: controlling the assault of non-solicited pornography and marketing
8. CPC: cost per click
9. CTA: call to action
10. CTR: click-through rate
11. CR: conversion rate
12. CRM: customer relationship management
13. CSS: cascading style sheet
14. DB: defined benefit
15. DNS: domain name system
16. EAP: employee assistance program
17. FAB : features, advantages, benefits
18. FTE: full-time equivalent
19. GAAP: generally accepted accounting principles
20. GL: general ledger
21. KPI: key performance indicator
22. LLC: limited liability company
23. LLP: limited liability partnership
24. LP: limited partnership
25. MEGO: my eyes glazed over
26. NDA: non-disclosure agreement
27. NFP: not for publication
28. NPS: net promoter score
29. NRN: no reply necessary
30. OE: open enrollment
31. OOO : out of office
32. PHI: protected health information
33. PIP: performance improvement plan
34. PLC: public limited company
35. TLA: three-letter acronym (or three-letter abbreviation)
36. ROS: run of site
37. RSS: rich site summary or really simple syndication
38. SAAS : software as a service
39. SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound
40. SPD: summary plan description
41. SQL: structured query language
42. SSL: secure sockets layer
43. SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats
44. TED: tell me, explain to me, describe to me
45. UPS: uninterruptible power supply
46. VPN: virtual private network
47. ZBB: zero-based budgeting
Laura Hale Brockway is a regular contributor to PR Daily . Read more of her posts on writing, editing and corporate life at impertinentremarks.com.
(Image via)
from PR Daily News Feed http://ift.tt/2pWQjnB
No comments:
Post a Comment