COMMON LATIN ABBREVIATIONS   Latin Word Meaning Example c. or ca. circa approximately They own a Victorian home (c. 1895). e.g. exempli gratia for example We need supplies for the meeting, e.g. legal pads, pens and markers. et al. et alia and others The law firm of Thomas, Benson, Jones et al. will conduct the meeting. (A comma should not be placed before the abbreviation et al.) etc. et cetera and so forth The table was decorated with roses, carnations, etc. i.e. id est that is John excelled in advanced math, i.e. geometry and trigonometry.

PROFESSIONAL TITLES   Addressee Form of Address Salutation C.P.A. certified public accountant Kathryn S. Jones, C.P.A. Dear Ms. Jones: D.D.S. or D.M.D. dentist Kathryn S. Jones, D.D.S. (or D.M.D.) (office address) or Dr. Kathryn S. Jones (home address) Dear Dr. Jones: D.V.M. veterinarian Kathryn S. Jones, D.V.M. (office address) or Dr. Kathryn S. Jones (home address) Dear Dr. Jones: Esq. attorney Ms. Kathryn S. Jones Attorney-at-Law or Kathryn S. Jones, Esq. Dear Ms. Jones: M.D. physician Kathryn S. Jones, M.D. (office address) or Dr. Kathryn S. Jones (home address) Dear Dr. Jones: Ph.D. doctor of philosophy (doctoral degree) Kathryn S. Jones, Ph.D. (office address) or Dr. Kathryn S. Jones (home address) Dear Dr. Jones:

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Abbreviation	Explanation	Abbreviation	Explanation
AP	Accounts payable	ETD	Estimated time of departure
APR	Annual percentage rate	FAQ	Frequently asked question
AR	Accounts receivable	FOB	Free on board
ASAP	As soon as possible	FYI	For your information
AV	Ad valorem	LTL	Less than a truckload
CAF	Cost and freight	MDT	Mountain daylight time
C&F	Cost and freight	MST	Mountain standard time
CFI	Cost, freight and insurance	NA	Not applicable
CIF	Cost, insurance and freight	NMI	No middle initial
CDT	Central daylight time	P&I	Principal and interest
COS	Cash on shipment	P&L	Profit and loss
CPI	Consumer price index	PDT	Pacific daylight time
CPM	Cost per thousand	PST	Pacific standard time
CST	Central standard time	REIT	Real estate investment trust
DST	Daylight savings time	RFD	Rural free delivery
dup	Duplicate	SAE	Self-addressed envelope
EDT	Eastern daylight time	SASE	Self-addressed, stamped envelope
EOE	Equal Opportunity Employer	SOP	Standard operating procedure
esp	Especially	TBA	To be announced
EST	Eastern standard time	TBD	To be determined
ETA	Estimated time of arrival	TIN	Taxpayer identification number
ORGANIZATIONS
Abbreviation	Explanation	Abbreviation	Explanation
ABA	American Bar Association American Bankers Association	FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
ACLU	American Civil Liberties Union	FHA	Federal Housing Administration
ADA	American Dental Association	FRB	Federal Reserve Board
AFL-CIO	American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations	FTC	Federal Trade Commission
AMA	American Medical Association	HEW	Department of Health, Education and Welfare
ARC	American Red Cross	HHS	Department of Health and Human Services
ASE	American Stock Exchange	HUD	Department of Housing and Urban Development
BBB	Better Business Bureau	IMF	International Monetary Fund
CAB	Civil Aeronautics Board	INS	Immigration and Naturalization Service
CAP	Civil Air Patrol	Interpol	International Criminal Police Organization
CDC	Center for Disease Control	NAACP	National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
CIA	Central Intelligence Agency	NASA	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
CPSC	Consumer Product Safety Commission	NATO	North Atlantic Treaty Organization
CRC	Civil Rights Commission	NIH	National Institutes of Health
DEA	Drug Enforcement Administration	NTSB	National Transportation Safety Board
DOT	Department of Transportation	NYSE	New York Stock Exchange
DPH	Department of Public Health	OPEC	Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
EEC	European Economic Community	OSHA	Occupational Safety and Health Administration
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency	SBA	Small Business Administration
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration	SEC	Securities and Exchange Commission
FBI	Federal Bureau of Investigation	SSA	Social Security Administration
FCC	Federal Communications Commission	USDA	United States Department of Agriculture
FDA	Food and Drug Administration	VA	Veterans Administration
FDIC	Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Secretaries USA copyright 2001 -2007