Abbreviation style

Question

Hello,I am assuming in British English, it is PS or PPS (post script), whereas it is P.S. or P.P.S. in US English. Likewise, it's Mr Bird in British English, Mr. Bird in US English.Is this correct - no full stops in British English?Thanks.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

anonymous
Hello,
I am assuming in British English, it is PS or PPS (post script), whereas it is P.S. or P.P.S. in US English. Likewise, it's Mr Bird in British English, Mr. Bird in US English.
Is this correct - no full stops in British English?
Thanks.

In general, British English uses less punctuation in abbreviations than US English does (USA vs. U.S.A.). Also, the Brits are less fussy about it. Your two examples are correct. The British consider "Mr" to be a contraction and not an abbreviation because the first and last letters are there. But it is not that simple. They use a full stop with the "abbreviation" for "street", "st.", because it prevents confusion with "st" for "saint", and is the "t" in "Lieut." the final one or not? A person could go quite mad, or at least get mad.

This is all about typographical style, though, and there is no holy writ for that. But America does have the Chicago Manual of Style, and England, the Oxford Guide to Style. You will also need the Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors.

Abbreviation style

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