Formal Letter - author codes, and the use of "Con't"...

Question

BTW great site! What is the correct format for author and typist codes at the end of a letter? AND What is the correct usage (if any) on "Con't" to denote multiple pages of a formal letter? Thanks!

Wumanfu · Accepted Answer

What is the correct format for author and typist codes at the end of a letter?
AND
What is the correct usage (if any) on "Con't" to denote multiple pages of a formal letter?
…
Hi, I wish I could find a free, easy to use resource. If you find one, please post your information here. I couldn’t find a definitive reference but this portion of Merriam-Webster's Style Guide might give you a clue. “The contemporary styling of abbreviations is inconsistent and arbitrary, and no set of rules can hope to cover all the possible variations & exceptions.…
In doubtful cases, a good general dictionary or a dictionary of abbreviations will usually show standard forms for common abbreviations.
and peculiarities encountered in print.”

Merriam-Webster Unabridged
Main Entry: contd
Function: abbreviation
continued

“ For more extensive treatment than can be provided here, consult:
Merriam-Webster's Manual for Writers and Editors (2nd ed., Merriam-Webster, 1995)
The Chicago Manual of Style (14th ed., Univ. of Chicago Press, 1993)
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 1999)
Scientific Style and Format (6th ed., Cambridge Univ. Press, 1994)”

Advoca · Answer

There is no hard and fast rule, but the most common practice is to put the author's initials in capitals and the typist's initials in lower case. Here is an example:

LC/vb

When there are more pages than one in a letter it is normal practice to put nothing at the end of the first page. Since there is no closure or signature it is obvious that there is another page. At the top of the second page, however, you have a choice. One method is to put in brackets, (To John Doe, continued). It is better not to abreviate. Put "continued" in full, rather than "cont." But let me repeat, again there is no hard and fast rule.

A good guide to American style business letters is "Merriam Webster's Guide to Business Correspondence." It comes with a disk with sample letters too. It is published by Merriam-Webster Inc.

Anonymous · Answer

Where is this abbreviation (con't) for? I would understand better if it would be "con'd" for "continued".

Anonymous · Answer

Shouldnt it be 'Contd'

Anonymous · Answer

There are nearly 3 million google hits and 2 million yahoo hits for CON'T as the abbreviation for continue/continued.
It's not a form listed in popular dictionaries.

cont.
contd
cont'd
cnt

Why do you suppose it has become so common?
Perhaps:
- It's an abbreviation of an existing abbreviation: cont'd / con't
- The apostrophe is a stress mark for the pronunciation of the word instead of replacing letters
- Abbreviations can have slang forms too

Formal Letter - author codes, and the use of "Con't"...

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