How to Write Abbreviations in IELTS Vocabulary

Dec 14, 2021

A shortened form of a word or a phrase is referred to as an abbreviation. They assist you in making a statement easy to read rather than creating a burdensome long-phrase. For example, the term etc., has been derived from the Latin word ‘Et Cetera’, which means ‘and so forth’ & is frequently used to describe a partial list of things. Other examples include Mrs. for Misses, kg for kilograms, Ltd. for Limited, etc.

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Under the umbrella of Abbreviations, Acronyms play a significant role. The only difference between the two is that abbreviations are made up of the first few letters of a word often ending with a full stop, whereas acronyms are formed by the combination of the first letters of each word in a long-phrase often represented in capital letters. Examples of acronyms include ‘AIDS’ which stands for ‘Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome’, ‘IQ’ which stands for ‘Intelligence Quotient’ & so forth.

In IELTS, you must understand certain basic guidelines about the use of abbreviations.

Amongst the sections on reading, writing & listening, the use of abbreviations or acronyms especially during reading or writing is not recommended. For example, instead of writing ‘Their dining room has numerous items. E.g. a table, 6 chairs, a rug, etc.’, a more appropriate sentence would be, ‘Their dining room has numerous items. For example, a table, 6 chairs, a rug, and a crockery unit.’
It is important to note that during formal writing, abbreviations/acronyms are not appreciated. Exceptions are symbols such as % and $, which you may use since they are quicker to write and are widely used, even in formal writing. However, if you wish to inculcate them, make sure to utilize only globally accepted abbreviations/acronyms. For example, avoid using ‘LOL’ for ‘Laugh Out Loud’, ‘NP’ for ‘No Problem’, ‘Ave.’ for ‘Avenue’ & so on. Instead, generally recognized terms like 'approx.' for 'approximately,' 'DIY' for 'Do It Yourself,' and others will suffice.
Use no shorthand which has multiple meanings & may create confusion in the mind of the examiner. An abbreviation like AP could stand for 'access point,' 'Asia-Pacific,' or 'accounts payable,' for example. Similarly, 'DM' could also stand for 'data mining' or 'direct message.' ‘Dr.’ can stand for ‘Doctor’ as well as ‘Drive’. To avoid confusion, it's preferable to use the entire form.
As part of the writing assignment during the IELTS examination, you may be requested to compose an informal letter. The use of universally acceptable abbreviations is permissible in such instances.
While you're taking a listening test, if the speaker uses an acronym or an abbreviation, you may also use an abbreviation or acronym in your response. The bottom line is that if the speakers are using abbreviations, you can use them as well.

For example:

Speaker 1 – Good morning! I live in Bayswater & I’d like to get to Harbor City tomorrow before 11 am.

Speaker 2 – Well, to get to Bayswater…

Speaker 1 – No No. I live in Bayswater. My destination is Harbor City.

Speaker 2 – Right Sorry. Are you planning to travel by bus or train?

Speaker 1 – Any would work if it makes me reach faster, I suppose.

Speaker 2 – Well, FYI, if you catch a Railway Express, it will get you there in under an hour.

In the above example, as the speaker has mentioned the acronym FYI which stands for ‘For Your Information', you can use the same in your answers.

However, it is important to keep in mind that abbreviations aren't always totally standardized. If in doubt, avoid using them. Here's a list of commonly used abbreviations/acronyms, organized by certain categories!

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