The Wordsworth Dictionary Of Abbreviations And Acronyms

Like it or not, abbreviations and acronyms are now an essential ingredient of everyday life. Since the first edition of The Wordsworth Dictionary of Abbreviations & Acronyms was published in mid-1997, the compilers have been diligently collecting further examples from many walks of life

From Abadan to Zero Point, this dictionary provides an accessible guide to the language and lore which have developed around railways since their invention in the early 19th century. It defines railway terms and includes proper names of trains, lines, companies, periodicals and manufacturers, as well as clarifying the profusion of abbreviations, acronyms and initials. The dictionary also interprets and explains many foreign words and phrases, and the slang and colloquialisms used by professional and amateurs alike. The text is enhanced by many explanatory drawings and diagrams.

This dictionary aims to help users to find the most appropriate word to use on a wide range of occasions. It is designed in particular for students, those writing reports, letters and speeches, and crossword solvers, but is also useful as a general word reference. Special features include: an alphabetical A-Z listing; numbered senses for words with more than one meaning; British and American variants; and specially marked colloquial uses.

Provides the meanings of more than 13,000 acronyms, and abbreviations.

Compiled from the resources of the Oxford English Dictionary and a wide range of national newspapers and journals, this is a brand new and totally up-to-date guide to every kind of abbreviation. Covering the most important business, scientific, and technical abbreviation, as well as those in everyday use, the dictionary includes acronyms, initialisms, shortenings, symbols and signs, and hybrid forms. Graphics symbols such as proofreading marks, hallmarks, music, science, and weather symbols are all given in a series of appendices. Anyone who reads or writes current English will find this accessible reference useful, but it will be indispensable to professionals, businesses, technical writers, and journalists.