Last updated 5/6/2020
Video Length: 1:07
Visual: Screen opens to a background image with a person typing on a laptop and a notebook and pencil, along with the Walden University Writing Center logo. The title Walden University Writing Center and tagline “Your writing, grammar, and APA experts” appears on the screen. The screen changes to show the series title “Formatting & Style” and the video title “Latin Abbreviations.”
Audio: Guitar music
Visual: Slide changes to one with the following title: Latin Abbreviations. In the blue box is the following:
Always appear in parentheses…
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This… |
Means that… |
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i.e. |
That is |
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e.g. |
For example |
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etc. |
And so forth |
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vs. |
Versus |
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cf. |
Compare |
Audio: You may find yourself wanting to use Latin abbreviations like “e.g.,” or “etc.” in your writing. Latin abbreviations can be a helpful shorthand, and they are often used in other kinds of writing. In academic writing and in APA, we have particular parameters around when and how we can use Latin abbreviations.
The first rule to follow is that Latin abbreviations are only appropriate to use within parentheses. If you find yourself using a Latin abbreviation in the main part of your sentence, instead write out what it stands for.
The second rule is that within the parentheses, you’ll follow the Latin abbreviation with a comma. Let’s look at our example here. In this example, we’re using “e.g.”, which stands for “for example,” to provide an example of a study that’s referred to generally in the text of the sentence. We have the Latin abbreviation, followed by a comma, and then the citation.
This is an appropriate use of a Latin abbreviation, and you’re now ready to use these abbreviations in your writing!
Visual: The screen changes to an ending slide with a person typing on a laptop and a notebook and pencil, along with the Walden University Writing Center logo. The email address writingsupport@mail.waldenu.edu appears on the screen.
