Q. I’m proofreading a manuscript in which US is abbreviated without periods throughout. But when it’s part of a compound, periods are added. (“The U.S.-ratified agreement,” or “U.S.-friendly leaders,” for example.) My impulse is to change it, but it appears so regularly that it seems to have been done this way on purpose. (There are 35 instances over 400 pages of text.) Is there ever a reason to use periods in some instances but not others, when you’re abbreviating “United States”?
A. We shy away from the use of never, but this seems weird and definitely worth querying. Perhaps it’s the result of a poorly executed global search-and-replace move that changed all mentions except these (or vice versa). If you can’t query, edit them with a note that you did so. It shouldn’t be too hard to put them all back the way they were if there turns out to be a good reason for the inconsistency.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I frequently use the acronym GAAP, which stands for generally accepted accounting principles. Would the acronym be considered a collective noun? Would I treat GAAP as a singular subject when using the acronym but as a plural subject when spelling it out? What if I do both (spell it out and then put the acronym in parentheses)?
A. Browsing online reveals that the initialism GAAP is treated as a singular, and the spelled-out version is treated as a plural, but as you sense, that’s awkward. The most thoughtful and professional solution I saw was to avoid ever using the acronym as the subject of a sentence. Instead, the writers used it either as an adjective (GAAP pronouncements, GAAP terminology, GAAP model) or as an object (according to GAAP, who came up with GAAP, history of GAAP). That seems like a good plan.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. When, if ever, is it acceptable to use the abbreviation for To Whom It May Concern (TWIMC) in a letter?
Q. I read in one of the questions on the website that it is acceptable to begin a sentence with an acronym. If the acronym is not a common one, NASA for example, wouldn’t it be appropriate to instead begin the sentence with the word The and then the acronym? I am having a difficult time with beginning a sentence with acronyms.
A. The use of the definite article with an acronym isn’t determined by the acronym’s position in a sentence but by the acronym’s part of speech. In general, omit the article unless the acronym is used as a singular adjective:
NASA was in charge of their training.
Training was held at NASA.
The NASA facility was impressive.
They met at the NASA facility.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. My client for a project that uses CMOS has asked that abbreviations ending with S be pluralized without the addition of a lowercase s. So, for example, a first reference is to “asset-backed securities (ABS)” rather than to “asset-backed securities (ABSs),” and subsequent references use ABS as a stand-in for either the singular or the plural term. I cited CMOS 7.15—but the client is “used to seeing” abbreviations without the added s and says it “looks awkward.” I accept that the client gets to call the shots, so I acceded to the request. Did I accede too readily?
A. You did your job—there’s just no saving some people from themselves.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I am inquiring about the use of plural acronyms in parentheses. The writer wrote “A three-person board comprised of Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO)s.” Their use of “(SNCO)s” just looks strange. I said it should be “Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs).”
A. You are right. The writer’s solution is wrong. (And we almost never say that!)
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. The abbreviation for “revolutions per minute” is rpm as stipulated in CMOS 10.49. A document I’m editing contains a picture with the following label: “RPM Gauge.” I don’t like RPM being all capitals, but I’m not sure if rpm or Rpm is any better. What should I use?
A. Although rpm is Chicago style, RPM is well accepted. (Rpm less so.) It may be difficult or expensive or time-consuming to get changes made in an illustration, so unless there’s a problem caused by the departure from Chicago style, you should consider looking the other way. (An example of a “problem” would be if the text specifically discusses how to abbreviate the term and specifies the use of rpm, so that the inconsistency is confusing.)
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Hello, I’m looking for clarification for CMOS 10.33. Are you recommending 123 MAIN ST STE 456 for envelopes but 123 Main St., Ste. 456 for running text, etc.? (And if capitalizing the envelopes, would the entire address be capitalized?)
A. As we say at CMOS 10.33, spell out the terms in running text: I live at 123 Main Street, Suite 456. (Please see 10.35 as well). As for addressing envelopes, CMOS does not presume to override US Postal Service instructions. If you want your mail delivered, you’d better abandon Chicago style.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I came across the following footnote in a scientific table: “[A] cohort born ≤ 2010, [B] cohort born ≥ 2011.” Is this an acceptable use of the ≤ and ≥ symbols?
A. Maybe not. You’re safer writing “in or before” and “in or after.”
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Can you use ’80s when referring to the 1880s? Thanks.
A. Yes. But if you want people to know what you’re talking about, and your context hasn’t already made it clear which century you’re in, then no.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]