7 Advisories About Abbreviations

7 Advisories About Abbreviations 7 Advisories About Abbreviations 7 Advisories About Abbreviations By Mark Nichol Abbreviations are useful, but they can be wickedly tricky little widgets. Keep these points in mind when you truncate words and phrases: 1. a/an This entry refers not to a or an as abbreviations but to which of the two indefinite articles should precede a given abbreviation. The choice depends not on the first letter of the abbreviation itself but on the sound of the first letter. Therefore, for example, you’d write â€Å"an MD after her name,† rather than â€Å"a MD after her name,† because the first letter in that abbreviation is pronounced â€Å"em† and should therefore be preceded by an. 2. Initials as Adjectives â€Å"I went up to the ATM machine and put in my PIN number to check my IRA account.† And in relating this event, I made three errors. In each case, the last letter of the abbreviation stands for the noun following the abbreviation. This is a job for the Department of Redundancy Department! 3. Metric Abbreviations Abbreviations for metric measurements either immediately follow the associated numeral (100m for â€Å"100-meter dash†) or follow a letter space (â€Å"2.2 kg = 1 lb.†); the latter style prevails especially when, as in the example given here, references to both metric-system and English-system measurements occur. But note the absence of periods following the metric abbreviations. Metric abbreviations are always lowercase with one optional exception: Because of the resemblance of the letter l to the number 1, the abbreviation for liter is often uppercase or italicized, or, when handwritten, styled in cursive writing. 4. Periods In abbreviations, periods are passe. Period. (Except not: e.g., i.e., etc. But mostly, yes.) 5. Plurals Omit apostrophes with plural forms of abbreviations: â€Å"He has two PhDs,† â€Å"It lists various NGOs,† â€Å"They’re all NIMBYs.† Of course, if the style for the publication in question retains periods (but see the previous point), retain the apostrophe as well: â€Å"Several R.N.’s failed the test.† 6. Postal Symbols Postal symbols are a prescribed set of two-letter abbreviations for states that are sometimes used as shorthand in nonpostal applications. In 1963, to make room for an innovation known as the ZIP code (which phrase has its own entry below), the US Postal Service advocated a two-letter form (CA, for example), but many people persist in incorrectly styling such abbreviations uppercase/lowercase (e.g., Ca.) or appending an extraneous period (CA.). 7. ZIP Code Those clever folks at the USPS selected this name to imply that mail would arrive at its destination more speedily if the five-digit code was supplied, but ZIP actually stands for something Zone Improvement Plan so treat it with all caps. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartSelect vs. Selected50 Tips on How to Write Good

Strategies for Acing a Multiple Choice Test

Strategies for Acing a Multiple Choice Test We all have to study and take a multiple choice test at some point in our lives. Since these tests are so prevalent, its important to have a few strategies under our belts when we sit for the exams. Read below, because these multiple choice test tips are sure to help you get the score you need on whatever exam youre taking next. Multiple Choice Strategies Read the question while covering up the answer choices. Come up with an answer in your head, and then check to see if it’s one of the choices listed. Use a process of elimination to get rid of as many wrong choices as you can before answering a question. Wrong answers are often easier to find. Look for extremes like never only or â€Å"always. Look for opposites like a substitution of –1 for 1. Look for similarities like conjunctive for subjunctive. Those could be distractors.Physically cross off wrong answer choices so you are not tempted to go back at the end of the test and change your answer. Why? You will read more about trusting your gut in a minute.Read ALL the choices. The right answer may be the one you keep skipping. Many students, in an attempt to move quickly through the test, tend to skim answer choices instead of reading them thoroughly. Do not make that mistake!Cross off any answer that does not fit grammatically with the question on your multiple choice test. If the test blank is looking for a singular noun, for instance, then any question choice displaying a plural noun will be incorrect. If you struggle t o figure it out, then plug the answer choices into the problem to see if it works.   Take an educated guess if there is no guessing penalty like there used to be on the SAT. You will always get the answer wrong by skipping it. You at least have a shot if you answer the question.Look for wordy answers. Unless you’re taking a standardized test, the correct answer is often the choice with the most information. Teachers often have to put as much info down as possible to make sure the answer choice can’t be disputed.Remember that you’re looking for the best answer. Often, more than one answer choice will be technically correct on a  multiple choice test. So, you have to choose which one fits best  with the stem and in the context of the reading passage or test.Use your test booklet or scratch paper. It often helps to write as your work, so write down formulas and equations, solve math problems, outline, paraphrase and underline to help you read. Use the scratch paper to help you work things out logically.Pace yourself. If you get stuck on a questi on, circle it and move on. Come back at the end of the test so you don’t waste precious time on something you may not get right anyway. Trust your gut. Definitely go back through your test to make sure you’ve answered everything, but keep your answers the same unless you’ve discovered new information in a later part of the test to disprove your answer. Click the link for more details about this strategy!

H.W Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

H.W - Essay Example Despite there being so much noise, college education is a worthwhile investment which every person with the necessary passion and ability should strive to acquire. It has been proven to be true and is also a well known fact that graduates from college make more money than their high school peers. A research survey done by The Hamilton Project in October 2012 proved that the returns emanating from college are much better and higher than those from any other investment such as bonds, stocks or real estate. It was further discovered that the returns from college have continuously been constant for the past three and half decades. This demonstrates that the rising cost has effectively been offset by the gains derived by degree holders. For instance a young graduate from college took home $4,000 more every year in the ‘80s (with inflation adjusted), than someone of the same age without a degree. This figure has risen to $12,000 every year over the past 3 decades (Greenstone &Looney, 2012). Even though there is solid evidence regarding the lifetime worth of higher education, skeptics are alarmingly pointing to increasing cost to strengthen their argument that college is no good investment as it once was. It is of course correct that over the years ,there has been almost 50% rise in college cost(calculations courtesy of National Center for Education Statistics),which could be an overstatement, since this increase in tuition ignores recent financial aid increments. Thus even if the sticker cost of college may have increased, it is not clear to what extent the cost to students as well as their parents or guardians. College Board certifies that the actual cost of a college degree has remained considerably constant over the past one and half decades. This therefore means that investing in a 4 year degree still continues to be a worthwhile undertaking for the average person. Statistics from the US workers indicate that there are numerous benefits

See blow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

See blow - Essay Example Managing diversity is indeed an art in the time and age of today, and more so with the changing global dynamics. The employees should always be on their own as far as adherence to polices and structural changes are concerned. The long term, strategic changes are governed in a proper manner if it takes into consideration the strengths that diversity brings to the proverbial organizational table. It is thus a very important requirement that the top management understands its due role and solves the anomalies related with managing diversity within the workplace aegis (Cross 2000). What this will do is to look after the negativities attached with diversity and its very foundation basis. This paper explains the management art of diversity within a workplace scenario and has touched upon significant factors which play a huge role in the performance of diversity functions on a day to day basis. Managing diversity has been deemed as important because it takes into perspective the pertinent roles of equality and balancing work ethos amongst the employees. Managing diversity is also important because it gives a fair chance to people who hail from different cultures and regions of the world to manifest their real selves. Their strengths work in their own favor and hence they work towards producing value for the organizations that they work for. This is an important consideration within the global dynamics of doing business because diversity has helped the people from different quarters to come to a single platform – a level where they can get in touch with one another to solve the commonalities which exist amongst them (Lambert 2007). Diversity will reign in serious results if it is a given a proper and fair run by the people who matter the most, i.e. the top management realms in an organization. In the world of present times, it is a reality that diversity is

Chemistry Of Natural Water :: essays research papers

The purpose of this experiment is to explore the hardness of the water on campus. Hard water has been a problem for hundreds of years. One of the earliest references to the hardness or softness of water is in Hippocrates discourse on water quality in Fifth century B.C. Hard water causes many problems in both in the household and in the industrial world. One of the largest problems with hard water is that it tends to leave a residue when it evaporates. Aside from being aesthetically unpleasing to look at, the build up of hard water residue can result in the clogging of valves, drains and piping. This build up is merely the accumulation of the minerals dissolved in natural water and is commonly called scale. Other than clogging plumbing, the build up of scale poses a large problem in the industrial world. Many things that are heated are often cooled by water running thru piping. The build up of scale in these pipes can greatly reduce the amount of heat the cooling unit can draw away from the source it is trying to heat. This poses a potentially dangerous situation. The build up of excess heat can do a lot of damage; boilers can explode, containers can melt etc. On the flip side of the coin, a build up of scale on an object being heated, a kettle for example, can greatly reduce the heat efficiency of the kettle. Because of this, it takes much more energy to heat the kettle to the necessary temperature. In the industrial world, this could amount to large sums of money being thrown into wasted heat. In addition to clogging plumbing and reducing heating efficiency, the build up of hard water also adversely affects the efficiency of many soaps and cleansers. The reason for this is because hard water contains many divalent or sometimes even polyvalent ions. These ions react with the soap and although they do not form precipitates, they prevent the soap from doing it's job. When the polyvalent ions react with the soap, they form an insoluble soap scum. This is once again quite unpleasing to look at and stains many surfaces. The sole reason for all these problems arising from hard water is because hard water tends to have higher than normal concentrations of these minerals, and hence it leaves a considerable amount more residue than normal water. The concentration of these minerals is what is known as the water's Total Dissolved Solids or TDS for short. This is merely a way of expressing how many particles are dissolved in water. The TDS vary from waters of different sources, however they are present in at least some quantity in all

How Diversity Relates to Education Essay

In the general education system, it is very important that there is a wide array of diverse groups in the classroom. â€Å"It is important to have a diverse student body, not only to create a realistic setting but also to encourage people to grow outside their boundaries and learn something new about a culture they may not be familiar with. (Pendulum 1) I believe diversity is an important part of the educational system. It is something positive, and not something one should fear. I also believe that diversity I crucial to a growing child. In this essay, I will address how diversity relates to education in general and how it relates to me as a future teacher. Diversity and education in America is an important topic in today’s education system. Inclusion is a key factor in the classroom; it helps bring diversity in to the lives of many children all over the world. By having diversity in the classroom students can learn about peoples differences that make them special and unique. Through my time in taking this diversity class I have come to realize how important it is to teach children that everyone is different and special in their own way. As the student population in American schools becomes increasingly diverse, educators must respond with school reform efforts that meet the needs of all students. In order to do so, teachers need to be prepared to take on the diverse student population. Going through the school of education and this diversity class, I am able to understand now that teachers must develop a culturally sensitive curriculum that integrates multicultural viewpoints and histories, to apply instructional strategies that encourage all students to achieve, and review school and district policies related to educational equity. From my educational background so far I know that teachers must become adept at choosing printed, electronic, and audiovisual materials, and in selecting topics and assignments that value the wide variety of perspectives and interests that exist among the students in any given classroom. The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect, it means understanding each student in the classroom is unique and recognizing their individual differences. â€Å"Children exposed to diverse cultures in the classroom learn to understand different points of view, which is an important part of education† (Canadian Teachers 1). Children learn to celebrate differences and learn how to work together to be successful. If teachers are accepting of students differences they will be able to look at students for their potential instead of with a bias in mind, and this will help them teach more successfully. As a future teacher, I think it is important to create a tolerant, accepting and caring classroom atmosphere and here are a couple things one can do as a teacher to incorporate diversity in the classroom. By discussing diversity, and why it is a positive thing, creating lesson plans that discuss the cultures of my students and cultures of the community I teach in, by discussing religious beliefs of the community, and by speaking to students about disabilities and at risk students will help children in my class realize that these differences do not make someone less than them. I would also teach students about socioeconomic issues and how they affect students, and will teach the differences in gender and about gender stereotypes. I will teach these stereotypes but allow both boys and girls in my classroom the same equal opportunities. I believe discussing these issues to today’s youth will help show students that all people have needs, and I would emphasize that it is important for students to accept and help each other in order to benefit themselves and the world around them. I think that by teaching lessons that incorporate diversity students can identify and overcome biases, and as a teacher I will also learn about my biases from the students in my care. As a teacher it is important to make sure the classroom atmosphere is comfortable in order to ensure productivity. Teaching students that differences are a good thing and those differences can be learned from and valued is a way to help ensure a positive classroom environment. As a teacher I will help my students understand biases, and I will help them be able to accept differences and treat people fairly by educating them about the differences of the people around them. I believe there are many ways a teacher can incorporate diversity lessons into the classroom. Overall, I believe that teaching students to respect each other despite their differences will benefit the students, the teachers, and the rest of the world. Diversity is an important topic today because everyone is different and unique; as a teacher I understand that I will never be in a school that is not a diverse teaching environment. I think that by taking this diversity class, it has helped me to realize and understand the importance diversity in the classroom and the community has to offer.

The War Of The Iraq War - 958 Words

On September 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. This was the very first contact that the United States of America had with the terrorism that went on in Iraq. March 20, 2003 marked the day that President George W. Bush announced the start of the war against Iraq (1). This was the beginning of a very costly war on both America and Iraq. The cost of the Iraq War was not just the amount of money spent, but the impact of war on the soldiers and the toll that it took on the families of those who were involved, as well as the amount of time and dedication of resources put into the war by the Government. The amount of money spent during the Iraq War is a number that is not easily understood. The initial cost of the Iraq War has totaled up to be somewhere around 1.7 trillion dollars as of 2013 (2). While this is a staggering number, it has only become worse. A study has shown that the expenses over the next four decades could total u p to be around 6 trillion dollars not to mention the interest rate which could add another 4 trillion (2). These numbers do not even make a dent in what the U.S. is paying. In addition to the initial cost, there is also a price to be paid to the veterans that served our country. A 2011 study found U.S. medical and disability claims for veterans after a decade of war totaled $33 billion. In 2013, that number had risen to $134.7 billion (2). The War in Iraq brought devastation to theirShow MoreRelatedThe War Of Iraq War Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagescontroversy, and terror. The capital of Iraq was shaking not only by their new government that reflected dealmaking not meritocracy but, also with an internal religious struggle that was peaking with seventy or more deaths a day. Death was far too easy in Iraq, the United States was in the search for the for the best approach in a hostile environment where the identity of the enemy is masked by the surrounding civilians. The pending question that comes from the war in Iraq war, What is the right approach toRead MoreThe War And The Iraq War862 Words   |  4 PagesThe Gulf War and the Iraq war can reflect the tension between a phenomenon is that the United States and the Middle East. The American media reported on the two Gulf War had many similarities. In the recent ten years, with the development of social economy and media technology has increased democratization, media reports and presents new features about the media. The topic of what the role of wars in the society has been discussed for many people. Some people argue that during the war, everythingRead More war in iraq1122 Words   |  5 Pagesfor the failed Iraq war. Congress is gearing up to pour more money to quot;stay the coursequot; of the past two tragic years. Tell your Member of Congress that not one more dime should go to waging war in Iraq. Instead, the U.S. must end the occupation, bring our troops home, and support Iraqi sovereignty. Many good-intentioned people in the United States say we cant withdraw our troops now and abandon Iraqis to chaos and disorder. Yet the U.S. presence on the streets of Iraq is fueling animosityRead MoreThe Iraq War1487 Words   |  6 PagesIn his 1988 Republican National Convention acceptance speech former U.S. President George H.W. Bush proclaimed that, â€Å"Weakness and ambivalence lead to war.†. For better or worse a states ability to influence world politics is primarily based on much power they have. In purely academic terms, power is the ability of Actor A to get Actor B to do something that B would otherwise not do; the ability to get the other side to make concessions and to avoid having to make concessions oneself (Frieden PRead MoreThe Iraq War1926 Words   |  8 PagesThe Iraq War began in 2003 and lasted until 2011, and stands to be among the most controversial conflicts of modern times. It was a war that proceeded without the approval of the United Nations (UN ) and was said to be a failure on all counts, for despite managing to end Saddam Hussein’s regime did not lead to an improvement in the situation in Iraq, and instead led Iraq to becoming a failed state and being on the brink of a civil war. According to then Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Iraq WarRead MoreThe Just War : The Iraq War1132 Words   |  5 PagesBush, announce, â€Å"At this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger† (â€Å"War in Iraq Begins,† 2003). Bush and his advisor’s actions were based on the information that the Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein, was building weapons of mass destruction. The Iraq War is a â€Å"just† war because it was a reasonable response with a moral purpose. The United States is known for helping other countries andRead MoreThe Vietnam War And Iraq Wars1214 Words   |  5 PagesFinal Exam Paper The Vietnam War and Iraq wars have many more similarities then the common American would think. Both were fighting gorillas in a foreign land in a way that the soldiers were never trained or prepared for, against a foe that despise America as a whole. However I believe the biggest difference is the American publics view and attitude toward each of the two wars. As well as the attitude of the soldiers in each of the wars in 2001 after the September 11 attacks we had people like PatRead More War in Iraq Essay801 Words   |  4 Pages War in Iraq nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Picture this, you, in a 3rd world country, no friends no family for thousands of miles, hungry, not feeling so well, tired, exhausted and being forced to fight thousands of people who want you out of there country? Fun? I wouldn’t think so†¦ This is a reality for thousands of American Soldiers stationed in Iraq and maybe your reality if the draft is reinstated. Now, picture this. You’re watching the news, they are calling out birthdays, oh they choose yoursRead MoreThe Iran Iraq War1566 Words   |  7 PagesThe Iran-Iraq lasted from September 1980 to August 1998, which made it the longest conventional war of the 20th century. The consequence of the war cost billions of dollars and millions of lives. The result of the war, although stalemate would be a critical factor that would shape the future of the Middle East. The historical deep-rooted hostile relationship that emanated from the ethnic Arab-Persian and religious Sunni- Shi’ite tensions between the two neighbouring countries contributed to the conditionsRead MoreThe Iraq War Of 20031350 Words   |  6 PagesThe Iraq war of 2003 is a blueprint of tyranny, which is full of controversial ideas, and works of individuals who believe that the United States of America is a crusader of freedom and democracy. And killing or unintentional homicide of substantial amount of civilians alongside with the targets of the U.S marines (Saddam’s armed forces) was a successful mission in the Middle East. An operation that was to be executed in a time limit, transformed into a war, which began in March 19th 2003 Invasion