Abbreviation vs. Shorthand — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 9, 2024
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase, while shorthand is a writing system using symbols and abbreviations to quickly transcribe spoken language. Abbreviations are standard across contexts, while shorthand is more specialized.
Difference Between Abbreviation and Shorthand
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Abbreviations are shortened versions of words or phrases to save space and time in writing. Shorthand is a specialized method of rapid writing that often involves unique symbols to capture spoken words efficiently.
Abbreviations are commonly found in everyday writing, such as "Ave." for "Avenue," whereas shorthand is mainly used for transcription, like in journalism or court reporting.
Abbreviations follow conventional rules, such as adding a period after common short forms ("etc." for "et cetera"). Shorthand requires learning a unique system, such as Gregg or Pitman shorthand.
Abbreviations may include acronyms (e.g., "NASA") or initialisms (e.g., "FBI"), while shorthand emphasizes phonetic representations and condensed symbols.
Abbreviations can be standardized across different contexts, while shorthand systems can vary depending on language, profession, or personal preferences.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Shortened form of a word or phrase
Symbolic writing system for transcription
Use Case
Saving space/time in writing
Rapid writing for note-taking
Common Examples
"Dr." (Doctor), "Ave." (Avenue)
Gregg, Pitman, Teeline shorthand systems
Rules
Conventional, follows language norms
System-specific, requires training
Standardization
Standard across contexts
Varies by system, language, profession
Compare with Definitions
Abbreviation
A method to save space in writing.
The report used abbreviations to summarize lengthy terms.
Shorthand
A system of rapid writing using symbols and abbreviations.
The court reporter used shorthand to capture the testimony.
Abbreviation
A shortened form of a word or phrase.
The abbreviation St. stands for Street.
Shorthand
A method to quickly transcribe spoken language.
Shorthand training helped the journalist take faster notes during interviews.
Abbreviation
A standard representation for common terms.
The calendar uses Feb. as an abbreviation for February.
Shorthand
A symbolic notation that varies by language and system.
Gregg shorthand relies on simple curves and lines for each sound.
Abbreviation
A form that includes acronyms or initialisms.
ASAP is an abbreviation for as soon as possible.
Shorthand
A practice often used by secretaries, journalists, and court reporters.
Her shorthand skills made her invaluable in the newsroom.
Abbreviation
A universally understood short form of language.
FBI is a recognizable abbreviation for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Shorthand
A specialized writing method requiring dedicated learning and practice.
The administrative assistant learned Pitman shorthand to take better meeting notes.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation (from Latin brevis, meaning short) is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word abbreviation can itself be represented by the abbreviation abbr., abbrv., or abbrev.; NPO, for nil (or nothing) per (by) os (mouth) is an abbreviated medical instruction.
Shorthand
Shorthand is an abbreviated symbolic writing method that increases speed and brevity of writing as compared to longhand, a more common method of writing a language. The process of writing in shorthand is called stenography, from the Greek stenos (narrow) and graphein (to write).
Abbreviation
The act or product of shortening.
Shorthand
A system of rapid handwriting employing symbols to represent words, phrases, and letters.
Abbreviation
A shortened form of a word or phrase used chiefly in writing to represent the complete form, such as Mass. for Massachusetts or USMC for United States Marine Corps.
Shorthand
A system, form, or instance of abbreviated or formulaic reference
"The classical error is to regard a scientific law as only a shorthand for its instances" (Jacob Bronowski).
Abbreviation
The result of shortening or reducing; abridgment.
Shorthand
A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc.
Abbreviation
(linguistics) A shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase, used to represent the whole, utilizing omission of letters, and sometimes substitution of letters, or duplication of initial letters to signify plurality, including signs such as +, =, @.
Hants is an abbreviation of Hampshire.
Shorthand
(by extension) Any brief or shortened way of saying or doing something.
The jargon becomes a shorthand for these advanced concepts.
Abbreviation
The process of abbreviating.
Shorthand
(transitive) To render (spoken or written words) into shorthand.
Abbreviation
(music) A notation used in music score to denote a direction, as pp or mf.
Shorthand
To use a brief or shortened way of saying or doing something.
Abbreviation
(music) One or more dashes through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, demisemiquavers, or hemidemisemiquavers.
Shorthand
(intransitive) To write in shorthand.
Abbreviation
Any convenient short form used as a substitution for an understood or inferred whole.
Shorthand
A compendious and rapid method or writing by substituting characters, abbreviations, or symbols, for letters, words, etc.; short writing; stenography. See Illust. under Phonography.
Abbreviation
(biology) Loss during evolution of the final stages of the ancestral ontogenetic pattern.
Shorthand
A method of writing rapidly
Abbreviation
(mathematics) Reduction to lower terms, as a fraction.
Shorthand
Written in abbreviated or symbolic form;
Shorthand notes
Abbreviation
The act of shortening, or reducing.
Abbreviation
The result of abbreviating; an abridgment.
Abbreviation
The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by contraction and omission; a letter or letters, standing for a word or phrase of which they are a part; as, Gen. for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of America.
Abbreviation
One dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demi-semiquavers.
Abbreviation
A shortened form of a word or phrase
Abbreviation
Shortening something by omitting parts of it
Common Curiosities
Is shorthand obsolete with modern technology?
It's less common but still useful for professions requiring quick transcription.
Is shorthand a type of abbreviation?
No, shorthand is a symbolic writing system, while abbreviations are short forms of words.
Is abbreviation commonly used in academic writing?
Yes, abbreviations like "et al." or "ibid." are standard in academic papers.
Do shorthand systems exist for all languages?
Not all, but many languages have adapted shorthand systems for efficient writing.
Can abbreviations include acronyms?
Yes, acronyms like "NASA" are a form of abbreviation.
Are abbreviations universally understood?
Common abbreviations are generally recognizable, but some may vary by language or region.
Are abbreviations informal?
They can be used formally or informally, depending on context.
Do abbreviations always need periods?
Not always. Acronyms typically don't use periods, but initialisms might.
Do shorthand systems include punctuation marks?
Yes, most shorthand systems have symbols for punctuation.
Are abbreviations useful for technical terms?
Absolutely, abbreviations help simplify technical language in writing.
Is shorthand faster than regular writing?
Yes, it is designed for high-speed transcription.
Is shorthand used outside of transcription?
It's rare, but shorthand can also be used for personal notes.
Can shorthand symbols be standardized?
Yes, within specific systems like Gregg or Pitman, symbols are consistent.
Can shorthand systems be customized?
They can be adapted to personal needs, but generally follow standard conventions.
Does learning shorthand require extensive training?
It requires practice and training to achieve speed and accuracy.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Nervous vs. Timid
Next Comparison
Ruffle vs. RaffleAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
