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One very common and important
punctuation
mark
( .
) looks like
a small, dark circle.
When this mark is
used with
numbers, it's called a point. When it's used
in e-mail and WWW addresses,
it's called a dot. In
other
situations, it's called a
period.
In American English, one common
use for the
period
is in abbreviations. Here are some
abbreviations which
are commonly used in formal academic writing:
| c., ca.
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circa (a Latin abbreviation
meaning
approximately or about)
This abbreviation is most
often
used
in
giving approximate dates.
Example:
The Inca Empire is believed
to have
begun
ca. 1200 AD.
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| ed. |
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edition
This abbreviation is used
when giving
bibliographic
information (for
example,
a list of references which are used in
a report, thesis,
dissertation, etc.).
Example:
Azar, Betty Schrampfer:
Understanding
and Using English
Grammar, 3rd ed.
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| ed. |
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editor
This abbreviation is used
to show
the
name of an editor, not an author.
Example:
Letheridge, S., & Cannon,
C.R. (Eds.).
(1980).
Bilingual Education:
Teaching
English as a Second
Language.
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| e.g. |
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exempli gratia (a Latin abbreviation
used to mean
for
example)
Example:
Linking verbs (e.g., be, seem, appear)
are traditionally
followed by subject
pronouns or adjectives.
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| et al. |
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et alii (a Latin abbreviation meaning
and
others)
This abbreviation is used
to show
that
one
or two authors and other authors
wrote a particular work.
Example:
McKay et al: A History
of World
Societies.
(McKay was one of
several
authors
for this book.)
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| etc. |
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et cetera (a Latin abbreviation used
to mean
and
other similar things)
Example:
Adverbs of degree (very,
quite, too,
extremely, highly, etc.) may precede
both adjectives and
other adverbs.
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| i.e. |
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id est (a Latin abbreviation meaning
that
is)
This abbreviation is used
in
showing
explanations
or paraphrases.
Example:
Pisanky (i.e., Ukrainian Easter eggs)
usually feature
elaborate
ornamentation.
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| NB |
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nota bene (a Latin abbreviation
meaning
note well
or
pay
special
attention to)
NB: Visitors without special
passes
will
not
be permitted in the display room.
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| Op. |
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opus (a Latin abbreviation meaning work)
This abbreviation is used
for
numbered
musical
compositions by a
composer.
Example:
"Eroica" is the
common name for
Beethoven's
Symphony number 3, Op.
55.
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