This is another typing abbreviation system which I came up with after researching what was out there some years ago. Coincidentally it has some features in common with Mary's, which as they say indicates either "great minds run in the same channel" or "fools think alike." :) If you find it useful, please feel free to incorporate all or part of it into your typing (that is, for personal noncommercial use). It can be modified for use with any expander.

The Main Rule Is Indicated in The Name of The System: Abcz.

This is a short, simple yet powerful rule that makes many words easy to type. English being what it is, other rules are of course necessary.

UNSPOKEN RULE: No abbreviation should form a common English word or proper noun. However, a word like ox or ay, for example, is considered rare enough to be used as an abbreviation in business or medical transcription.

NOTATION: For simplicity, when describing a rule, we will let

a, b, c stand for the first three letters of a word and

x, y, z for the last three.

ABBREVIATION RULES FOR WORDS:

LONGER WORDS:

1a. For words of six or more letters, the basic rule is

abcz

That is, absolutely = absy radicular = radr

Does this mean you have to count letters as you type? In practice, one's fingers pretty quickly come to "know" when an abbreviation is called for.

1b. In cases of conflicting abbreviations for the same word, use the form abcyz

That is, infn = infection, infon = inflammation.

SHORTER WORDS:

2. In the "spirit of the main rule," use

az for 4 letter words and

abz for 5 letter words as much as possible.

Use the recommended list of short forms for some of the 150 most common words and 50 common subject-verb combinations.

ABRREVIATION RULES FOR PHRASES:

3a. PHRASE of 2 WORDS: the rule is abab.

That is, the first 2 letters of each word.

osab = osseous abnormality anan = antinuclear antibody

3b. If there is a conflict, the form is ababc

(first two letters of first word, first three of second word)

meme = medial meniscus memen = medial meniscectomy

3c. For plural of a two word phrase use ababs

That is, osabs = osseous abnormalities

4. PHRASE OF 3 OR MORE WORDS: the rule is aaa or aaaa

4 such letters is the standard length for phrases of 4 or more words (even if the phrase has 5, 6 or more words). Add a fifth letter if you need it to differentiate two phrases:

hoo = hospitalizations or operations

tyvm = thank you very much

tyvmf = thank you very much for the opportunity of allowing me to see

iicb = if I can be of further assistance to you in this matter

RULE FOR PREFIXES:

5. The rule for abbreviating a prefix is: a

a = anti c = com, con d = dis f = for h = hyper

i = inter,intr n = neuro s = sub t = trans

Then construct the word according to the usual rules.

In other words, construction = cstrn (a abcz)

discussing = dcusg (a abcz)

ENDINGS:

6. In many cases, the z of abcz already includes the ending. However, since some words (e.g. verbs) take varied endings, it is often convenient to omit the last letter (z) which we would ordinarily put there:

construct = cstr (rather than cstrt) dissolve = dsol

Then add endings as you desire: cstrs = constructs

cstrd = constructed cstrg = constructing

This method can also be used with nouns, adjectives, adverbs, etc.:

cstrn or cstrj or cstrz = construction

larr = larger lart = largest

trey or trel = tremendously

SPECIAL CATEGORIES:

Additional suggestions for forming abbreviation for different categories of words.

7a. Abbreviations containing periods. Begin with the number 6.

For example: 6rn = R.N. 6bid= b.i.d.

7b. Addresses: Begin addresses with the number 7. It is recommended that addresses of individuals be entered in this form:

7abab = 7 ab (of last name) ab (of first name)

e.g. 7thhe gives:

Henry Thomas, M.D.

2821 Summit Street, Suite 800

Oakland, California 94609

Note: the ab from the last name is placed first so the list in the lexicon will be alphabetical by last name, for easy reference.

7c. Medications: Begin with 8. E.g. 8code = Codeine

7d. Signs and maneuvers Begin with 9. E.g. 9treg = Trendelenburg

SPECIAL FEATURES:

8a. Expansion of abbreviations: use x

e.g., Magnetic Resonance Imaging = mrix

8b. Written out numbers: cj8 = eight, cj21 = twenty-one

oj1= first, oj2= second, oj22= twenty-second

Where c stands for cardinal, o for ordinal and j is a null. Mainly useful for longer numbers.

8c. Geographical names: For place names of one word use the form abx. For place names of two words, aax

That is, Emeryville = emx San Francisco = sfx

8d. Special characters: Users may prefer to use a trigger letter (k and f in these examples for commonly typed words by category:

Category: family: Form: fv

e.g. fb = brother fs = sister

Category: anatomy: Form: abk

e.g. fok = forearm brk = brachioradialis

9. When you use a word or phrase very frequently, and the regular abbreviation can be readily shortened, it is advisable to do so.

E.g., approximately = appy = ay

subsequently = sseqy = sqy

consultation = csuln = cn

however = howr = ho

© Jon Knowles ABCZ Typing Abbreviation System 1989-1998. These rules may be freely copied and utilized for personal noncommercial use. A 14,000-entry ABCZ glossary for use with Instant Text is commercially available at agjon@earthlink.net or http://www.twsolutions.com/glossware/abcz.htm.