Section 1: Abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms

1.1 Lower case

Use periods with abbreviations that appear in lower case.

e.g., a.k.a., a.m., p.m.

1.2 Upper case and small caps

Use no periods with abbreviations that appear in upper case or small caps.

VP, USA (US), CEO, BCE, CE

Use no periods with acronyms and initialisms.

Place course codes in upper case.

FREN 100

Place acronyms in upper case except when they have become common words.

NAFTA, NATO, NSERC, TRIUMF, scuba, laser

Place initialisms in upper case.

WTO, BCAA, ICBC

According to Canada Post standards, abbreviations of provinces and territories should appear in upper case without periods.

AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT

Place foreign currency codes in upper case.

EUR, USD

A complete list of currency codes can be found on the website of the International Standards Organization by searching for “ISO 4217.”

1.3 Mixed upper and lower case

Abbreviations with mixed upper and lower case other than academic degrees should have a period at the end.

Dr., Prof., Mr., Mrs., Ms.

When abbreviating personal names, use periods and a space between abbreviations.

P. D. James, W. A. C. Bennett

1.4 Academic degrees

Use no periods in academic degrees.

PhD, BSc, BA

For accepted abbreviations of academic degrees, see Appendix A: UVic academic degrees.

1.5 UVic and other universities

Spell out “University of Victoria” in its first reference. Thereafter “UVic” is acceptable except in very formal instances.

The abbreviated form of the University of Victoria does not use a period.

UVic

More information on the appropriate use of the University of Victoria email signature.

In abbreviating the names of degree-granting institutions, the University of Victoria Undergraduate Calendar does not use periods. Other units are urged to follow this treatment.

BA (Alta), MA (McG), LLB (Tor)