Symbols, Abbreviations, and Acronyms

This list is not intended to be exclusive. Alternative choices, in many cases, are acceptable. Proscribed usages are specifically indicated. If no abbreviation is listed for the term you are using, you may devise an abbreviation provided that (1) it is not identical to an abbreviation of a unit of measure, (2) it will not be confused with the symbol of an element or a group, (3) it does not hamper the reader s understanding, and (4) you do not use the same abbreviation for more than one spelled-out form. 

Helmholtz energy mass number A.D. anno Domini 

4 -bipyridine, 4,4 -bipyridyl (bpy preferred) [bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]tris(hydroxymethyl)methane (also bistris, Bis-Tris, bis-tris) binary digit bioluminescence Bohr magneton (use p.B) benzyl (also Bzl) bond number Born-Oppenheimer biological oxygen demand base pair boiling point bits per second bytes per second 2,2 -bipyridine, 2,2 -bipyridyl 4,4 -bipyridine, 4,4 -bipyridyl bipyramidal (coordination compounds) becquerel 

CIDNP chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization 

CP/MAS cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (also CP-MAS, CP-MAS, CPMAS, CP MAS) 

NADP+/NADPH oxidized/reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate 

QRE quasi -reference electrode (metal wire inserted in solution) 

RG ratio between the total tip diameter (active area plus insulator) and the active tip diameter 

J Wang, L-H Wu, R Li. Scanning electrochemical microscopic monitoring of biological processes. J Electroanal Chem 272 285-292, 1989. 

AJ Bard, G Denuault, C Lee, D Mandler, DO Wipf. Scanning electrochemical microscopy a new technique for characterization and modification of surfaces. Ace Chem Res 23 357-368, 1990. 

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Certain abbreviations are easily misinterpreted. Controlling dangerous abbreviations can reduce communication errors. Although many health care facilities have lists of abbreviations that are approved for use by professional staff, it would be far safer if each hospital also developed a list of abbreviations that never should be used. In fact, such a negative list is easier to maintain and enforce. In addition, The Joint Commission (TJC), has recommended that accredited organizations standardize abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols used throughout their facilities, including a list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols not to use. 

Standardize the abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols used throughout the organization, including a list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols not to use. 

This table lists some abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols encountered in the physical sciences. Most entries in italic type are symbols for physical quantities for more details on these, see the table Symbols and Terminology for Physical and Chemical Quantities in this section. Additional information on units may be found in the table International System of Units (SI) in Section 1. Many of the terms to which these abbreviations refer are included in the tables Definitions of Scientific Terms in Section 2 and Techniques for Materials Characterization in Section 12. Useful references for further information are given below. 

Glossary of Common abbreviations, acronyms and symbols xxii... 

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