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Abbreviation generator and acronym maker
Get several abbreviation and acronym options for a name, phrase or term, with the reason each one works.
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Enter a company name, project title or long term and this abbreviation generator returns five ways to shorten it - initialisms, acronyms you can say aloud, shortened forms and contractions - with a note on how each was built and a top pick for your purpose.
Abbreviation, acronym, initialism: what is the difference?
Abbreviation is the general word for any shortened form. An initialism takes the first letters of the words and is said letter by letter, like FBI or UK. An acronym is built the same way but is pronounced as a word, like NASA or scuba. A shortened form cuts a word off, as in approx. or Dept. A contraction drops letters from the middle and keeps the ends, as in Dr or Mgmt. The acronym generator labels every option with its type so you know how it is meant to be read.
How to shorten a name well
A good abbreviation is easy to say, easy to type and hard to confuse with something else. Three to five letters is a comfortable length. Small words such as of, and, and the are usually left out, which is why the United States of America becomes USA. If the initials form a word nobody can pronounce, borrowing a second letter from one of the words often fixes it. Say the result out loud before you commit to it, and look at what it spells.
Check that it is not already taken
This abbreviation maker works only from the words you enter. It does not search the web, trademark registers or company records, so it cannot tell you whether an abbreviation is already in use. Search for it yourself before printing it on anything. In technical and academic fields, check the standard references for your subject, because the same letters often mean different things in different disciplines.
Using abbreviations in writing
The usual rule in essays, reports and articles is to write the full term the first time, put the abbreviation in parentheses after it, and use the abbreviation from then on. Plurals take a plain s with no apostrophe, as in FAQs. American style tends to put periods after abbreviations such as Dr. and Mr., while British style usually leaves them off when the abbreviation ends with the last letter of the word. Pick one style and stay with it. If you are naming characters or handles rather than organizations, the Character Name Generator and Gamer Name Generator are a better fit.
Questions
Can it make an acronym that spells a real word?
Sometimes. It looks for pronounceable options using the letters in your phrase, and it will not add words you did not enter. Reordering or rewording the phrase yourself and running it again gives it more to work with.
Does it check whether the abbreviation is available?
No. It has no access to trademark, domain or company databases. Treat the list as ideas and do your own search.
Can I use it for note-taking shorthand?
Yes. Choose note-taking shorthand as the purpose and you get short forms that are quick to write. Keep a key at the top of your notes so you can still read them later.
How long can the phrase be?
Up to 200 characters, which covers most organization names and technical terms.
Is the abbreviation generator free?
Yes. It is free to use and you can run it again for a fresh set of options.