University students could relate to how tiring it is to jump from one website to another to get the abbreviation right!
If you’re one of them, scroll through this guide and find different ways how to abbreviate a year.
Meaning Of The Word “Abbreviation”
It is a process of shortening words and phrases, such as using “Dr.” for Doctor or “Ms.” for Miss. It serves as a tool for better reading and understanding and for saving time when sending messages.
Using An Apostrophe To Abbreviate Years
To abbreviate a year, place an apostrophe before the last two digits.
For example, if you want to abbreviate the year 2022, instead of writing the whole of 2022, you can shorten it to ’22 by eliminating the first two numbers. Using an apostrophe here indicates 2000.
Example:
Sam completed his service in ’77.
Things To Remember
For the correct punctuation, press the apostrophe key twice and then delete the first apostrophe.
Make sure you use the apostrophe instead of the quotation mark. Stay clear between the two.
Learn How To Abbreviate Decades
The correct way to abbreviate a decade or a century numeral is to put an apostrophe before the decade year and a small or lowercase “s” after it.
Example:
The ’80s was all about pop culture.
Writing Dates in Different Styles
Abbreviations for dates can be done in 2 ways: American and British English.
American English
In the United States, a comma should be placed between the month and day when writing a full date.
Example:
I got married on May 5, 2016.
Had the worst job experience on Feb 10, 2010.
British English
In Britain and other European countries, the day comes before the month.
I got married on 5 May 2016.
Had the worst job experience on 10 Feb 2010.
Note: Avoid using commas.
Year Ranges
When writing a range of numbers, use an en dash (–).
Example:
World War I took place from 1914–18.
Physics class timings are 6-8 am.
Things To Remember
Avoid using a hyphen (-) or an underscore (_) and adding extra spacing between the year ranges.
Abbreviating “Years”
If you thought you could abbreviate only dates and numbers, you’re definitely wrong.
Use “yr” for “year” and “yrs” for “years.
Example:
My firstborn is now 22 yrs old.
I have owned this car for nearly 20 yrs.
Effective Tips To Remember
Knowing the right ” code ” for abbreviations is important, whether it’s a resume, social media post, or email in question. This section is your sign to avoid common mistakes!
Remember, the apostrophe goes in front! For example, change 2024 to ’24, and use ’04 for 2004.
Please make sure to use apostrophes to indicate the omission of the initial 2 digits, and be inclusive of your readers.