Before using abbreviations, it’s necessary to spell out the words.

Be sure to spell out words before using abbreviations for the first time. Write the complete word first and then put the abbreviation in parentheses; after that, you can only use the abbreviated form. Also, be sure you use commonly recognized abbreviations. By doing so, you save time, space and you also avoid any confusion or misunderstandings. For example: “Security Officer (S/O) Stevens and Police Officer (P/O) Roberts were joined by S/O Junie.” Source: Sollars, Robert D. “Security Report Writing: Tips for Creating Pro Security Reports” on silvertracsoftware.com, 2019. Photo by Pixabay from Pexels