Abbreviations and acronyms(10) are also listed alphabetically in the dictionary. For example, the short form for British Columbia (BC) is listed after the word “bat” and before the word “bed”. Words like 3-D are listed as though the number word were spelled out. Look for the word “3-D” between “three-cornered” and “three- day eventer”. Words that begin with the abbreviation “St.” are listed as if the abbreviations were spelled out in full, like this: Saint.

Telephone directories also use alphabetical order to organize names, but acronyms and initials are placed at the beginning of each new letter section. For example, CIBC (the bank) and CKBC (the radio station) come at the beginning of the “C” section and before entries like “Cable, Howard 123 Sample St. 555-6666". Name that begin with St. are found at the beginning of the “S” section.

man balancing a large pencil on his shoulder

Exercise 1*: Organize these words in alphabetical order.


A)*

fox giraffe animal seal wolf monkey cat turtle elephant bat puppy anteater otter quail dog

B)*

box matter street apple truly fish white beef elf stomach shirt note happy candy yak repeat only grape

C)*

peach star heart window garage candle widow house startle graceful legal illegal, foreign battery cup cart heavy

D) (IAU)

pretend patch prefer poetry purity preview phlegm phone pneumonia preference photo pablum perhaps parch parcel

10.when a title is shortened by using the first letter of each word; e.g.RCMP is an acronymn for Royal Canadian Mounted Police; MP for Member of Parliament; and CBC for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation


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