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Subject:Re: Acronyms After an Executive Summary From:"Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- granatedit -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Wed, 14 Jan 2004 07:27:24 -0500
Westbrook,Beth wrote:
> When an acronym is spelled out in an executive summary, should it
> also be spelled out on first mention in the actual body of the
> document?
>
In the documents I edit with several sections, including a summary,
the first instance of the term or name *in each section* appears as
"Spelled Out Name (SOM)." Subsequent instances appear as "SOM."
We even do that if the term or name is used only once in a section.
That seems odd to me, but I suppose some readers might benefit from
knowing what the acronym or abbreviation is, whether or not it's used
as such in the document.
