Phrasal verbs

An abbreviation is a short form of a word or expression. An acronym is a word made up from the first letters of the name of something such as an organisation.

MS: manuscript
MSc: Master of Science
MSG: monosodium glutamate (food flavour enhancer)
MTech: Master of Technology
mum: mother
MYOB: mind your own business
myth: mythology
n/a: not applicable; not available
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (US)
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NB: nota bene (Latin) note well
NGO: non-governmental organisation
NIC: National Identity Card
NP: Notary Public
NSB: National Savings Bank
NVQ: National Vocational Qualification
NY: New York
NZ: New Zealand
OBE: Order of the British Empire
obit: obituary
ocd: obsessive compulsive disorder
O/D: overdraft; on demand
OE: Old English
OED: Oxford English Dictionary
OK: all right
op cit: opere citato (Latin) in the work cited
OPEC: (acronym) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
OT: overtime
PA: personal assistant
Parl: Parliament
PA system: public address system
PAYE: pay as you earn
pbk: paper back (book)
PC: Police Constable; personal computer; President’s Counsel
pc: per cent; percentage; postcard
PEN Club: (acronym) International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
pic: picture
PIN: personal identification number
PLC / plc: public limited company
PLO: Palestine Liberation Organization
PM: Prime Minister
PMG: Postmaster General
PN: promissory note
PO: Post Office
polio: poliomyelitis
POW: prisoner of war
Q&A: question and answer
RAM: random access memory
R&D: research and development
RC: Roman Catholic; Red Cross
RDA: Road Development Authority
Re: rupee (Rs: rupees)
REM: rapid eye movement
retd: retired
RIP: requiescat in pace (Latin) rest in peace
RSVP: Repondez s’il vous plait (French) reply if you please
SA: South Africa
SAE: stamped addressed envelope
SAT: scholastic aptitude test (US)
SI: Sub Inspector
SLAS: Sri Lanka Administrative Service
SM: Station Master
SOS: save our souls
SPC: State Pharmaceutical Corporation
specs: spectacles
SPO: sub post office
SSC: Senior School Certificate
SSP: Senior Superintendent of Police
St: Saint; Street
STC: State Trading Corporation
STM: short term memory
TB: tuberculosis
T-Bond: Treasury bond
tbs: tablespoon
TC: Town Council
TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL: Teacher of English as a Second Language
3rs: reading, ‘riting’ and ‘rithmetic’
TM: trademark
TPO: Travelling Post Office
TU: Trade Union
TWA: Trans-World Airlines