We use Latin abbreviations in the English language, more than what you think.
Latin, the oldest of language, is the base of most European languages. Popular European languages such as French, Italian, German and Romanian is developed from Latin. And that is the reason why we use so many Latin words without even knowing about them. Yes, we do, in the form of abbreviations. But most of the times, we use these abbreviations mindlessly and without knowing it’s the real meaning. Most of these abbreviations are used in our formal communication, and not knowing the correct meaning and correct placement of these abbreviations can lead to an embarrassing situation on the professional front. So, let’s dive into some of the Latin abbreviations we must know about.
A.D and B.C or CE/BCE
One of the most commonly used abbreviations in the English language is B.C/A.D. According to the Gregorian calendar, A.D/ B.C shows whether the particular event happened before Christ or after Christ. Funnily, many people believe that A.D means after death, which is untrue and a misconception. A.D means “Anno Domini”, which means, in Latin, in the year of the lord. B.C has no Latin meaning; it simply means before Christ. If you want to refrain from the use of religious terms, then replace A.D/B.C with CE/BCE, which means common era and before the common era.
i.e.
One of the most misused abbreviations would be, i.e. It literally translates to the Latin phrase “Id Est”, which means it is. But we use this abbreviation when we want to clearly explain or clarify something.
Etc.
We have filled our school notebooks with this abbreviation. But what does it actually mean in Latin? It is short from the Latin phrase, Et cetera, which means, and so on or and the rest. The English language is used to show the list we have written is incomplete and certain things that are not mentioned.
M.O.
You may not be familiar with the abbreviation, M.O., but you must have surely heard the Latin phrase behind this abbreviation. It is short for Latin, “Modus operandi”. Does that phrase ring a bell? Most of the murder mysteries use the word “Modus operandi”, which translates to the method of operating.
Stat
Many of the readers might not be familiar with this word or its usage. The stat is used much in medical terminology. It is short for Latin “Statim”, which stands for instantly or immediately.
We hope this small guide would help you understand some commonly use English or Latin abbreviations and help you write better.
