Common Latin Abbreviations

English owes thousands of words to Latin. These words were incorporated into the English language through various routes, e.g. via Greek or French. Although today Latin does not enjoy its universal appeal of old, and, as a result, interest in learning Latin is winding down and mostly confined to scholarly circles, Latin survives in and through its linguistic legacy. Part of this legacy consists in a wide range of abbreviations we use and encounter every day: For example, the abbreviation "e.g." that I used in the second period of this paragraph derives from Latin.

Here is a list of some of the most common Latin abbreviations in use in English today.

AD = Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord; used in the Christian calendar to refer to the years after the birth of Jesus Christ)

a.m./am = ante meridiem (before noon; in the morning)

BA = Baccalaureatus Artium (Bachelor of Arts)

b.i.d./bid/BID = bis in die (twice a day; used in medical prescriptions)

BSc = Baccalaureatus Scientiae (Bachelor of Science)

ca = circa (about; in a chronological sense)

cf. = confer, which is the imperative (command) form of the Latin verb "conferre" (compare)

CV = Curriculum Vitae (what in the States is more widely known as a "r�sum�")

e.g. = exempli gratia (literally: for the sake of example; for example, for instance)

et al. = et alii/et aliae (and others; commonly used in bibliographical references: This article was written by G.H. Smith et al.)

etc. = et cetera (and so on and so forth)

i.e. = id est (that is; used in explanatory phrases: The office is open on business days, i.e. Monday through Friday.)

MA = Magister Artium (Master of Arts)

MD = Medicinae Doctor (a medical doctor, a physician)

PhD = Philosophiae Doctor (literally: doctor of philosophy; can mean either the degree or the degree holder: Her brother is a PhD. He has a PhD in Biology.)

M.O. = modus operandi (operating method; way of doing something)

NB = nota bene (note well; notice especially)

p.a./pa = per annum (yearly, e.g. He makes $70,000 p.a.)

p.m./pm = post meridiem (after noon; in the afternoon or evening or at night)

P.S./PS = post scriptum (postscript to a letter)

QED = quod erat demonstrandum (which was to be proven; refers to mathematical proof)

Rx = recipe (take, receive; written by doctors at the top of a prescription; stands for a medical prescription)

RIP = requiescat in pace (rest in peace)

v/vs = versus (against; in contrast)