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Abbreviated styles

Some styles of writing and speech have their own special grammar rules, often because of the need to save space or time.

Advertisements and instructions​

Small ads and instructions often leave out articles, subject or object pronouns, forms of be and prepositions.

  • Single man looking for flat Oxford area. Phone 806127 weekends.
  • Job needed urgently. Will do anything legal. Call 312654.
  • Pour mixture into large saucepan, heat until boiling, then add three pounds sugar and leave on low heat for 45 minutes.

Notes​

Informal notes, to-do lists, diary entries, etc often follow similar rules.

  • Gone to hairdresser. Back 12.30.
  • Get tickets
  • phone Anna
  • see Josh 11.00
  • meeting Emma lunch

The same style is common in postcards, emails and text messages.

Text version

Sender: AMY

Hi, Gran

Watching tennis on TV. A good book. Three meals a day. No washing-up. Clean sheets every day. Everything done for me. Yes, you‘ve guessed - in hospital!! Only went to doctor for cold - landed up in hospital with pneumonia!! If you have time please tell the others - would love some letters to cheer me up.
Hope to see you.
Love, Amy

Text version

To: joe@gcom.org.net
Cc:
Subject: meeting

Hi Joe,

Tell Dan can‘t manage meeting, papers attached, will fix new date for next week.

Cheers, Ally

Commentaries​

Commentaries on fast-moving events like football matches also have their own kind of grammar. Auxiliaries and other less important verbs are often left out.

  • Goal kick … And the score still Spurs 1, Arsenal 3 … that’s Pearce … Pearce to Coates … good ball … Sawyer running wide … Billings takes it, through to Matthews, Matthews with a cross, oh, and Billings in beautifully, a good chance there – and it’s a goal!

Titles, notices, etc​

Titles, labels, headings, notices and slogans usually consist of short phrases, not complete sentences. Articles are often left out, especially in the names of buildings and institutions.

  • ROYAL HOTEL
  • INFORMATION OFFICE
  • MORE MONEY FOR NURSES!

Headlines​

News headlines have their own special grammar and vocabulary. For details, (see here).

  • RECORD DRUGS HAUL AT AIRPORT: SIX HELD
  • FOUR DIE IN M6 BLAZE
note

For other rules about leaving words out (‘ellipsis’), (see here).