Determining when to use a period in relation to initials can be a tricky task. This guide will illustrate the rules and exceptions when it comes to using periods after initials.
What are Periods?
In general, a period (.) is a form of punctuation used to end a declarative sentence. Not only do periods indicate the end of a sentence, but they are also used often – though not always – after initials and with two-letter abbreviations (U.
S.).
Usage of Periods with Initials
In English language conventions, there are different rules for using periods with initials:
- A person’s initials, standing for names, are usually followed by full stops: J. D. Rockefeller.
- However, there is a trend to write such initials without full stops: J D Rockefeller.
- In a more unique case, certain initials like the ‘S’ in Harry S Truman never take a full stop, because it’s not an abbreviation of anything. The ‘S’ was given as a standalone middle name.
- When it comes to acronyms or initialisms that are commonly used in the field or widely understood, periods are not used after the capital letters in such cases. Examples are MBA, PhD, NAU.
Company Names
The application of periods also extends to the names of companies and institutions. Generally, companies that bear initials in their names have specific rules about the usage of periods and spaces:
- Some companies stick with a space between the initials, such as in P. D. Quick & Co.. .
- On the other extreme, others may prefer no spaces like J.C.
Style Guides
Different style guides such as the Chicago Manual of Style or the University Marketing Guidelines offer detailed instructions on usage of periods after initials or within abbreviations.
It’s crucial to maintain consistency in whichever guideline you adhere to, as using periods inconsistently can make the text appear unprofessional and difficult to read.
Conclusions
In summary, periods are often used after the initials that represent a person’s given names, in contravention to acronyms, where they are normally not used. While this holds true, a growing tendency to omit periods in personal initials is also recorded. Therefore, understanding the respective rules and being consistent in your punctuation usage will improve your writing and its readability.