Abbreviations and Acronyms

Acronyms and abbreviations can have an adverse effect on clarity, voice, and search engine optimization (SEO). Although some acronyms are widely understood and preferred to the spelled-out term, others aren’t well known or are only familiar to a specific group of people.

Acronyms are words that are shortened for convenience, such as AIDS, ASAP, and SARS. Don’t create acronyms from product or feature names, unless it is a GOJO trademarked acronym like CRT® Technology. Always spell out GOJO® and PURELL® product and feature names.

Unless they are very common, abbreviations and acronyms should be spelled out on first use. Include the acronym in parentheses following the spelled-out term. On subsequent mentions in the same topic, page, or screen, you can use the acronym without spelling it out.

Some acronyms, like USB, FAQ, and URL, are more well-known than the spelled-out term. If you’re sure your audience is familiar with an acronym, it’s OK to use it without spelling it out.

Example

Distributors will receive their 2019 Trade Development Plans (TDPs) next Friday. Individual draft TDPs will be available for GOJO Sales Director review in the U: drive by the end of the day today.

Don't introduce acronyms that are used just once

If an acronym will appear only once in your content, just spell out the term. Don’t introduce it in parentheses after the spelled-out version.

Exception

It’s OK to use both the spelled-out term and the acronym if both are needed for search engine optimization, even if the acronym is used only once.

Be careful with acronyms in titles and headings

Avoid using an acronym for the first time in a title or heading, unless it’s a keyword that you need to place in the title or heading for SEO. If the first use of the acronym is in a title or heading, introduce the acronym (in parentheses, following the spelled-out term) in the following body text.

Use a or an, depending on pronunciation

Which article (a or an) you use depends on whether it is followed by a consonant or vowel sound.

Examples

a CXT™ dispensing system
an ADX™ dispensing system
an LTX™ dispensing system

Add s to make an acronym plural

Form the plural of an acronym as you would any other noun. If the acronym stands for a singular noun, add a lowercase “s” to make it plural. If an acronym stands for a plural noun, don’t add an s. Don’t add an apostrophe to make an acronym plural, unless the acronym is possessive, in which case use an apostrophe.

Examples

GOJO Fundamentals (GF) not (GFs)

Avoid the possessive form

Unless an acronym refers to a person or an organization, avoid using the possessive form.

Examples

the objective of the FAQ
the CEO’s blog
CDC’s recommendations

For a complete listing of GOJO acronyms, see the G-DEX reference on myGOJO.com.