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Common Latin Abbreviations

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A brief summary of common Latin phrases and abbreviations used in everyday life and math or physics fields. Some phrases or abbreviations are not concluded, just because I have never seen them before, thus classified as "not frequently used".

(常用拉丁短语和缩写,主要为日常使用和数学物理领域使用。一些短语没有列出,单纯是因为我没有见过,所以被归为“不常用”.)

Abbreviation Latin Translation Usage
et al. et alii<br/>et alia<br/>et alibi "and others" Example: These results agree with the ones published by Pelon et al. (2002).<br />"Etc." should not be used for people.
etc. et cetera "and the others" Example: I need to go to the store and buy some pie, milk, cheese, etc.
e.g. exempli gratia "for example", "for instance"
i.e. id est "that is", "in other words"
N.B. nota bene "note well" To attract attention. Some people use "Note" for the same purpose.
per cent. per centum "for each one hundred" Commonly "percent" in American English.
P.S. post scriptum "after what has been written" Used to indicate additions to a text after the signature of a letter.
P.P.S. post post scriptum Sometimes extended to comical length with P.P.P.S., P.P.P.P.S., and so on.
Q.E.D. quod erat demonstrandum "that which was to be demonstrated". Cited in many texts at the end of a mathematical proof.
Re in re "in the matter of", "concerning" Functions as an abbreviation of "reply" in e-mails.
R.I.P. requiescat in pace "may they rest in peace"
vs. or v. versus "against"
C.V., cv or CV curriculum vitae "course of life"
A.M. ante meridiem "before midday"
P.M. post meridiem "after midday"
Vice versa “the position having been reversed”<br />the other way round Example: He doesn't trust her, and vice versa (= she also doesn't trust him).
Ad hoc when necessary or needed Example: The mayor appointed an ad hoc committee to study the project.
in situ in the original place
ex situ out of the original place

Reference

  1. List of Latin abbreviations - Wikipedia
  2. 英文写作中的拉丁文短语缩写