In old newspapers, publishers and typesetters strived to save space, which meant saving paper and ink. As a result, when researching old newspapers, you will encounter many abbreviations that are not readily understood. Below is a list of 100 common abbreviations that you might run across.
Newspaper Abbreviations
- A.D. – Anno Domini (in the year of our Lord)
- A.M. – Ante Meridiem (before noon)
- Adj. – Adjutant
- Agt. – Agent
- Ald. – Alderman
- Asst. – Assistant
- Atty. – Attorney
- Ave. – Avenue
- B.C. – Before Christ
- Bd. – Board
- Bldg. – Building
- Blvd. – Boulevard
- Bros. – Brothers
- C.O.D. – Cash on Delivery
- Capt. – Captain
- Chas. – Charles
- Co. – Company
- Col. – Colonel
- Com. – Communicated (written by someone other than a staff writer)
- Corp. – Corporation
- Dept. – Department
- Dept. – Department
- Dist. – District
- Dr. – Doctor
- Ed. – Edition
- Eng. – Engineer
- Esq. – Esquire
- Et al. – And others
- Etc. – Et cetera (and so on)
- Ex. – Example
- Exr. – Executor
- Exrx. – Executrix
- Fig. – Figure
- Frt. – Freight
- Ft. – Fort
- Gen. – General
- Geo. – George
- Gov. – Governor
- Gov. – Governor
- Govt. – Government
- Hon. – Honorable
- Hwy. – Highway
- Inc. – Incorporated
- Inst. – Instant (current month)
- Int. – Interest
- Inv. – Inventory
- J.P. – Justice of the Peace
- Jas. – James
- Jno. – John
- Jr. – Junior
- L.C. – Lower Case
- Lt. – Lieutenant
- Ltd. – Limited
- M.D. – Doctor of Medicine
- Mfg. – Manufacturing
- Mgr. – Manager
- Mkt. – Market
- Mo. – Month
- Mt. – Mount
- Mtge. – Mortgage
- N.B. – Nota Bene (note well)
- N.C. – No Charge
- N.S. – New Style (dates after 1752)
- N.Y. – New York
- Née – Born (used to indicate a woman’s maiden name)
- No. – Number
- O.K. – Okay
- O.S. – Old Style (dates before 1752)
- P.M. – Post Meridiem (after noon)
- P.O. – Post Office
- P.S. – Post Script
- Pg. – Page
- Ph.D. – Doctor of Philosophy
- Pres. – President
- Prof. – Professor
- Prox. – Proximo (next month)
- Pt. – Part
- R.R. – Railroad
- Rd. – Road
- Recd. – Received
- Recpt. – Receipt
- Ref. – Reference
- Reg. – Register
- Relict – Surviving spouse, often a widow
- Rep. – Representative
- Res. – Residence
- Rev. – Revenue
- Rev. – Reverend
- Rte. – Route
- Sec. – Secretary
- Sec. – Section
- Sr. – Senior
- St. – Street
- Supt. – Superintendent
- Tel. – Telegram
- Thos. – Thomas
- Ult. – Ultimo (last month)
- Vol. – Volume
- Wm. – William
- Yr. – Year
As a bonus, below is a list of a few newspaper-related terms that we likely use in regular conversation
(Source: englishgrammar.org):
Newspaper Terms We Use in Everyday Conversation
- Read between the lines: This means to look for hidden meanings or understand something that is not directly stated in the text.
- Hot off the press: Refers to something that is very new or freshly printed, just like a newspaper that has just been printed.
- Extra, extra, read all about it!: An exclamation often used in old movies to announce breaking news or something sensational.
- Stop the presses: This phrase is used to emphasize the urgency of breaking news or to halt a publication to include new information.
- Yesterday’s news: Refers to something that is no longer relevant or interesting because it is old or outdated, like yesterday’s newspaper.
- Front-page news: This describes something significant or important, as it would be featured on the front page of a newspaper.
- In black and white: This means that something is clearly written or printed, and thus just like text in a newspaper.
- Hold the press: Similar to “stop the presses,” it’s used to express that something important has just come up and needs immediate attention.
- News junkie: A person who is always eager to get the latest news and stays updated on current events.
- Above the fold: In the newspaper industry, the most important stories were traditionally placed on the top half of the front page. “Above the fold” means something is prominent or important.
- Hot to go to press: Refers to the time when a newspaper is set for printing.
- Put out a newspaper: Means to publish or release a newspaper.
- Hit the headlines: When something becomes big news and is widely reported in the media.
- Make headlines: To be the subject of news stories and articles.