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In writing a bio in a technical context, like an author blurb in a publication, should I use acronyms or spell them out? Always? Depending on the context?

For example:

  • Degrees: BS, MS, PhD, MCC
  • Certifications: PMP (Project Management Professional), SM (Scrum Master), ITIL
  • Technical terms: DBA, CRM, SLDC
Secespitus
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2 Answers2

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If the audience you are writing to knows what those acronyms are, then go ahead and use them. So for technical documents, resumes, etc, the audience knows what BS, MS, PhD stand for.

Personally, I didn't know the technical or certifications acronyms, but if the document you are writing is very technical and meant for technical people you can get away without spelling out the acronyms. My rule of thumb is to spell out everything at least once unless it's something that is universally understood.

eladrin201
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If the abbreviation is understood by 95% of your intended audience, and 90% of their bosses, and you would seem pretentious if you spelled out the abbreviation, abbreviate it. Of your examples, only the following ones might meet this standard:

  • BS, MS, PhD (and similarly, BA, MA, MD, JD).

While DBA often stands for "Database Administrator", it also stands for "Doing Business As", so you should spell it out. The other abbreviations should be spelled out, so that ordinary bosses can understand them.

Jasper
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