Typing Productivity - Part 2 - Long Words

A Free Document Productivity Tool for Word

This tool describes uses an abbreviation system to reduce the typing load for business and technical documents. 

See Part 1 for information on dealing phrases and acronyms. It also contains information abbreviation systems in general and discusses typing expanders.   
Part  2 deals with abbreviations for long words and words that are very frequently used.  Part 3 provides a tool that automates the job of looking up and adding new abbreviations. Part 4 allows you to bulk import and export your abbreviations, and includes a dictionary of over 1000 abbreviations.

The B2E System – Part 2 - Long Words

Rule 4 - Long words

For long words use the beginning letter, three characters from the second syllable and the last letter.  For example:

clabe = collaborate (colaborate)

epert = experiment (experiment)

acren = accreditation (accreditation)

acumd = accumulated (accumulated)

ctifg = certifying (certifying)

The name of the B2E system is derived from this rule, the characters in the abbreviation are b222e, where b = the beginning of the word, 222=start of the 2nd syllable, and e=end.

The rule works because all you need to do is sound the word out in your head as you type. The abbreviation naturally falls out of this process without intruding on the flow of content.

It produces remarkably few collisions, and focuses on long words (3+ syllables) where the accuracy and speed payback is greatest.

Rule 5 – Compound Words

For hyphenated words, treat them like two work phrases For example:

self-service (self-service)

For compound words, or prefix type hyphenated words, use the beginning letter plus the start of the second word and the end letter. For example:

wstrm = workstream (workstream)

wlisd = whitelisted (whitelisted)

The rule can be summarized by b222e where b = the beginning of the first word, 222=start of the 2nd word, and e=end 

Rule 6 - Frequently used Short Words, Phrases and Compounds

For frequently used short words, use the beginning letter of the first and second syllable.  For example:

sv = service (service)

For frequently used short phrases, use the beginning letter of each word. For example:

uc = use case (use case)

p1 = phase 1 (phase 1)

For frequently used short compound words, use the beginning letter, of each:

pw = password (password)

ol = Outlook (Outlook)

sp = SharePoint (SharePoint)

Rule 7 – Suffixes

If you need plurals, always  use the s=suffix. For example:

egagt = engagement

egagts = engagements

The rule applies even of the plural is not a simple addition of "s".  For example:

psiby = possibility (possibility)

psibys =possibilities (possibilities)

Words that naturally end in d may need an extra d suffix.  For example:

rcomd = recommend (recommend)

rcomdd = recommended (recommended)

Further Notes

Abbreviation Families

When I enter an abbreviation, I usually enter the full set of endings for the root word.

icore = incorporate
icord = incorporated
icorn = incorporation
icorg = incorporating
icors  = incorporates

Collisions

Collisions can happen – consider if the two words are worth abbreviating – one may be too short. 

Consider entering the start of both words and add "X" where the duplication starts, this is your clue to remove the X and add the remainder.


Collisions may also challenge the way you pronounce words.

Capitals

Autocorrect will handle capitalisation correctly.  If you enter the first letter of the abbreviation as a capital the full text will also be captialisted

Type: egagt  you get: engagement

Type: Egagt you get: Engagement

Next Post

The next post will provide tools that automate the task of adding new abbreviations using the rules published in part 1 and Part 2.