AMA Manual of Style - Stacy L. Christiansen, Cheryl Iverson 2020
Academic Degrees and Honors
Abbreviations
To the Editor.—It seems to me that at the time that there are articles being considered (ABC), dutifully edited (DE), and found good (FG) for publication, an editor may show hesitation to interfere judiciously (HIJ), perhaps because he thinks his knowledge lacking (KL) compared with that of eminent members of national organizations (MNO), and, therefore, for the sake of peace, quiet, and restraint (PQR), he sets the text in unaltered version (STUV), thus failing to act the wise xenogogue (WX) and meekly accepting the yoke of zeitgeist (YZ).
Luke Harris, MD Summit, New Jersey
My initial instinct was to deny that allegation (DTA). But when I left “xenogogue” (XaG) alone editorially, forcing the reader to trace the word etymologically, I realized that I must plead guilty (PG). The letter is not merely delightful but instructive: Dr Harris has the courtesy to spell out each word the first time used. Other authors: please take note!—ED.
JAMA. 1975;233(11):1166.
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase that is used in place of the full word or name (eg, Dr for doctor, US for United States, dB for decibel).
An acronym is a word formed from the first letter(s) of one (or more) of the words in a phrase (eg, ANCOVA for analysis of covariance). Acronyms are pronounced as words (including such “hybrids” as DMARD for disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, EQUATOR [Network] for Enhancing the Quality and Transparency of Health Research).
An initialism is an abbreviation formed from initial letters and pronounced either as a word (eg, PAHO for Pan American Health Organization) or as a set of consecutive initials (eg, WHO for World Health Organization).
Overuse of abbreviations can be confusing and ambiguous for readers, especially those whose first language is not English or those outside a specific specialty or discipline. However, abbreviations are acceptable to use when the original word or words are repeated numerous times, are long and cumbersome to read, or cause the prose to be awkward.
Instructions for authors published in medical and scientific journals may include guidelines on the use of abbreviations. Authors, editors, manuscript editors, and others involved in preparing manuscripts should use good judgment, flexibility, and common sense when considering the use of abbreviations. Abbreviations that some consider universally known may be obscure to others. Author-invented abbreviations should be avoided. See specific entries in this section and in chapter 14, Nomenclature, for further guidance on correct use of abbreviations.
Note: The expanded form of an abbreviation is given in lowercase letters, unless the expansion contains a proper noun, is a formal name, or begins a sentence (capitalize first word only).
Do not use periods with honorifics or abbreviations (exceptions: “No.” for “number” and “ St.” when it is part of a person’s name [see 13.6, Names and Titles of Persons], although no period is used with “St” in a city name [eg, St Louis, Missouri]).
13.1 Academic Degrees and Honors.
Academic degrees are abbreviated in bylines and in the text when used with the full name of a person (see 13.6, Names and Titles of Persons). In some circumstances, however, use of the abbreviation alone is acceptable (eg, Krystal Goderitch is a doctor of medicine and also holds a PhD in biochemistry) (see 9.5, Abbreviations).
Generally, follow author preference for order of academic degrees if there is more than one.
Note: Do not use both an honorific and an academic degree with a person’s name, for example, Claudia Achenbach, MD, PhD, or Dr Claudia Achenbach (not Dr Claudia Achenbach, MD, PhD).
Authors in the military, or retired from the military, should use their academic degrees rather than their military services and titles.
Authors should list their highest academic degree in the byline. Degrees below the master’s level (eg, BS, BA), fellowship designations, or honorary degrees are generally not listed in bylines or elsewhere (see 2.2.3, Academic Degrees). However, if a bachelor’s degree is the highest degree held, it may be listed. Exceptions are also made for specialized degrees, licenses, certifications, and credentials below the master’s level in medical and health-related fields (see the following list). Any unusual degrees should be verified with the author.
APRN |
advanced practice registered nurse |
ART |
accredited record technician |
BS |
bachelor of science |
BS, BCh, BC, CB, or ChB |
bachelor of surgery |
BSN |
bachelor of science in nursing |
CDE |
certified diabetes educator |
CGC |
certified genetic counselor |
CHES |
certified health education specialist |
CIH |
certified industrial hygienist |
CNM |
certified nurse midwife |
CNMT |
certified nuclear medicine technologist |
CNP |
certified nurse practitioner |
CNS |
certified nurse specialist |
CO |
certified orthoptist |
COMT |
certified ophthalmic medical technologist |
CPFT |
certified pulmonary function technologist |
CRNA |
certified registered nurse anesthetist |
CRT |
certified respiratory therapist |
CRTT |
certified respiratory therapist technician |
CTR |
certified tumor registrar |
DC |
doctor of chiropractic |
DCh or ChD |
doctor of surgery |
DDS |
doctor of dental surgery |
DHL |
doctor of humane letters |
DMD |
doctor of dental medicine |
DME |
doctor of medical education |
DMSc |
doctor of medical science |
DNE |
doctor of nursing education |
DNS or DNSc |
doctor of nursing science |
DO or OD |
doctor of optometry |
DO |
doctor of osteopathic medicine |
DPH or DrPH |
doctor of public health; doctor of public hygiene |
DPharm |
doctor of pharmacy |
DPM |
doctor of podiatric medicine |
DPT |
doctor of physical therapy |
DNP or DrNP |
doctor of nursing practice |
DrPH |
doctor of public health |
DSW |
doctor of social work |
DTM&H |
diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene |
DTPH |
diploma in tropical pediatric hygiene |
DVM, DMV, or VMD |
doctor of veterinary medicine |
DVMS |
doctor of veterinary medicine and surgery |
DVS or DVSc |
doctor of veterinary science |
EdD |
doctor of education |
ELS |
editor in the life sciences |
EMT |
emergency medical technician |
EMT-P |
emergency medical technician-paramedic |
GNP |
gerontologic or geriatric nurse practitioner |
JD |
doctor of jurisprudence |
LCP |
licensed clinical psychologist |
LCSW |
licensed clinical social worker |
LLB |
bachelor of laws |
LLD |
doctor of laws |
LLM |
master of laws |
LPN |
licensed practical nurse |
LVN |
licensed visiting nurse; licensed vocational nurse |
M(ASCP) |
registered technologist in microbiology (American Society for Clinical Pathology) |
MA or AM |
master of arts |
MB or BM |
bachelor of medicine |
MBA |
master of business administration |
MBBS or MB,BS |
bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery |
MD or DM |
doctor of medicine |
MDiv |
master of divinity |
ME |
medical examiner |
MEd |
master of education |
MFA |
master of fine arts |
MHA |
master of hospital administration |
MIDS |
master of information and data science |
MLS |
master of library science |
MMM |
master of medical management |
MN |
master of nursing |
MPA |
master of public administration |
MPH |
master of public health |
MPharm |
master of pharmacy |
MPhil |
master of philosophy |
MPPA |
master of public policy administration |
MRCP |
member of the Royal College of Physicians |
MRCS |
member of the Royal College of Surgeons |
MS, MSc, or SM |
master of science |
MS, SM, MCh, or MSurg |
master of surgery |
MSIS |
master of information science |
MSN |
master of science in nursing |
MSPH |
master of science in public health |
MStat |
master of statistics |
MSW |
master of social welfare; master of social work |
MT |
medical technologist |
MTA |
medical technical assistant |
MT(ASCP) |
registered medical technologist (American Society for Clinical Pathology) |
MUS |
master in urban studies |
ND |
naturopathic doctor |
NP |
nurse practitioner |
OT |
occupational therapist |
OTR |
occupational therapist, registered |
PA |
physician assistant |
PA-C |
physician assistant, certified |
PharmD, DP, or PD |
doctor of pharmacy |
PhD or DPhil |
doctor of philosophy |
PhG |
graduate in pharmacy |
PNP |
pediatric nurse practitioner |
PsyD |
doctor of psychology |
PT |
physical therapist |
RD |
registered dietitian |
RDN |
registered dietitian nutritionist |
RN |
registered nurse |
RNA |
registered nurse anesthetist |
RNC or RN,C |
registered nurse, certified |
RPFT |
registered pulmonary function technologist |
RPh |
registered pharmacist |
RPT |
registered physical therapist |
RRL |
registered record librarian |
RT |
radiologic technologist; respiratory therapist |
RTR |
recreational therapist, registered |
ScD, DSc, or DS |
doctor of science |
ThD or DTh |
doctor of theology |