Full stops after abbreviations

[tortoiseSHELL]

Am I right in thinking that you use a full stop after an abbreviation UNLESS the abbreviation ends in the same letter as the final letter of the full word?

So, Rev. for Reverend, Ref. for Referee, but Dr for Doctor and Mr for Mister?

I remember being taught that at primary school, but nobody else seems to have heard of it!

[edam]

I don't remember this at all. If you look at books published before WW2, they did use Mr. and Mrs. IIRC. These days tendency is for less punctuation rather than more so I wouldn't use the stop at all unless it aids understanding.

[RosaIsRed]

I wasn't taught this. My mother still uses a lot of full stops after abbreviations, but I don't use them at all - certainly not any of those that you have listed. I think they have just fallen out of use.

[wishfort]

Oh dear. I think it is an age thing. I still put the apsotrophe in 'plane and 'phone, as taught to at school.

[Eeek]

do you talk about a 'bus too? Sorry -think it's an age thing

[ScienceTeacher]

I was taught that rule, TS

[GentleOtter]

Yes, we were taught that rule T.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

It's also to do with different typing styles. Traditionally, when typing a letter, the address would be typed as:

Mr. and Mrs. J. Bloggs,
123 Any Road,
Dullsville,
England.

Now you're more likely to see it typed as:
Mr and Mrs J Bloggs
123 Any Road
Dullsville
England

I think it looks better (and is certainly quicker to type) without the punctuation, but I expect it's also an age thing.

[tortoiseSHELL]

Oh I'm glad I'm not the only one!