ClearTips: Edit yourself

Initials

The main problem with initials is that they are difficult to understand. If you must use them, spell the words they represent on their first appearance, followed by the initials in parentheses [the gross national product (GNP)], and then use initials. Initials read one by one are preceded by an article (the GNP); those read as a word are not (OPEC).

INCONSISTENT
CONSISTENT
by OPEC on one page and by the OPEC on the next
CHANGE TO
by OPEC on one page and by OPEC on the next
of the GNP on one page and of GNP on the next
CHANGE TO
of the GNP on one page and of the GNP on the next
the United States on one page and the U.S. on the next
CHANGE TO
the United States on one page and the United States on the next

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