What is the correct abbreviation for the word “numbers”?

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What is the correct abbreviation for the words numbers and number?

Nos.

Possible example usage:

"Number of guests" where the word number is abbreviated

"Numbers 10–15 are located in the top shelf."

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

11

The shortest expression is just #.

– user13141
Sep 24 '11 at 6:22

1

Sometimes there is a separate abbreviation for it... №

– GEdgar
Sep 24 '11 at 17:18

1

Does anyone find it odd when an abbreviation includes one or more letters that do not appear in the word being abbreviated?

– user45992
Jun 13 '13 at 13:07

1

@onomatomaniak The hash sign # is not a common or standard indication for 'number' in the UK. I do not know whether it is used in other English-speaking countries outside the US.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 22:58

1

@user45992 I believe the 'o' in the abbreviation for 'number' comes from 'numero' (or a similar foreign word). lb & oz also include letters not in the corresponding English word. And where does the $ symbol come from - no 'S' in dollar.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 23:01

|
show 1 more comment

What is the correct abbreviation for the words numbers and number?

Nos.

Possible example usage:

"Number of guests" where the word number is abbreviated

"Numbers 10–15 are located in the top shelf."

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

11

The shortest expression is just #.

– user13141
Sep 24 '11 at 6:22

1

Sometimes there is a separate abbreviation for it... №

– GEdgar
Sep 24 '11 at 17:18

1

Does anyone find it odd when an abbreviation includes one or more letters that do not appear in the word being abbreviated?

– user45992
Jun 13 '13 at 13:07

1

@onomatomaniak The hash sign # is not a common or standard indication for 'number' in the UK. I do not know whether it is used in other English-speaking countries outside the US.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 22:58

1

@user45992 I believe the 'o' in the abbreviation for 'number' comes from 'numero' (or a similar foreign word). lb & oz also include letters not in the corresponding English word. And where does the $ symbol come from - no 'S' in dollar.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 23:01

|
show 1 more comment

What is the correct abbreviation for the words numbers and number?

Nos.

Possible example usage:

"Number of guests" where the word number is abbreviated

"Numbers 10–15 are located in the top shelf."

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

What is the correct abbreviation for the words numbers and number?

Nos.

Possible example usage:

"Number of guests" where the word number is abbreviated

"Numbers 10–15 are located in the top shelf."

abbreviations

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

edited Oct 14 '12 at 18:26

RegDwigнt♦

83.6k31282382

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

asked Sep 24 '11 at 4:55

Ahmad

258135

11

The shortest expression is just #.

– user13141
Sep 24 '11 at 6:22

1

Sometimes there is a separate abbreviation for it... №

– GEdgar
Sep 24 '11 at 17:18

1

Does anyone find it odd when an abbreviation includes one or more letters that do not appear in the word being abbreviated?

– user45992
Jun 13 '13 at 13:07

1

@onomatomaniak The hash sign # is not a common or standard indication for 'number' in the UK. I do not know whether it is used in other English-speaking countries outside the US.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 22:58

1

@user45992 I believe the 'o' in the abbreviation for 'number' comes from 'numero' (or a similar foreign word). lb & oz also include letters not in the corresponding English word. And where does the $ symbol come from - no 'S' in dollar.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 23:01

|
show 1 more comment

11

The shortest expression is just #.

– user13141
Sep 24 '11 at 6:22

1

Sometimes there is a separate abbreviation for it... №

– GEdgar
Sep 24 '11 at 17:18

1

Does anyone find it odd when an abbreviation includes one or more letters that do not appear in the word being abbreviated?

– user45992
Jun 13 '13 at 13:07

1

@onomatomaniak The hash sign # is not a common or standard indication for 'number' in the UK. I do not know whether it is used in other English-speaking countries outside the US.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 22:58

1

@user45992 I believe the 'o' in the abbreviation for 'number' comes from 'numero' (or a similar foreign word). lb & oz also include letters not in the corresponding English word. And where does the $ symbol come from - no 'S' in dollar.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 23:01

The shortest expression is just #.

– user13141
Sep 24 '11 at 6:22

Sometimes there is a separate abbreviation for it... №

– GEdgar
Sep 24 '11 at 17:18

Does anyone find it odd when an abbreviation includes one or more letters that do not appear in the word being abbreviated?

– user45992
Jun 13 '13 at 13:07

@onomatomaniak The hash sign # is not a common or standard indication for 'number' in the UK. I do not know whether it is used in other English-speaking countries outside the US.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 22:58

@user45992 I believe the 'o' in the abbreviation for 'number' comes from 'numero' (or a similar foreign word). lb & oz also include letters not in the corresponding English word. And where does the $ symbol come from - no 'S' in dollar.

– TrevorD
Aug 13 '13 at 23:01

|
show 1 more comment

4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

It is highly unlikely that there is a global standard. It differs based on practice and the standards set by the relevant authorities (publishers and the like).

Ex: The Oxford Journal Instructions for Authors suggests (Sec. 2.3):

Abbreviations where the last letter of the singular word is not included take a full stop (vol., vols./ed., eds.). The abbreviation for number is no./nos. Abbreviated unit of measurements do not take a full stop (lb, mm, kg) and do not take a final 's' in the plural.

This is a suggestion from Cambridge Dictionary for use of no. as the abbreviation for number.

edited Sep 24 '11 at 6:06

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question.

– Peter Shor
Sep 24 '11 at 17:59

2

Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one?

– Marcel Gosselin
Mar 13 '12 at 17:15

Covered in that definition: "No. of guests."

– The Nate
Oct 12 '16 at 6:56

add a comment |

Cambridge dictionary only gives the abbreviation no. when number refers to a numeral, a position or identification, not a quantity, amount or calculation : http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/number_1

Therefore I understand "Number of guests" should not be abbreviated.

In other words, the ordinal number (e.g. No. 3, which indicates a position in an ordered list) is abbreviated, but the cardinal number (e.g. Number of guests, which indicates a numeric quantity) is not abbreviated.

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

1

I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.

– supercat
Aug 28 '14 at 22:01

add a comment |

I use "num" or "nm" instead of "no" to avoid confusion with "yes/no" meaning -- especially in my computer programming variable names.

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

1

I use nof, which means "number of". Instead of nm_eggs_in_basket, nof_eggs_in_basket.

– Pacerier
Mar 2 '16 at 18:58

2

Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion: test_validates_reference_no_format

– Artur Beljajev
Oct 3 '18 at 14:06

add a comment |

Per Wikipedia — Numero sign, it's also possible to use " Nº " and " No̲ ":

The numero sign or numero symbol, № (also represented as Nº, No̲, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word number(s) indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles.

For example, with the numero sign, the written long-form of the address "Number 22 Acacia Avenue" is shortened to "№ 22 Acacia Avenue", yet both forms are spoken long.

Though it doesn't seem to be common.

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

add a comment |

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4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

4 Answers
4

active

oldest

votes

It is highly unlikely that there is a global standard. It differs based on practice and the standards set by the relevant authorities (publishers and the like).

Ex: The Oxford Journal Instructions for Authors suggests (Sec. 2.3):

Abbreviations where the last letter of the singular word is not included take a full stop (vol., vols./ed., eds.). The abbreviation for number is no./nos. Abbreviated unit of measurements do not take a full stop (lb, mm, kg) and do not take a final 's' in the plural.

This is a suggestion from Cambridge Dictionary for use of no. as the abbreviation for number.

edited Sep 24 '11 at 6:06

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question.

– Peter Shor
Sep 24 '11 at 17:59

2

Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one?

– Marcel Gosselin
Mar 13 '12 at 17:15

Covered in that definition: "No. of guests."

– The Nate
Oct 12 '16 at 6:56

add a comment |

It is highly unlikely that there is a global standard. It differs based on practice and the standards set by the relevant authorities (publishers and the like).

Ex: The Oxford Journal Instructions for Authors suggests (Sec. 2.3):

Abbreviations where the last letter of the singular word is not included take a full stop (vol., vols./ed., eds.). The abbreviation for number is no./nos. Abbreviated unit of measurements do not take a full stop (lb, mm, kg) and do not take a final 's' in the plural.

This is a suggestion from Cambridge Dictionary for use of no. as the abbreviation for number.

edited Sep 24 '11 at 6:06

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question.

– Peter Shor
Sep 24 '11 at 17:59

2

Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one?

– Marcel Gosselin
Mar 13 '12 at 17:15

Covered in that definition: "No. of guests."

– The Nate
Oct 12 '16 at 6:56

add a comment |

It is highly unlikely that there is a global standard. It differs based on practice and the standards set by the relevant authorities (publishers and the like).

Ex: The Oxford Journal Instructions for Authors suggests (Sec. 2.3):

Abbreviations where the last letter of the singular word is not included take a full stop (vol., vols./ed., eds.). The abbreviation for number is no./nos. Abbreviated unit of measurements do not take a full stop (lb, mm, kg) and do not take a final 's' in the plural.

This is a suggestion from Cambridge Dictionary for use of no. as the abbreviation for number.

edited Sep 24 '11 at 6:06

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

It is highly unlikely that there is a global standard. It differs based on practice and the standards set by the relevant authorities (publishers and the like).

Ex: The Oxford Journal Instructions for Authors suggests (Sec. 2.3):

Abbreviations where the last letter of the singular word is not included take a full stop (vol., vols./ed., eds.). The abbreviation for number is no./nos. Abbreviated unit of measurements do not take a full stop (lb, mm, kg) and do not take a final 's' in the plural.

This is a suggestion from Cambridge Dictionary for use of no. as the abbreviation for number.

edited Sep 24 '11 at 6:06

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

edited Sep 24 '11 at 6:06

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

answered Sep 24 '11 at 6:01

check123

1,88521315

But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question.

– Peter Shor
Sep 24 '11 at 17:59

2

Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one?

– Marcel Gosselin
Mar 13 '12 at 17:15

Covered in that definition: "No. of guests."

– The Nate
Oct 12 '16 at 6:56

add a comment |

But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question.

– Peter Shor
Sep 24 '11 at 17:59

2

Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one?

– Marcel Gosselin
Mar 13 '12 at 17:15

Covered in that definition: "No. of guests."

– The Nate
Oct 12 '16 at 6:56

But no. is surely the abbreviation for "number" and nos. is the abbreviation for "numbers" in the Oxford Instructions. The "do not take a final 's' in the plural" only applies to lb, mm, kg, and so forth, and is irrelevant to this question.

– Peter Shor
Sep 24 '11 at 17:59

Both Oxford and Cambridge links explain the usage for "Client No. 5" but I don't see an answer for the case "Number of guests". Anyone have an answer to that one?

– Marcel Gosselin
Mar 13 '12 at 17:15

Covered in that definition: "No. of guests."

– The Nate
Oct 12 '16 at 6:56

add a comment |

Therefore I understand "Number of guests" should not be abbreviated.

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

1

I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.

– supercat
Aug 28 '14 at 22:01

add a comment |

Therefore I understand "Number of guests" should not be abbreviated.

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

1

I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.

– supercat
Aug 28 '14 at 22:01

add a comment |

Therefore I understand "Number of guests" should not be abbreviated.

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

Therefore I understand "Number of guests" should not be abbreviated.

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

edited Dec 18 '13 at 5:31

anongoodnurse

51k14108191

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

answered Apr 28 '13 at 8:48

Carme

10112

1

I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.

– supercat
Aug 28 '14 at 22:01

add a comment |

1

I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.

– supercat
Aug 28 '14 at 22:01

I don't think the number need necessarily be an ordinal; what is important is that "no." is used with a number to identify something. The fact that two widgets have serial nos. 29432100 and 29432200 does not mean that there were 29,432,099 widgets produced before the first, nor that there were necessarily 99 widgets produced between them--it merely means that those numbers identify the widgets in question.

– supercat
Aug 28 '14 at 22:01

add a comment |

I use "num" or "nm" instead of "no" to avoid confusion with "yes/no" meaning -- especially in my computer programming variable names.

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

1

I use nof, which means "number of". Instead of nm_eggs_in_basket, nof_eggs_in_basket.

– Pacerier
Mar 2 '16 at 18:58

2

Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion: test_validates_reference_no_format

– Artur Beljajev
Oct 3 '18 at 14:06

add a comment |

I use "num" or "nm" instead of "no" to avoid confusion with "yes/no" meaning -- especially in my computer programming variable names.

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

1

I use nof, which means "number of". Instead of nm_eggs_in_basket, nof_eggs_in_basket.

– Pacerier
Mar 2 '16 at 18:58

2

Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion: test_validates_reference_no_format

– Artur Beljajev
Oct 3 '18 at 14:06

add a comment |

I use "num" or "nm" instead of "no" to avoid confusion with "yes/no" meaning -- especially in my computer programming variable names.

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

I use "num" or "nm" instead of "no" to avoid confusion with "yes/no" meaning -- especially in my computer programming variable names.

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

answered Apr 23 '14 at 9:00

Arden Weiss

52133

1

I use nof, which means "number of". Instead of nm_eggs_in_basket, nof_eggs_in_basket.

– Pacerier
Mar 2 '16 at 18:58

2

Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion: test_validates_reference_no_format

– Artur Beljajev
Oct 3 '18 at 14:06

add a comment |

1

I use nof, which means "number of". Instead of nm_eggs_in_basket, nof_eggs_in_basket.

– Pacerier
Mar 2 '16 at 18:58

2

Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion: test_validates_reference_no_format

– Artur Beljajev
Oct 3 '18 at 14:06

I use nof, which means "number of". Instead of nm_eggs_in_basket, nof_eggs_in_basket.

– Pacerier
Mar 2 '16 at 18:58

Indeed, using "no" can lead to confusion: test_validates_reference_no_format

– Artur Beljajev
Oct 3 '18 at 14:06

add a comment |

Per Wikipedia — Numero sign, it's also possible to use " Nº " and " No̲ ":

The numero sign or numero symbol, № (also represented as Nº, No̲, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word number(s) indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles.

For example, with the numero sign, the written long-form of the address "Number 22 Acacia Avenue" is shortened to "№ 22 Acacia Avenue", yet both forms are spoken long.

Though it doesn't seem to be common.

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

add a comment |

Per Wikipedia — Numero sign, it's also possible to use " Nº " and " No̲ ":

The numero sign or numero symbol, № (also represented as Nº, No̲, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word number(s) indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles.

For example, with the numero sign, the written long-form of the address "Number 22 Acacia Avenue" is shortened to "№ 22 Acacia Avenue", yet both forms are spoken long.

Though it doesn't seem to be common.

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

add a comment |

Per Wikipedia — Numero sign, it's also possible to use " Nº " and " No̲ ":

The numero sign or numero symbol, № (also represented as Nº, No̲, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word number(s) indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles.

For example, with the numero sign, the written long-form of the address "Number 22 Acacia Avenue" is shortened to "№ 22 Acacia Avenue", yet both forms are spoken long.

Though it doesn't seem to be common.

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

Per Wikipedia — Numero sign, it's also possible to use " Nº " and " No̲ ":

The numero sign or numero symbol, № (also represented as Nº, No̲, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word number(s) indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles.

For example, with the numero sign, the written long-form of the address "Number 22 Acacia Avenue" is shortened to "№ 22 Acacia Avenue", yet both forms are spoken long.

Though it doesn't seem to be common.

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

answered Mar 2 '16 at 19:06

Pacerier

3,3522774120

add a comment |

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