Afkortanir

Afkortanir, or abbreviations, are shortened forms of words or phrases used in writing and speech to save space or effort. In Icelandic usage they serve in everyday correspondence, media, science, administration, and signposting. Afkortanir can arise in several ways: from initial letters of a phrase, from parts of words (clipping), or from a combination of both.

The main types are initialisms, where the letters are read separately (for example, t.d. for til dæmis), acronyms, where the abbreviation is spoken as a single word, and clipping, where only part of a word is used. In addition to these, units of measure and institutional titles often appear in abbreviated form. In practice, Icelandic text may use periods after each letter in longer initialisms or omit punctuation in contemporary usage; capitalization follows standard rules for proper nouns and sentence starts.

Usage and style guidelines emphasize clarity. Abbreviations are most effective when their meaning is established early in the text; repeated use without definition should be avoided. New abbreviations are typically introduced with a full form at first use and defined for the reader. In formal writing, authorities and dictionaries guide which abbreviations are standard, while in technical fields glossaries provide field-specific shorthand.

Overall, afkortanir reflect efficiency in written communication but must be used judiciously to maintain readability and avoid ambiguity. They are part of the evolving orthography and style of Icelandic, shaped by dictionaries, language guidelines, and practical communication needs.