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Abbreviations commonly used when writing about music


m. measure


mm. measures

Use "m." or "measure" when referring to one bar only, and "mm." when referring to a number of bars (i.e., mm. 59-62). Avoid beginning a sentence with this or any abbreviation.

Examples:

The horns enter at m. 32.


The development section (mm. 20-30) is comparatively short.


Measure 56 marks the entrance of the trombones.


ca. circa


cm. centimeter


no. number


nos. numbers


op. opus


opp. opuses, opera


rpt. reprint, reprinted, reprinted by



The following abbreviations should be used in notes, tables, or diagrams, but generally avoided in your narrative text.

ch. chapter

ed. editor, edited by

eds. editors

edn. edition

ex(s). example, examples

facs. facsimile

l., ll. line, lines

rev. revision, revised, revised by

sc. scene

trans. translation, translated by

vol (s). volume, volumes

Latin abbreviations (no spaces; note the comma)

e.g., (exempli gratia; for example)

i.e., (id est; that is)

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