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)