One study lists the technology-driven slang entering into use, while another shows that makes for slower reading.

Dozens of other candidates are running for the US presidency in addition to the Republican and Democratic parties representing a raft of minor parties. This guide explains the abbreviations used for these parties by the BBC on election night.

An explanation of the key parameters used in the rankings, and of any abbreviations.

Doctors are warned that ambiguous abbreviations in medical notes are putting patients' lives at risk.

The Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) produces a guide to its baffling array of abbreviations.

The guide to party name abbreviations used by the BBC.

A full guide to the party abbreviations used in BBC election coverage of the Welsh assembly election.

A guide to the abbreviations being used for all parties fielding candidates in the election.

An explanation of the key parameters used in the rankings, and of any abbreviations.

A Virginia police department adjusts to life after the 10-codes abbreviations, the BBC's James Coomarasamy reports.

With their abbreviated dialect - WLTM, GSOH, SWF - and, rather cliched appeals, personal ads these days can appear anything but personal. But it doesn't have to be that way.

An abbreviated version of the BBC's guide to facts and terminology on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

We help to explain the jargon and the buzzwords surrounding 21st Century cyber crime.

Explanation of the abbreviations used in the BBC's coverage of the local elections on 4 May 2006.

An explanation of the key parameters used in the rankings, and of any abbreviations.

An explanation of the key parameters used in the rankings, and of any abbreviations.

A guide to the abbreviations used for political parties standing in the 2005 general election.

For some, Xmas is a four-letter word. But is it really cause for complaints? BBC News investigates the origin of the word.

An explanation of the key parameters used in the rankings, and of any abbreviations used.

A guide to the abbreviations being used for all parties fielding candidates in the election.