##  [Latin terms and abbreviations](/writing-tips-plus/latin-terms-and-abbreviations)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

Follow the guidelines below when using Latin terms and abbreviations.

## On this page

- [When to use italics with Latin terms](#when-to-use)
- [Latin terms that are always italicized](#always-italicized)
- [How to write abbreviations for Latin terms](#how-to-write)
- [Roman type with Latin abbreviations](#roman-type)
- [Periods with Latin abbreviations](#periods)

## When to use italics with Latin terms

Latin terms or phrases may be printed in either roman or italic type, depending on the degree to which the term has been assimilated into English.

Roman type is used for Latin terms in widespread use in English:

- ad nauseam
- ad infinitum
- add a caveat, come with a caveat

In contrast, italics are used for less familiar terms:

- *ad interim* italicized (for the meantime)
- *Caveat emptor* italicized (Let the buyer beware)

If you’re unsure whether to italicize a specific term, the easiest solution is to check the Canadian Oxford Dictionary; if the term is normally italicized, it will be italicized in the dictionary entry.

### Latin terms that are always italicized

The following Latin reference terms are always italicized:

Table showing Latin terms that are always italicized, along with their meanings
| Latin term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| *idem* | in the same place |
| *infra* | below |
| *sic* | thus, so |
| *supra* | above |
| *vide* | see |

## How to write abbreviations for Latin terms

The guidelines for writing Latin abbreviations are different from those governing Latin terms.

### Roman type with Latin abbreviations

In non-legal writing, the abbreviations for Latin expressions are generally printed in roman type, even when the full term is italicized. The table below shows some of the most common examples:

Table showing common abbreviations for Latin expressions, along with their meanings
| Abbreviation | Long form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| AD | Anno Domini | in the year of the Lord |
| ca. | *circa* italicized | about |
| cf. | *confer* italicized | compare |
| e.g. | *exempli gratia* italicized | for example |
| et al. | *et alia* italicized | and others |
| etc. | et cetera | and the rest |
| et seq. | *et sequentia* italicized | and the following |
| ibid. | *ibidem* italicized | in the same place |
| id. | *idem* italicized | in the same place (used in legal writing) |
| i.e. | *id est* italicized | that is |
| loc. cit. | *loco citato* italicized | in the passage cited earlier |
| NB | *nota bene* italicized | take careful note |
| op. cit. | *opere citato* italicized | in the work cited earlier |
| PS | *postscriptum* italicized | postscript |
| QED | *quod erat demonstrandum* italicized | which was to be proved |
| q.v. | *quod vide* italicized | see this |
| v., vs. | versus | versus |
| viz. | videlicet | namely, in other words |

### Periods with Latin abbreviations

When a Latin abbreviation consists of two abbreviated terms, a period follows each abbreviated term, as in the following examples:

- e.g.
- i.e.
- loc. cit.
- op. cit.
- q.v.

Note that there’s no space after the first period in the abbreviations **e.g.**, **i.e.** and **q.v.**

#### Terms that never require periods

The following Latin terms are **not** abbreviations and are never followed by a period unless they’re placed at the end of a sentence:

Table showing Latin terms that are not abbreviations, along with their meanings
| Latin term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ad | to, towards |
| ad hoc | for this |
| et | and |
| ex | out of, from |
| finis | the end |
| *idem* | in the same place |
| in | in |
| *infra* | below |
| par | equal |
| per | through; by, by means of |
| pro | for, on behalf of |
| re | in the matter of; regarding |
| *sic* | thus, so |
| *supra* | above |
| via | way; by way of; by means of |

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- [Abbreviations, acronyms and symbols](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Latin abbreviations](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A447&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A450#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Punctuation](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A491#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Punctuation marks](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A491&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A494#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Vocabulary](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A500#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Latin terms](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A500&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A505#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Writing conventions](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A512#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)
- [Italics](/fr/navigateur-navigator?search_api_fulltext=-&field_writing_tools=All&sort_by=views&f%5B0%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A512&f%5B1%5D=navigateur_navigator_english_theme%3A514#navigateur-navigator-resultats-results)

## Liens connexes

- [Writing Tips Plus](/fr/writing-tips-plus/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
- [Navigateur linguistique](/fr/navigateur-navigator) (permet de trouver rapidement des conseils linguistiques)
- [TERMIUM Plus®](http://www.btb.termiumplus.gc.ca/tpv2alpha/alpha-fra.html?lang=fra)