Am I mental?

[HeyWayne]

Before you answer enthusiastically, allow me to explain...

Back in the day when I started my marketing "career" I was a Marketing Assistant, and one of my tasks at the time was a bit of data cleaning.

This involved ensuring that the info we held on our customers was all correct, and in the same format - including addresses.

During this time I developed a bit of a pet hate for abbreviated county names - Beds, Herts, Bucks etc, and preferred to use the proper and full names - Oxon being one that particularly grated.

Ever since, when writing/typing addresses I always alter abbreviations, or if someone has abbreviated on a form, I still use the full version.

Why abbreviate anyway - what's the point?

Anyone else, or do I call the men in white coats now?

[zazen999]

No you aren't mental. There's nothing worse than pivot tabling and having 10 different spellings of the same thing.

Well, there's probably SOME things that are worse, but not many.

[Rhona]

I hate abbreviations too... in my working life, I frequently had to attend counsel's conferences which are ALWAYS called 'cons' (except by me). And lots of others. I even feel a bit uncomfortable with text abbreviations, and always type full words. I used to dicate dozens of letters and always returned any with abbreviations to be corrected. Something my secretary LOVED obviously...

I don't THINK it's menkal, it might be a bit old-fashioned, but I like language and it just seems right to me to see a nice full word...

[Pootle]

If you are, them so am I. I hate abbreviations too.

Can't even bring myself to use 'text speak', so my texts are all in long hand and properly punctuated...I am a saddo

[bubblewrap]

How does Shropshire become Salop?

[Irie Jan]

Many people are just too lazy to do things properly! In business especially, corners should not be cut! To my mind that is just lazy and rude as well but there you go I was bought up the old way by my mum and more especially my dad bless him! He would always say if a job is worth doing then do it properly! We used to knick name him professor Higgins! (God rest you dad!)

[piskieinboots]

.. Oxon being one that particularly grated.

no white coats needed hun, you are in excellent company.

I currently live in Oxfordshire, I have lived in Hampshire not Hants, Middlesex not whatever it is they do for that one - yuk
...oh and Cornwallshire obviously

[Mikey]

I grew up in Powys, which really isn't worth shortening, so had never really noticed this phenomenon. Now I live in Mid Glam.

[pipscariad]

Can't even bring myself to use 'text speak', so my texts are all in long hand and properly punctuated...I am a saddo

Which also makes me one, as I do the same... Now and then I'll have a wild moment and use 2 rather than to, but that's about it!

Now I live in Mid Glam.

That's what I am on a night out. Sometimes I'll really push the boat out and do Upper Glam

[piskieinboots]

That's what I am on a night out. Sometimes I'll really push the boat out and do Upper Glam

I lived in South Glam - hum!

[pipscariad]

I lived in South Glam - hum!

Betcha used to keep those legs and stuff smooth and silky then, didn't ya!

[Flummery]

How does Shropshire become Salop?

From the Latin (Salopiensis or summat - even I'm not old enough to speak Latin!) Anywhere with a Bishop has an episcopal title for him in Latin - Cantuar for the Arshbishop of Canterbury for example.

[Flummery]

I remember the opening of a Christmas Fair (televised - shudder) at which the Lord Mayor of Hull welcomed everyone to "This Exmas Fair" - I hate the abbreviation Xmas but for the daft chump to pronounced it - in public - on the telly - I was horrified!

[piskieinboots]

Betcha used to keep those legs and stuff smooth and silky then, didn't ya!

yer - well I had only been married to Snowdrop for a couple weeks when we were posted there

[SarzWix]

Sometimes I use abbreviations, sometimes I don't. Depends on time, space available etc. For instance, my sister lives in Gloucestershire, which is quite a big word in my loopy handwriting, so that sometimes turns into Gloucs. I'm cool with it either way. As long as people do actually know what the word should be in the first place, I don't mind.