Do not frustrate users with too many acronyms. When you do use them, follow these rules.
How and when to use acronyms in main body content
- Spell out the full term on first use. Follow with the acronym in parentheses.
Example: The Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is open to all applicants. - On pages with 1,000 or more words or with jump links, spell out the full term plus acronym on the first use in each section. Use just the acronym for any content that follows in each section.
How and when to use acronyms in a page title/header
| If | Then | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The full name + acronym is longer than eight words | Use only the acronym in the page title | Instead of this page title: About the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Write this page title: About the WHIAANHPI |
| You use only the acronym in the page title | Use the full name + acronym in the first sentence Only use the acronym throughout the rest of the webpage | Page title: About the WHIAANHPI First sentence on page: The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) seeks to advance equity, justice and opportunity…. Any other content on page: WHIAANHPI |
| You spell out the full name + acronym in the title | Use only the acronym for the rest of the webpage | Page title: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Main body text: OASH oversees the HHS’s key public health offices and programs. |
What to write before [agency] or [acronym]
- Use the with the acronym if that’s a common use.
Examples: The FBI; The latest report from the CDC showed an increase in vaccinations.
Note: Never use The HRSA. - Use the acronym to refer to a government agency, not the Agency.
- When an acronym starts with a consonant sound, put a in front. If it starts with a vowel sound, use an.
Example: A DOJ program and an OCRDI plan
Note: People read HRSA as “hersa,” so use a, not an.
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