Key points
SEO considerations influence the use of abbreviations and acronyms.
In general avoid acronyms and abbreviations, but do use contractions.
If you do use acronyms and abbreviations, spell out the full term in the key points and the first time it appears in the body copy, then give the acronym or abbreviation in parentheses.
Compare SEO results for the full term to results for the abbreviation/acronym. You might need to use both the full term and abbreviation in the first instance in each section also.
Do not use full stops in acronyms and abbreviations formed from the first initials of separate words:
CEO not C.E.O.
When you form abbreviations by cutting off the ends of words you need a full stop:
Editor becomes Ed.
There are very few instances where you would need to do this on the website. This rule might be relevant to references and social media.
When you form abbreviations by contracting words you don't need a full stop:
Department becomes Dept
There are very few instances where you would need to do this on the website. This rule might be relevant to references and social media.
Spell out the names of Australian states and territories when they're used as a noun. You can use the appropriate abbreviation when they're used as an adjective:
New South Wales is experiencing a bad flu season.
The NSW Government has just announced its flu vaccination program.
Don't use abbreviations such as e.g. and i.e. in body copy:
Write 'for example' not e.g.
Write 'that is' not i.e.
Write 'and so on' not etc
The exception is when these abbreviations are used in character restricted fields and social media.
See also the spelling list.
Do use contractions like won't, doesn't, don't, can't, isn't and so on.