2.3 Abbreviations
Abbreviations are commonly used to help simplify a drawing and conserve space. Although many fields share common abbreviation conventions, there are also field- or trades-specific conventions that you will see as you become more specialized. Here is a common list of abbreviations that are used on drawings. Each trade will have specific abbreviations from this list, and therefore a set of drawings will usually include an abbreviation key.
| AB | anchor bolt | HLS | holes | REF | reference |
| ABT | about | HSS | hollow structural steel | REQ'D | required |
| AUX | auxiliary | ID | inside diameter | REV | revision |
| BC | bolt circle | IN | inches | RF | raised face |
| BBE | bevel both ends | INT | internal | RH | right hand |
| BCD | bolt circle diameter | ISO | International Standards Organization | SCH | schedule |
| BOE | bevel one end | KP | kick plate | SI | International System of Units |
| BE | both ends | LH | left hand | SPECS | specifications |
| BL | baseline | LAT | lateral | SQ | square |
| BM | benchmark | LR | long radius | SM | seam |
| Btm | bottom | LG | long | SMLS | seamless |
| BP | base plate | MB | machine bolt | S/S | seam to seam |
| B/P | blueprint | MS | mild steel | SO | slip on |
| BLD | blind | MIN | minimum | SEC | section |
| C/C | center to center | MAX | maximum | STD | standard |
| COL | column | MAT'L | material | SS | stainless steel |
| CPLG | coupling | MISC | miscellaneous | SYM | symmetrical |
| CS | carbon steel | NC | national course | T | top |
| C/W | complete with | NF | national fine | T&B | top and bottom |
| CYL | cylinder | NO | number | T&C | threaded and coupled |
| DIA | diameter | NOM | nominal | THD | threaded |
| DIAG | diagonal | NTS | not to scale | TBE | threaded both ends |
| DIM | dimension | NPS | nominal pipe size | TOE | threaded one end |
| DWG | drawing | NPT | national pipe thread | THK | thick |
| EA | each | O/C | on center | TOL | tolerance |
| EL | elevation | OA | overall | TOC | top of concrete |
| EXT | external | OD | outside diameter | TOS | top of steel |
| F/F | face to face | OR | outside radius | TYP | typical |
| FF | flat face | OPP | opposite | U/N | unless noted |
| FLG | flange | PAT | pattern | VERT | vertical |
| FW | fillet weld | PBE | plain both ends | WD | working drawing |
| Ga | gauge | POE | plain one end | WP | working point |
| Galv | galvanized | PSI | pounds per square inch | WT | weight |
| HVY | heavy | PROJ | project | W/O | without |
| HH | hex head | RD | running dimension | XH | extra heavy |
| HR | hot rolled | R or RAD | radius | XS | extra strong |
| HT | heat treatment | RND | round |