Word
abt
/ˈæbt/
Definition
prep. a short way to write the word 'about'. You use it in text messages or quick notes to save time.
prep. a non-standard orthographic abbreviation for 'about'. Common in digital communication and informal shorthand.
Examples
“I will be there in abt ten minutes.”
“She sent a quick text saying she was abt to leave the office and would call me later.”
“While acceptable in rapid digital exchanges, using abt in a formal report would be considered highly unprofessional and likely to confuse the reader regarding the writer's attention to detail.”
Examples
simple
“I will be there in abt ten minutes.”
contextual
“She sent a quick text saying she was abt to leave the office and would call me later.”
complex
“While acceptable in rapid digital exchanges, using abt in a formal report would be considered highly unprofessional and likely to confuse the reader regarding the writer's attention to detail.”
Usage
Used almost exclusively in informal digital writing; avoid in academic or professional contexts.
Pitfall
The book is abt history.
The book is about history.
Learners should not use 'abt' in formal writing as it is a slang abbreviation for 'about'.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/abt