[A Guide for Scientists and Other Professionals, originally cited to Deborah Andrews and Margaret Blickle. -- Joseph]

If you have any doubt whether your reader will understand an abbreviation, write the term out in full. Otherwise, he will be left in the position of the farmer who shot a crow, then noticed the tag on its leg: ``Wash. Biol. Surv.'' The next day he was talking with his neighbor about the last night's dinner: ``I followed the directions, washed it, boiled it, and put it on the table. Damn crow still tasted awful.''