Longhand abbreviations are called “longhand” because they are abbreviations that are written out in full by hand, rather than using symbols or shorthand notations. This means that even though they are shorter than the full word or phrase, they still require more writing than a traditional abbreviation or symbol.
For example, a common longhand abbreviation is “etc.” for “et cetera.” Instead of writing out the full phrase, the writer can use the abbreviation to convey the same meaning in fewer words. However, “etc.” still requires more writing than a symbol or shorthand notation, such as “&” for “and.”
Longhand abbreviations are often used in situations where the writer wants to save time and space but still maintain some level of formality or clarity. They are commonly used in academic writing, business communication, and other formal contexts where precision and clarity are important.
It is worth noting that the term “longhand” is sometimes used to refer to handwriting in general, as opposed to typing or using shorthand. However, in the context of abbreviations, “longhand” specifically refers to written abbreviations that are spelled out in full.