This table provides some guidance on how to format and punctuate abbreviations.
| Guidance | Correct | Incorrect |
| Use upper-case letters to explain the abbreviation or acronym only if required by the abbreviated term. | World Health Organization (WHO) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) | world health organization (WHO) Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) |
| No full stops between letters of abbreviation or acronym, or at end of abbreviation or acronym unless at end of a sentence | The Medical Research Council (MRC) funded the research. | The MRC. funded the research. The M.R.C. funded the research. |
| Form plurals by adding ‘s’; no apostrophe (‘s) needed unless used to indicate possession. | The Managing Editors (MEs) met early in the morning. The Cochrane Review Group's (CRG's) decision was helpful. | The Managing Editors (ME's) met early in the morning. The CRG's were asked to provide information. |
| Bold may occasionally be used to indicate letters used to form an acronym or abbreviation. | CRASH trial (corticosteroid randomisation after significant head injury) | — |
| Avoid abbreviating terms that could be unclear to the general readership. | the level of glycosylated haemoglobin | the level of Hb A1c |