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What is the correct way?
CM stand for cervical mucus (without s in the end of stand)
CM standS for cervical mucus (with s in the end of stand)
Judicious Allure
Posted 2015-02-09T14:15:33.743
Reputation: 24 598
CM stand for cervical mucus VS CM standS for cervical mucus
Answers
20
When we cite acronyms, or words or even phrases, we treat the whole citation as singular. A citation is when we mention the acronyms or words but we aren't actually using them in a normal way in the sentence. We could, for example, put the word(s) or acronym in 'quotes', or in italics:
- AIDS is short for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
- 'Not very tall' usually means 'short'.
- UN stands for United Nations.
- "Buenas noches" is "good evening" in Spanish.
- CM stands for cervical mucus.
In the examples above we see the third person singular verb forms is, means, stands instead of the plural forms are, mean and stand.
Hope this is helpful!
Araucaria - Not here any more.
Posted 2015-02-09T14:15:33.743
Reputation: 25 536
1You just beat me to it, and in more detail. +1 for making my answer obsolete! :) (You even used the same example, UN!) – oerkelens – 2015-02-09T15:06:33.143
@oerkelens That makes a change! It's normally you who beats me to it :D – Araucaria - Not here any more. – 2015-02-09T15:10:00.853
This is one of those things that makes English difficult... a blatant disregard for any sort of order or logic. First the nouns give you the rule that you add an "s" to make plurals, then the verbs turn around and do the opposite. A tree grows but trees grow... go figure. – J... – 2015-02-09T19:07:32.453
6
Sentence 2 is the better because CM is singular.
David Washington
Posted 2015-02-09T14:15:33.743
Reputation: 433
4I hope you are a med student or something. TMI, otherwise. – Eric Hauenstein – 2015-02-09T21:42:17.040
1TMI stands for Too Much Information (with the s!) – Jon Egerton – 2015-02-10T08:27:21.570