ASAP Capitalization and Punctuation
ASAP/asap abbreviates “as soon as possible.” Cambridge records both uppercase and lowercase forms in Business English, so capitalization is style-dependent rather than a grammar test.
“ASAP” means “as soon as possible.” Cambridge also records lowercase “asap” in Business English, and its documented forms do not use internal periods.
Key details
Important caveats
Punctuation Boundary
The documented Cambridge forms are written without internal periods; follow house style for capitalization.
Further guidance
Capitalization
Cambridge Business English explicitly records both “asap” and “ASAP.”
Example
Style-dependent: “Please reply ASAP” and “Please reply asap” are both documented forms. Clearer with a real deadline: “Please reply by 4 p.m. Friday.”
Meaning
ASAP abbreviates “as soon as possible.”
Practical Application
Use “ASAP” or lowercase “asap” according to the governing style and register. The reviewed dictionary records both and does not require internal periods in those forms.
Reader Check
Check whether the abbreviation suits the tone. In formal or high-stakes communication, spelling out the deadline is often clearer than choosing between “ASAP” and “asap.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- ASAP — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · ASAP/asap meaning and capitalization variants in Business English