Writing & StyleStyle guide

Corp. Abbreviation and Punctuation

Corp./corp. is a written abbreviation for “corporation”; Cambridge also records Corp. as an abbreviation for corporal, so context matters.

Quick answer

“Corp.” commonly abbreviates “corporation” in business names. Preserve an organization’s official styling, and use context to avoid confusion with the separate abbreviation for “corporal.”

Key details

Core IssueCorp./corp. is a written abbreviation for “corporation”; Cambridge also records Corp. as an abbreviation for corporal, so context matters.
Phrase Roleabbreviation or business-writing shorthand
Registerprofessional and business writing

Important caveats

Ambiguity Boundary

Cambridge also records Corp. as an abbreviation for corporal, so the expansion is context-dependent.

Punctuation Boundary

Capitalization and the period should follow the official company name or the applicable house style rather than an invented universal rule.

Further guidance

Meaning

Cambridge documents Corp./corp. as an abbreviation for corporation in business writing.

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.

  1. Corp. — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Dictionary and Business English forms for Corp./corp. as an abbreviation of corporation

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