pref.
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Preferred |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
pref. has two meanings. It stands for Preferred (classified ad) or Preface (citation and bibliography).
Meanings of pref. at a glance
| # | pref. stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preferred | Writing & Everyday › Classified Ad |
| 2 | Preface | Writing & Everyday › Citation and Bibliography |
1. Preferred
Writing & Everyday · Classified Ad Abbreviations
Marks a qualification as desirable but not mandatory in job ads, as in "bachelor's degree pref." It distinguishes nice-to-have skills from firm requirements.
Example: Bookkeeper, part-time, QuickBooks exp. pref., flexible schedule.
Hiring managers often treat preferred qualifications as tie-breakers rather than filters. In finance, "pref." can mean preferred stock, which pays fixed dividends ahead of common stock. In book citations, pref. means preface.
2. Preface
Writing & Everyday · Citation and Bibliography Abbreviations
Refers to a book's preface, the author's own opening statement on the work's purpose, scope or origins, in citations and cross-references.
Example: Johnson explains his method in the pref. to his 1755 Dictionary, a classic statement on lexicography.
A preface is normally written by the author, a foreword by someone else, and an introduction by either. Prefaces are usually paginated with lowercase Roman numerals as part of the front matter. In job advertisements, "pref." means "preferred."
Related abbreviations
More classified ad abbreviations
- OSFA – One size fits all
- pkg – Parking
- PL – Power locks
- PPU – Porch pickup
- PS – Power steering
- PT – Part-time
- PU – Pickup
- PW – Power windows
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