Surface science and the chemical spectroscopies have led in the literature and in oral presentation, etc., to the use of a large number of abbreviations for different experimental techniques. In some cases several different abbreviations have been used for the same technique and in many cases the abbreviations are understood by only a small part of the Surface Science/Spectroscopy community. Such a situation causes particular difficulties in communication for those with interdisciplinary interests. The present document suggests a systematic procedure for the generation of abbreviations which accords with many of those previously adopted. A survey is given of current principal abbreviations in these fields and recommendations are made which are either in accord with the systematic principles, or are so well-established that it would be unrealistic to suggest alternatives.
