The usual appointment abbreviation is appt., written with a period in American English. For more than one, write appts. You will find it on calendar entries, sticky notes, clinic reminder cards and quick work messages, anywhere the full eleven letter word takes too much room.
A few people write "apt" instead, but that short form already belongs to apartment on addresses, and to the word apt, meaning fitting. Sticking with appt. keeps your note from being misread.
Quick facts
Standard form
appt.Plural
appts.Period
Yes in US writing; often dropped in texts and UK writingCapital letter
Only at the start of a sentence or a label: Appt.Avoid
apt. (that means apartment)Used on
Calendars, planners, reminder cards, forms, chats
Which appointment abbreviation is correct?
Several versions float around. Here is how they stack up.
| Form | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| appt. | Standard | The most widely recognized choice in American writing |
| appt | Common | Same thing without the period, typical in texts and in British style |
| appts. | Standard plural | Use for two or more: "3 appts. today" |
| apt. | Avoid | Readers will think of apartment |
| appmt. | Rare | Understood, but looks unusual |
The abbreviation for appointment keeps the opening "app" and the final "t," the same pattern that turns department into dept. The double p is also what keeps it apart from apartment.
Where you see appt. in real life
- Calendar entries: "Dentist appt. 3:15" fits in a small time block.
- Reminder cards: a clinic card might read "Next appt.:" with a blank for the date and time.
- Office notes: "Pls confirm appt. w/ client" is a quick note to a coworker.
- Forms: a box labeled "Appt. type" may ask you to choose new patient, follow up or consultation.
- Text messages: "Running late for my appt" usually drops the period.
On a car service receipt: "Next appt.: Oct. 12, 9:00 a.m., tire rotation." The shop is telling you the date and time of your next booked visit.
Appt. vs apt.: an easy mix up
These two look close, but they point to different things:
- appt. means appointment.
- apt. or Apt means apartment, and it shows up on addresses: "14 Oak St., Apt. 3B."
- apt, with no period, is also a real English word meaning likely or fitting: "He is apt to forget."
If a note says "apt 4 at 2," a reader cannot tell whether you mean apartment 4 or your fourth appointment of the day. More on the address form is on the apartment abbreviation page.
Writing the appointment abbreviation: periods, capitals, plurals
A few small rules keep it clean:
- In American writing, end the short form with a period: appt. If the sentence ends right after it, one period does both jobs.
- Use lowercase in the middle of a sentence: "my appt. moved." Capitalize only at the start of a line or a label.
- The plural adds s before the period: appts.
- For possession, write appt.'s, though rephrasing reads better: "the time of the appointment."
- In formal letters and emails to clients, spell out the full word.
For the general rules behind short forms like this, see how to abbreviate.
Sample lines using appt.
- "Vet appt. moved to Friday."
- "Two appts. open on Monday morning."
- "Appt. confirmed for 10:30. Bring your insurance card."
- "Can we push our appt. back 15 minutes?"
- "No appt. needed for walk in flu shots."
Notice how each one is short and practical. These are the places where the abbreviation earns its keep.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for appointment?
The standard abbreviation is appt., with a period in American English. In quick texts many people drop the period and type appt with no dot.
What is the abbreviation of appointment in plural?
Write appts. for more than one appointment, as in "two appts. this week."
Can I write apt for appointment?
It is better not to. Apt. is the usual short form for apartment, and apt is also a regular word, so readers may be confused.
Do you put a period after appt?
In American writing, yes: appt. In British writing and in quick texts, the period is often left off.
Should I abbreviate appointment in a formal email?
No. In formal letters and emails, write the full word. Save appt. for calendars, notes and short reminders.