The clearest between abbreviation is btwn, written in lowercase with no period. It keeps the first letter, the strong consonants and the final n, so most readers can decode it at a glance in a text, a lab notebook or a shipping note.
Two shorter versions, b/w and b/t, are also common in quick handwriting. They save a letter or two, but each one can be read another way, so they work best when the reader already knows the context. There is no official or dictionary standard here; these are informal shortcuts.
Quick facts
Main form
btwn, lowercase, no periodAlso seen
b/w, b/t, btw (avoid)Type
Informal abbreviationSaid as
The full word, betweenUsed in
Texts, class notes, schedules, spec sheetsAvoid in
Essays, letters, contracts, résumés
Common between abbreviation forms compared
| Form | Where you see it | Risk of confusion |
|---|---|---|
| btwn | Texts, notes, product listings | Low |
| b/w | Handwritten notes, schedules | High: also means black and white |
| b/t | Class notes, quick memos | Medium |
| btw | Rarely, by mistake | Very high: nearly everyone reads by the way |
| bet. | Some older technical notes | High: looks like the word bet |
If you only remember one, remember btwn. It is the one most people recognize without stopping.
Why btw is a bad abbreviation for between
In texting and email, btw almost always means "by the way." A message like "meet btw 3 and 4" will make many readers pause and reread. Some will get it from the numbers, but the whole point of a short form is to save time, and this one costs time instead.
Group chat: "Pickup is btwn 2:30 and 3, btw the gym door is locked." The first short form means between; the second means by the way. Writing btwn for the first keeps the two apart.
Likewise, b/w on a photo order or a printer setting means black and white. Use it for between only in your own notes.
Where the abbreviation for between shows up
- Class notes: "War btwn the states, causes," written fast during a lecture.
- Schedules: "Deliveries btwn 8 and noon."
- Measurements and specs: "Distance btwn holes: 4 in."
- Science and math notes: "Angle b/t lines AB and CD."
- Listings and ads: "Located btwn Main St. and Oak Ave."
Notice that most of these places already use other short forms nearby, like in. for inches or St. for street. That clipped style makes btwn feel natural. You can learn how those forms are built in how to abbreviate.
Capitals, periods and punctuation
Write btwn in lowercase unless it starts a line in all capitals, as on a sign or a form header: BTWN. It does not need a period, because it is a contraction style short form that keeps letters from across the word, not just the start. The slash forms, b/w and b/t, never take a period either.
When the word begins a sentence in formal writing, do not abbreviate it at all. Spell out Between. The same goes for titles and headings that others will read.
When to spell between out
Abbreviations of everyday words like this belong to informal writing. In a school essay, a cover letter, a contract or a published article, write the whole word. At seven letters, it costs almost nothing, and readers expect it.
Work email to a client: "We can schedule the call between Tuesday and Thursday." Here the full word looks professional. In your own calendar note for the same call, "client call btwn Tue and Thu" is fine.
Day names have their own short forms; see the pages on Tuesday and Thursday.
Symbols that sometimes replace between
In math and data, people often skip the word entirely. A range like "between 10 and 20" can be written 10 to 20, 10 through 20, or with the symbols 10 < x < 20. A hyphen between numbers, as in 10-20, is common on forms and in tables. These are not abbreviations of the word, but they do the same job in less space.
For more everyday words and their shortcuts, browse the full list of common abbreviations.
Questions people ask
Which short form of between is most common?
The most widely understood abbreviation for between is btwn. In personal notes, people also use b/w or b/t.
Does btw mean between?
Almost never. Btw is read as "by the way" in texts and emails, so using it for between invites confusion.
Is b/w short for between?
It can be, especially in handwritten notes. It also means black and white, so avoid it on anything about printing, photos or video.
Should I abbreviate between in an essay?
No. In formal writing, spell out between. Save btwn for notes, texts and tight spaces like forms or labels.