The most common abbreviation for received is rec'd, with an apostrophe standing in for the missing letters. You will also see recd. with a period and rcvd, which is popular in warehouses, shipping logs and inventory systems.
All three mean the same thing: something arrived and someone has it now. The right choice comes down to the setting. A handwritten note or a receipt stamp often says rec'd, while a computer screen with tight columns tends to say RCVD in capitals.
Quick facts
Main forms
rec'd, recd., rcvdCapital letters
RCVD or REC'D on stamps and screensPeriod
Yes after recd.; none after rec'd, since the apostrophe marks the gapUsed in
Receipts, invoices, mail logs, inventory, timesheetsRelated word
Receipt, abbreviated rcpt.Not to be confused with
rec., which often means recreation or recommended
Each received abbreviation and where it fits
| Form | Style | Typical place |
|---|---|---|
| rec'd | Contraction with an apostrophe | Notes, letters, date stamps, receipts |
| recd. | Abbreviation with a period | Older business writing, ledgers |
| rcvd | Consonant cluster, no period | Shipping docks, purchase orders, software fields |
| RCVD | All capitals | Inventory screens, ink stamps, status codes |
No form is wrong. The key is to use one consistently in the same document, so a reader never wonders whether rec'd and rcvd mean two different steps.
Using the abbreviation for received at work
The short form shows up anywhere people track what came in.
- Mail rooms: a stamp reading "REC'D OCT 14" shows the day a letter arrived, which can matter for deadlines.
- Purchasing: a purchase order line marked "Qty ordered 12, qty rcvd 10" tells you two items are still missing. See abbreviation for quantity for qty.
- Accounting: "Pmt rec'd" on an invoice means the payment arrived.
- Offices: "Rec'd by: J. Ortiz" names the person who signed for a package.
On a delivery slip: "Rcvd 3 of 4 boxes, 1 damaged." The person at the dock is saying three boxes arrived, and one of those needs a claim.
Punctuation and capital letters
Two small rules keep the received abbreviation clean:
- Apostrophe or period, not both. Write rec'd or recd., never rec'd. with a period at the end, unless it closes a sentence.
- Match the setting for capitals. Lowercase reads naturally in a sentence. All capitals suits stamps, labels and system codes where the letters stand alone.
In everyday sentences meant for customers, spell out received. "We received your order" is friendlier and clearer than "Order rec'd." Save the short form for logs, forms and internal notes. For general rules on shortening words, see how to abbreviate.
Examples in real sentences
- "Application rec'd 9/12, under review."
- "All parts rcvd, ready for assembly."
- "Rent recd. from Unit 4B on the 1st."
- "Status: RCVD at warehouse."
- "Thanks, rec'd the file and will reply by Friday."
In a quick work chat, people also type "got it" or "received" in full. The abbreviation saves the most space in tables and on narrow labels, where every letter counts.
Look-alikes to avoid
A few short forms look close to the ones above but mean something else:
- rec. can mean recreation, record or recommended, so it is too vague for received.
- rcpt. is receipt, the paper you get, not the act of getting it.
- recv appears in software code and network logs, where it usually means a receive step in a program.
- RX is sometimes used for receive in radio and electronics, but it is also the short form for a prescription.
For other office short forms, such as attn. and dept., browse common abbreviations, or see the abbreviation for attention.
Questions people ask
What is the received abbreviation on a stamp?
Most date stamps say REC'D or RECEIVED followed by the date. Some offices use RCVD to fit a smaller stamp face.
Is rcvd or rec'd more correct?
Both are accepted. Rec'd is the traditional written form, and rcvd is common in shipping and inventory. Pick one and stick with it in the same document.
Does rec'd need a period?
No. The apostrophe already shows that letters were removed. If you write recd. without an apostrophe, add the period.
How do you abbreviate received in a text?
Most people just type received, got it, or rec'd. In casual texts the full word is short enough that the abbreviation rarely saves much.