Abbreviations were commonly used in names for businesses and government agencies
- Mer. or Merc. for Merchants, Mercantile (Durango Mer. Trading Co.; Stein Merc. Co.)
- Bros. for Brothers (Teil Bros. Tailors)
- Dept. for Department (Labor Dept.)
- Commerce Dept., Department of Commerce, Commerce Department
Variations of the official name of a corporation, church, organization, or government agency will occur, sometimes with abbreviations
- Forest Service, Bureau of Forestry
- Telluride Electric Light and Power Company; Telluride Elec Lt. & P. Co. Telluride Electric L. & P. Co.
- M.E. Church South, Methodist Episcopal Church, South
- Masons, Masonic Fraternity of the United States and Canada, Free Masons