S-f or sf?
s-f is a noun meaning “Alternative form of SF”; sf is a noun meaning “a book size one sixty-fourth of the size of a standard uncut sheet of paper…”. s-f is written with a hyphen and sf as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between s-f and sf?
| s-f | sf | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | noun | noun, adjective |
| Meaning | Alternative form of SF Ellipsis of S/F ratio | a book size one sixty-fourth of the size of a standard uncut sheet of paper (less 7.5 cm (3") in height) |
| Example | none recorded | none recorded |
| Forms | S/Fs | SFs, Sfs |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | 7.6 times per million words |
Sources: s-f and sf in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of s-f and sf
s-f
- 1
Alternative form of SF
- 2
datedAlternative form of SF (science fiction)
- 3
Ellipsis of S/F ratio
- 4
Abbreviation of science fiction
sf
- 1
Initialism of science fiction or speculative fiction, often used to avoid having to choose between the two
- 2
Initialism of smoker-friendly: not objecting to people who smoke tobacco
- 3
datedAlternative form of SF (science fiction)
- 4
a book size one sixty-fourth of the size of a standard uncut sheet of paper (less 7.5 cm (3") in height)
- 5
Initialism of square feet
- 6
Abbreviation of significant figure(s)
- 7
Initialism of spontaneous fission
- 8
Initialism of small forward
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, s-f or sf?
s-f is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; sf 7.6 times per million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).