How Do You Abbreviate Tablespoon?
There are a few different ways to abbreviate tablespoon:
Notably, the abbreviation for tablespoon may be easily confused with the abbreviation for teaspoon (tsp). To make it more distinct, it’s common to use the uppercase T when abbreviating tablespoon.
For example:
Next, add 2 Tbsp. of flour, followed by 3 tsp. of sugar.
The Definition of the Word
According to Lexico.com, a tablespoon is “a large spoon for serving food.” In the United Kingdom, it is a unit of volume equal to 15 millilitres.
It’s also a unit of measurement equal to 1/16 of a cup, three teaspoons, or ½ fluid ounce in the U.S.
The shape of the tablespoon doesn’t matter. What matters is the quantitative measurement of its contents, be it liquid or dry. A tablespoon may also be used at the dining table for eating or serving. Because it is commonly used at the dinner table, the word is a compound, referring to a spoon for table services. It was first used in or around 1760.
According to Vocabulary.com, a tablespoon is a measurement in cooking. It’s a utensil larger than a dessert spoon, a piece of cutlery with a shallow bowl-shaped container with a handle to stir, serve, or take up food.
A tablespoon can be used to measure volume, though the units of measurement vary with regions. For instance, there are no consistent measurement of the capacity of a tablespoon. In the U.S., it’s approximately 14.8 ml (0.50 US fl oz). In the UK and Canada, it’s exactly 15 ml (0.51 US fl oz). In Australia, a tablespoon is 20ml (0.68 US fl.oz).
Usually, different manufacturers of utensils provide different capacities. This is because there’s no defined law to govern or guide standardization of spoon capacity.
The History and Origin of the Word
Spoons have been used from time immemorial, and the first standardized measuring spoon was invented by Fannie Farmer, director of the Boston Cooking School, in 1896. She decided that it was important to establish standard measurements in cooking. Prior to that time, recipes used estimation, which was both inefficient and unreliable. As a cooking expert and a trainer, Farmer needed to be accurate and specific. The tablespoon measurement appeared in her Boston Cooking School Cook Book.
In ancient Egypt, the Egyptians had particular respect for spoons. Unlike the modern spoon that is used for serving and taking food, the Egyptian spoon was an ornament made of ivory or slate, which was primarily for ceremonial uses. In Egypt, the spoon dates back to 1000 BC.
Before 1700 in Europe, it was customary to bring one’s own spoon to the table. Spoons were, therefore, personal property, similar to other important tools. A tablespoon could be cumbersome and inconvenient. If a person forgot to carry his or her own spoon during dinner, then they’d have to eat with their hands.
After 1700, table settings became popular and different types of tablespoons, table forks, table knives, dessert spoons, and teaspoons began to emerge. The 18th century witnessed the real emergence of different kinds of spoons, including mustard spoons, salt spoons, coffee spoons, and soup spoons.
Examples of the Word in Context
“Knowing how many teaspoons in a tablespoon will save you a lot of stress and time while cooking. Especially when scaling a recipe up or down, know the proper amount of spices, baking powder, salt, can prevent a disaster in the kitchen.”
—HealthierSteps.com
“I dug through our cutlery drawer, and the only thing resembling a tablespoon seemed too big, so I asked my friend if it was, perhaps, a tablespoon. She laughed derisively and said a tablespoon is just a regular spoon – the kind you eat cereal with.”
—YuppieChef.com
“Lemon-Thyme: Cook Basic Sauteed Chicken (No. 1) in 1 tablespoon each butter and oil. When done, stir in 1 tablespoon each butter and lemon juice, 4 strips lemon zest and 2 thyme sprigs; turn the chicken to coat.”
—The Food Network
“Add 3 tablespoons of the ice water and incorporate with a fork until absorbed.”
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Synonyms for Tablespoon
- tablespoonful
- dessertspoon
- jigger
- heaping spoonful
- fluid dram
- containerful
- spoon
- scoop
- ladle
- soup spoon
- tureen
- spatula
- spooning
- spoon out
Sources:
- https://en.m.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Tablespoon
- https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/tablespoon
- https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/history-of-chopsticks-forks-spoons-and-sporks-who-invented-the-spoon-who-invented-the-fork
- https://www.ditchthecarbs.com/low-carb-flours/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablespoon
- https://www.post-gazette.com/life/food/2020/01/15/Snacks-children-activities-recipes-sports-nutrition-kids-after-school/stories/202001150006
- https://healthiersteps.com/how-many-teaspoons-in-a-tablespoon/
- https://www.yuppiechef.com/spatula/the-truth-about-spoons/
- https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/articles/50-chicken-dinner-recipes
- https://www.powerthesaurus.org/tablespoon
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
