Timeline Abbreviations

In order to save space and typing time, fans discussing the broader timeline issues, theories and other aspects of have developed a system by which to convey theorized game placements in as little text as possible as well as shortening online posts. Abbreviations will vary across the internet and new shorthand abbreviations are regularly adapted. Often understanding abbreviations will lie solely upon having read the preceding information. Understanding the basic shorthand is pivotal to understanding timeline jargon and following along with the language used in online discussions. Below are some commonly used abbreviations.

Timeline Indicators

 * / Indicates separating into a split timeline. This is the adult timeline.
 * \ Indicates separating into a split timeline. This is the child timeline.
 * X/Y: Indicates Game X and Game Y have a common Link
 * X - Y: Indicates Game X and Game Y are separated by at least a generation
 * (X) - Y - (X): Indicates that Game X may be placed in either of two locations
 * (X) >< (Y): Indicates that Game X may occur before Game Y or Game Y may occur before Game X

Timeline Related

 * AT: Adult Timeline
 * BS: Backstory
 * CT: Child Timeline
 * DT: Downfall Timeline

Main Games

 * TLoZ/LoZ: The Legend of Zelda (Game)
 * TAoL/AoL: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
 * ALttP: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
 * LA: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
 * OoT: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
 * MM: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
 * OoA: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
 * OoS: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
 * FS: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
 * TWW/WW: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
 * FSA: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
 * TMC/MC: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
 * TP: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
 * PH: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
 * ST: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
 * SS: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
 * ALBW: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
 * TFH: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
 * BotW: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Secondary Games

 * TLoZ/LoZ: The Legend of Zelda (Series)
 * CE: Collector's Edition
 * LADX: Link's Awakening Deluxe
 * OoT MQ/ MQ: Master Quest
 * OoX: The Oracle Series

Spin Off Games

 * TBF: Tingle's Balloon Fight DS
 * LCT: Link's Crossbow Training
 * FPTRR/TRPG/TRR: Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
 * SSB: Super Smash Bros.
 * SSBM: Super Smash Bros. Melee
 * SSBB: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * SSB4: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U
 * SSB3DS:
 * SSBWiiU:

Phillips CD-i Games

 * TFoE: Link: The Faces of Evil
 * TWoG: Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
 * ZA: Zelda's Adventure

Other Games

 * AST: Ancient Stone Tablets
 * ZG&W: Game & Watch Zelda

Nintendo Consoles

 * 3DS: Nintendo 3DS
 * n3DS: New Nintendo 3DS
 * DS: Nintendo DS
 * DSi: Nintendo DSi
 * DSL: Nintendo DS Lite
 * GB: Game Boy
 * GBA: Game Boy Advance
 * GBA SP: Game Boy Advance SP
 * GBC: Game Boy Color
 * GBM: Game Boy Micro
 * GBP: Game Boy Pocket
 * GCN/NGC/GC: Nintendo GameCube
 * N64: Nintendo 64
 * NES: Nintendo Entertainment System
 * SNES: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
 * Wii: Wii
 * WiiU: Wii U
 * ZG&W: Zelda Game & Watch

Places

 * DR: Dark Realm
 * DW: Dark World
 * GS: Great Sea
 * LLR: Lon Lon Ranch
 * SL: Skyloft
 * SR: Sacred Realm
 * ST: Shadow Temple
 * STT: Stone Tower Temple
 * ToT: Temple of Time
 * TotG: Tower of the Gods
 * TotOK: Temple of the Ocean King
 * TR: Twilight Realm

Events

 * GF: Great Flood
 * IW: Imprisoning War
 * SW: Seal War
 * SZ: Sleeping Zelda

Characters

 * GDT/DT: Great Deku Tree
 * FD/FDL: Fierce Deity Link
 * GoD: General of Darkness
 * HMS: Happy Mask Salesman
 * HoL: Hero of Legend
 * HoM: Hero of Men
 * HoT: Hero of Time
 * HoW: Hero of Winds
 * KDNH/DNH: Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule
 * KoH: King of Hyrule
 * KoRL: King of Red Lions
 * LJJ: Lord Jabu-Jabu
 * PZ: Princess Zelda
 * SoS: Sorceress of Shadows
 * SZ: Sleeping Zelda
 * The OoA: Nayru (Oracle)
 * The OoS: Din (Oracle)
 * TH: Twilight Hero
 * SK: Skull Kid

Items

 * FS: Four Sword
 * MS: Master Sword
 * TF: Tetraforce
 * The OoT:Ocarina of Time (Item)
 * ToC: Triforce of Courage
 * ToP: Triforce of Power
 * ToW: Triforce of Wisdom

Miscellaneous

 * NPC: Non-Playable Character.
 * RPG: Role Playing Game
 * ZC/ZCS: Zelda Cartoon / Zelda Cartoon Series
 * ZM: Zelda Manga