abbreviation for tablespoon and teaspoon
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Differences & Abbreviations of Tablespoon
The baking abbreviations tablespoon and teaspoon are easy to mix up which is a problem since baking needs precise measurements and adding too much or too little of an ingredient can be problematic. The wrong amount of baking soda can mean the difference between your banana bread rising or becoming banana pudding. Nobody wants banana pudding when they thought they were making banana bread.
Tablespoon Abbreviation
The abbreviations for tablespoon are:
- “T” (uppercase only)
- TB
- tbsp
- tbl
- tbs.
A teaspoon is the other commonly abbreviated baking measurement. Let’s learn more about those abbreviations so that one does not get confused.
Teaspoon Abbreviation
The abbreviations for teaspoon are:
- tsp.
- “t” (lowercase only)
Differences Between Teaspoon vs Tablespoon
Teaspoons and tablespoons are used to measure ingredients in the kitchen. A teaspoon is smaller than a tablespoon such that 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon (3 tsp = 1Tbsp). To understand the differences further, let’s dive into the history
Why Is a Teaspoon Called a Teaspoon?
The teaspoon was introduced in London in 1686 as the perfect-sized spoon to measure any amount of tea. It could also be used for the sugar and cream afterward. However, these teaspoons were not standardized and could range anywhere from 2.5 ml to 6 ml in volume.
That’s why the modern-day measuring teaspoon is exactly 5 ml and is standard across the board so that any chef or cook can measure the exact same amount of ingredients.
Why Is a Tablespoon Called a Tablespoon?
The tablespoon originated in about 1760 as the ideal spoon for use as a serving spoon. The word literally comes from “spoon for table service”.
Differences in Abbreviations
The thing to watch out for when trying to discern if you want to use a tablespoon over a teaspoon is a big “B” or a little “b” in the middle of the abbreviation. If you are like me, you are more likely to miss the difference when not wearing your glasses.
Do not rush your baking. You could end up with a very cinnamony banana bread if you mistake a teaspoon in a recipe for a tablespoon. Just remember teaspoon abbreviation is a lover case “t” or a tsp sans b.
We think you will like this cute tablespoons and teaspoons set on Amazon.
Tablespoon to Teaspoon Conversions
Use the following chart to understand common tablespoon to teaspoon conversions.
| Tablespoons (Tbsp) | Teaspoons (tsp) | Cups | Fluid Ounces (OZ) |
| 16 Tbsp | 48 tsp | 1 C | 8 oz |
| 12 Tbsp | 36 tsp | 3/4 C | 6 oz |
| 10 Tbsp + 2 tsp | 32 tsp | 2/3 C | 5 1/3 oz |
| 8 Tbsp | 24 tsp | 1/2 C | 4 oz |
| 5 Tbsp + 1 tsp | 16 tsp | 1/3 C | 2 2/3 oz |
| 4 Tbsp | 12 tsp | 1/4 C | 2 oz |
| 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp | 8 tsp | 1/6 C | 1 1/3 oz |
| 2 Tbsp | 6 tsp | 1/8 C | 1 oz |
| 1 Tbsp | 3 tsp | 1/16 C | 1/2 oz |
How many tsp (teaspoons) in a tbsp (tablespoon)?
There are 3 tsp in a tbsp.
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
Recipe Measurement Abbreviations and Conversions
Recipes are full of culinary codes like abbreviations and weird measurements (how big is a pinch?). Deciphering between the different cooking abbreviations and their proper units of measurement can help make sure your dish comes out exactly as planned. You can find common abbreviations for measurements here, as well as conversions of various ingredient measurements.
Common cooking abbreviations
Although some recipes spell out measurements, a lot of cookbooks use abbreviations. Oftentimes, different books will use different abbreviations, which can cause confusion when putting together a dish. For example, the tablespoon and teaspoon abbreviations may look very similar and can be mistaken for one another:
- a lowercase t can stand for teaspoon
- an uppercase T can stand for tablespoon
Adding a tablespoon (T) of garlic when the recipe only requires a teaspoon (t) can spell disaster!
Find the common cooking abbreviations and their corresponding units of measurement below:
| Cooking Abbreviation(s) | Unit of Measurement |
|---|---|
| C, c | cup |
| g | gram |
| kg | kilogram |
| L, l | liter |
| lb | pound |
| mL, ml | milliliter |
| oz | ounce |
| pt | pint |
| t, tsp | teaspoon |
| T, TB, Tbl, Tbsp | tablespoon |
Common cooking conversion measurements
Now that you have the abbreviations all sorted out, it’s time to learn the most common conversion measurements in cooking. Understanding these cooking conversions can help you quickly follow recipes, convert based on your available cooking equipment, or even allow you to do quick math to slightly alter recipes according to your liking.
This table lists common conversion measurements in cooking.
| Unit of Measurement : | Equals: |
|---|---|
| Pinch or dash | less than 1/8 teaspoon |
| 3 teaspoons | 1 tablespoon |
| 2 tablespoons | 1 fluid ounce |
| 1 jigger | 1 1/2 fluid ounces |
| 4 tablespoons | 1/4 cup |
| 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon | 1/3 cup |
| 12 tablespoons | 3/4 cup |
| 16 tablespoons | 1 cup |
| 1 cup | 8 fluid ounces |
| 2 cups | 1 pint or 16 fluid ounces |
| 2 pints | 1 quart or 32 fluid ounces |
| 4 quarts | 1 gallon |
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
BID, PO, XR, APAP, QHS, or PRN: Have you ever wondered what these odd, encrypted medical abbreviations mean on your prescription? Medical terminology is difficult enough, but how do you interpret these prescription directions written in code? Luckily you don’t have to; it’s the pharmacist’s job to put the medical abbreviation in plain english on your medication label. But there may be more to know about this shorthand than meets the eye.
Looking for the list of common medical abbreviations? Click here to access Table 1 below
Apothecary prescription abbreviations, like the ones you might see written by your doctor on your prescription or a hospital medication order, can be a common source of confusion for healthcare providers, too. In fact, an unclear, poorly written or wrong medical abbreviation that leads to misinterpretation is one of the most common and preventable causes of medication errors. All abbreviations can increase the risk for incorrect interpretation and should be used with caution in the healthcare setting.
Healthcare agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have made it a priority to communicate information about confusing abbreviations and medical shorthands. Health care facilities and practitioners are expected to take action and set internal standards to prevent these common – and potentially dangerous – medical errors.
