Meaning & use
co
Last updated
Meanings
abbreviationbusiness
A short way of writing 'company', used after a business name.
Grammar: Usually written with a period: Co. It appears after the name, as in Smith & Co.
Patterns
- Smith & Co.
- Smith and Co.
He works for Harper & Co., a small publishing firm.
The sign said 'Bennett & Co. – Est. 1920'.
Please make the check payable to Jones & Co.
prefix
A prefix meaning 'together' or 'jointly'.
Grammar: Written without a period and joined to a word, as in co-worker or cooperate.
Patterns
- co-worker
- cooperate
- co-author
She is my co-worker at the bank.
They decided to co-author a book.
The two countries agreed to cooperate on climate research.
Common combinations
- and Co.
- The store is called Miller and Co.
- Co. Ltd.
- The company is registered as Tanaka Co. Ltd.
- co-founder
- She is the co-founder of a tech startup.
- co-owner
- He became co-owner of the restaurant last year.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: co or co-?
co vs co-
Co- (with a hyphen) means 'together', as in co-worker, while Co. (with a period) is short for company.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Co.' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Co. is an abbreviation for 'company' and comes after a business name, as in Smith & Co. The other options confuse it with the prefix co- or use it in the wrong position.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “co”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.