The word 'label' is abbreviated as which of the following?

• A. s.o.s
• B. stat
• C. sig.
• D. at once

Answer: (C)

In medication labeling, abbreviations guide how a patient should take a drug. sig. stands for signa (Latin for “write” or “label”) and is the standard shorthand used on labels to indicate directions for use. It tells you the exact instructions to follow—dose, route, frequency, and sometimes duration. For example, a label might read “Sig: Take one tablet by mouth twice daily,” which is how the patient knows what to do.

The other options aren’t used to label patient instructions. stat means to administer immediately, which applies to urgent or critical situations rather than routine labeling. s.o.s. (si opus sit) means “if there is a need,” used historically for as-needed dosing but not the general labeling directive. “At once” is plain language and not a standard prescription abbreviation.