Final answer:
Air traffic controllers are required to use precise language when issuing altimeter settings to pilots, and cannot use shorthand due to the critical nature of this information for maintaining correct altitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
No, controllers cannot use shorthand to issue altimeter settings. When communicating with pilots, air traffic controllers must use precise and unambiguous language to convey important information, such as altimeter settings. These settings are critical for ensuring aircraft are flying at the correct altitudes, especially in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) when pilots rely heavily on their instruments to maintain safe flight. The altimeter setting is communicated as a four-digit number representing the local atmospheric pressure adjusted to mean sea level, and it is vital for this number to be conveyed accurately to avoid potential misinterpretations or errors in altitude readings.