Kinda odd question about state abbreviations

[NewJersey]

I find it interesting that it's normal to call New Jersey "Jersey" but you can't call New York "York" or New Hampshire "Hampshire".

I always say Jersey. But I call PA Pennsy.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We say Jersey, PA and DC.

 

[Sir Real]

And why is the abbreviation of Pennsylvania PA. I always thought the rule was to use the first two letters of a state name as the abbreviation, if it's a one word name and no other state has it. I mean Indiana=IN, Idaho=ID, Florida=FL, Michigan=MI....

 

[Tigger&Belle]

And why is the abbreviation of Pennsylvania PA. I always thought the rule was to use the first two letters of a state name as the abbreviation, if it's a one word name and no other state has it. I mean Indiana=IN, Idaho=ID, Florida=FL, Michigan=MI....

I always wondered that, too. Maybe they thought that if they named it that, everyone would need to be physically fit.

 

[TheGirlin14G]

Just like Puffkin - Pennsylvania is usually PA, New Jersey is Jersey, and Philadelphia is Philly.. and Washington DC is just DC

 

[PaulaSue]

I livein PA and we usually calll it PA since usually the only time I say it is to give out our address.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Just like Puffkin - Pennsylvania is usually PA, New Jersey is Jersey, and Philadelphia is Philly.. and Washington DC is just DC

Yep and I say MASS.

A little OT: I live in West Virginia (WV not WVa, that irks me) but some people don't know that WV is a real state. They thinks it's western VA.

Also, not all of WV is the backwoods. Last year at WDW a CM asked where we were from. We told him and he said his favorite movie is Wrong Turn and he was afraid to visit WV because of it.

Sorry I had to get that out of my system.

 

[LisaS]

And why is the abbreviation of Pennsylvania PA. I always thought the rule was to use the first two letters of a state name as the abbreviation, if it's a one word name and no other state has it. I mean Indiana=IN, Idaho=ID, Florida=FL, Michigan=MI....

There are a few that violate the rule: GA, HI, IA, KS, KY, LA, PA, TN, TX, VT, and VA.

 

[JVL1018]

I call Pennsylvania, PA, but I never call New Jersey, Jersey. I think it sounds tacky. Don't know why.
And never ever "Joisey", nor have I ever heard anyone say it that way.
Well except for the NYers that move here. LOL

ETA: I sometimes do call myself a Jersey Girl, so I do say Jersey after all!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I hear a lot of people say, "PA," but I always say Pennsylvania. Unless I'm giving the name of a city, then I shorten it (e.g. "He lives in Erie, PA.") Dunno why.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Last year at WDW a CM asked where we were from. We told him and he said his favorite movie is Wrong Turn and he was afraid to visit WV because of it.

Sorry I had to get that out of my system.

We watched that DVD last weekend.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I call Massachusetts, just Mass when speaking. And I think most of us do.

Ex: I live in Central Mass.

 

[sweet angel]

Just like Puffkin - Pennsylvania is usually PA, New Jersey is Jersey, and Philadelphia is Philly.. and Washington DC is just DC

Yup.

And I have never, ever, ever heard a native Jersey person say "Joisey"....just the bennies and shoobies.

 

[NewJersey]

Yup.

And I have never, ever, ever heard a native Jersey person say "Joisey"....just the bennies and shoobies.

Sue - I agree about the Joisey! No native Jersey-an (?) calls it that.

 

[laurajetter]

And why is the abbreviation of Pennsylvania PA. I always thought the rule was to use the first two letters of a state name as the abbreviation, if it's a one word name and no other state has it. I mean Indiana=IN, Idaho=ID, Florida=FL, Michigan=MI....

Actually, I don't really think that's a rule. There are several off the top of my head I can think of that don't follow that rule: Louisiana = LA, Hawaii = HI, Arizona = AZ, Texas = TX, Tennessee = TN, etc.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Yup.

And I have never, ever, ever heard a native Jersey person say "Joisey"....just the bennies and shoobies.

Well I have so do I win?

 

[sweet angel]

Well I have so do I win?

Earplugs?

 

[Mrs.Toad]

And why is the abbreviation of Pennsylvania PA. I always thought the rule was to use the first two letters of a state name as the abbreviation, if it's a one word name and no other state has it. I mean Indiana=IN, Idaho=ID, Florida=FL, Michigan=MI....

I once heard that the state abbreviation was supposed to be the first letter of the state, followed by the last letter. That's why Pennsylvania is PA, Virginia is VA, Vermont is VT, Maryland is MD, Kansas is KS, Kentucky is KY, etc.

But it does seem like more states follow the first 2 letters rule. Plus, you know duplicates like ARizona and ARkansas or IowA and IndianA must have thrown them for a loop. And those double-duplicates like ALaskA and ALabamA or MIssissippI and MIssourI must have really made their heads spin!

Oh, almost forgot to answer the OP... I've heard people say PA for Pennsylvania, Mass for Massachusetts and Jersey for New Jersey, but I can't think of any others that really get shortened regularly.

We usually shorten Southern California to "So Cal", but I've never heard anyone say "Cali" other than non-Californians. I say L.A. for Los Angeles, but when I see LA in print, I think Louisiana, so I always add the periods when I type it.

 

[caitycaity]

i say pennsylvania. the only places i can think of that i abbreviate are dc and la (los angeles).

 

[Tina]

I always thought the "PA" thing came from American Bandstand. Didn't they always say it was filmed in "Philadelphia, PA?" or something like that?