Kinda odd question about state abbreviations

[BeckWhy]

So, my friends and I were talking one day, and.. somehow it came up about referring to Pennsylvania as PA, it's state abbr. We thought about it and it is the only state we refer to by abbr. We don't refer to New York as NY, Ohio as OH, Vermont as VT, or New Jersey as NJ (we live in New York so, these are the only states we really talk about),

So I'm curious, when you are talking to people, so you name the state fully, like NEW YORK, or do you call it by it's abbr?

 

[Sparx]

I say full names of states. But If I'm talking about LA, I'm going to call it LA. But Not Los Vegas as LV, I just call that Vegas. In my head I think of Pennsylvania as PA, but I actually say Pennsylvaina, I only think PA. I guess its just personal preferance.

 

[MinnieM21]

I've never heard anyone say PA when talking about Pennsylvania. I always say the name of the state. I've never even thought of using the state abbreviation when talking about a state.

 

[BeckWhy]

See that's funny, because (I haven't really noticed it with other people) but I always say PA... I never say Pennsylvania.

 

[katerkat]

Hmm - now that you mention it - sometimes we said OK for Oklahoma. And growing up in Jersey, we always say PA. But we didn't call Virginia VA.

 

[momrek06]

In referring to my state, I always call it MASS...never the full name, ever! But the abbreviation is MA...but like I said I always say "just" MASS.

I am not sure if that is what you mean....and OH BTW, everyone says MASS that I know.

 

[vetrik]

I refer to my state as RI instead of Rhode Island quite often, and we do always refer to Massachusetts as Mass. Most of the other states I call by their full name, like Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, etc.

 

[momrek06]

I refer to my state as RI instead of Rhode Island quite often, and we do always refer to Massachusetts as Mass. Most of the other states I call by their full name, like Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, etc.

My DS' both go to college in RI at the same college...they never even say RI or Rhode Island...they always refer to going to RI as going to PROVI!!

Never even Providence....PROVI!!! Now, that I think about this and read this Thread..that is weird...so funny the habits we form so quickly!

 

[vetrik]

My DS' both go to college in RI at the same college...they never even say RI or Rhode Island...they always refer to going to RI as going to PROVI!!

Never even Providence....PROVI!!! Now, that I think about this and read this Thread..that is weird...so funny the habits we form so quickly!

I've never heard of Provi! That's interesting.

Maybe it's because in true RI fashion, going to Providence is a big deal for me - almost need to pack a lunch!
I recently moved within 15 minutes of Providence and I'm still trying to adjust to being so "close" - before I was all of 30 minutes away, but that's like a day trip for a Rhode Islander!

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Usually the whole state's name. I grew up in Pennsylvania and will call it PA or Penn's Woods (it's literal meaning). California usually comes out at Cali. That's about it though...

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I always say the full state name, except for Massachusetts, which I call Mass. Everyone around here calls it Mass.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

The only state I might not refer to by the full name is New Jersey. Then, it's Jersey (or, if I want to sound like a native, Joisey ).

I say full names of states. But If I'm talking about LA, I'm going to call it LA.

See, if someone were to refer to a place called LA (ell-ay), I'm going to immediately think of Los Angeles, not Louisiana. Maybe using the abbreviations is a regional thing?

 

[debbi801]

So, my friends and I were talking one day, and.. somehow it came up about referring to Pennsylvania as PA, it's state abbr. We thought about it and it is the only state we refer to by abbr. We don't refer to New York as NY, Ohio as OH, Vermont as VT, or New Jersey as NJ (we live in New York so, these are the only states we really talk about),

So I'm curious, when you are talking to people, so you name the state fully, like NEW YORK, or do you call it by it's abbr?

I live in maryland and work near the MD/PA border. We're split about 50-50 as far as people who live in Maryland and Pnnsylvania. If you asked somewhere from pannsylvania where they live, they say "PA." If we're going up there to Hershey, Lancaster, etc., we always say we're going "up to PA." Don't know why.

Any other states are referred to by their full name. Although, like someone else said, we do call Los Angeles "LA."

(Edit to fix spelling error)

 

[lindakmonty]

I know a lot of people that call it PA... probably just b/c it's shorter?

 

[lucas]

Not states but cities...

Los Angeles = LA (ell-ay)
New Orleans = NOLA (no-la)

 

[puffkin]

I live in SE Pennsylvania and just think that we are lazy

Pennsylvania is PA
New Jersey is Jersey
Philadelphia is Philly

If you live in the Philadelphia area, a lot of people say Del VAl (for Delaware Valley).

I rarely hear people call these places by the full name.

 

[Stitch Inside]

We say LA, but we're usually referring to Lower Alabama.
And I sometimes call Florida F-L-A because of Lou Reed.

 

[Jeanny]

yep, another just Mass here.... All other states, I use the whole state name even Pennsylvania, never PA.

I love listening to people from other states try to PRONOUNCE Massachusetts, never mind spell it!!! It always comes out "Mass a shoe sit's" not "Mass a chew sit's"

 

[momrek06]

yep, another just Mass here.... All other states, I use the whole state name even Pennsylvania, never PA.

I love listening to people from other states try to PRONOUNCE Massachusetts, never mind spell it!!! It always comes out "Mass a shoe sit's" not "Mass a chew sit's"

Oh, I agree with you 100%...too funny ...BUT that being said I lean towards saying "SETS" at the end as vs "SITS"...I do hear allot of people pronounce it with the I, as vs E and am wondering what exactly is the proper and correct pronounciation of the state (or should I say of the COMMONWEALTH)???

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I sometimes hear PA for Pennsylvania. Sometimes people call Maryland MD. I tend to be afraid to shorten the names of states since I don't want to offend the people who are from those states. Goes back to my days of growing up in Oregon when people from the state of Washington used to get mad at Washington DC being referred to as "Washington"--they'd say that they were the true Washington. So I try just to say the whole name unless I find out from the natives that it's an acceptable name.