State (2024)

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17. Abbreviations of namesof U.S. states

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When you write a scientific manuscript, you may be faced withthe need to abbreviate the names of states of the U.S.A. Here are the rules:

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1. In text sentences, do not abbreviate names of states (seeCBE Style Manual).

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2. Inaddresses, use the 2-letter codes that were first issued by the U.S. PostalService in 1963 (see Table below) to abbreviate names of states.

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3. In tables,use the 2-letter postal codes

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4. Inbibliographies, use the 2-letter postal codes in addresses of publishers.

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5. Inbibliographies, do not use the 2-letter postal codes in abbreviations ofjournal titles.

Be happy ifthe style of the journal for which you are writing requires that names ofjournals cited be spelled out in full.

Be happy ifthe style of the journal for which you are writing requires that place names intitles of journals cited be spelled out in full (e.g., Florida Entomol.)

If you haveto abbreviate names of U.S. states, the abbreviations as given in the tablebelow are acceptable. Except 1, that the names Alaska, Guam, Hawaii,Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, and Utah are not abbreviated. Except 2, thatwhen you are writing for any journal that uses the recommended CBE Style Manualformat, the abbreviations are not to be followed by periods (Tenn notTenn. is then the correct abbreviation for Tennessee).

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The abbreviations of state names are shown by Hutchinson(1973), who explains that they are �in government usage.� She also explains howsome of them have variant forms. Merriam Webster (1986) gives yet other variantforms. What a pity these abbreviations have not been replaced totally,everywhere, by the simpler, briefer, and consistent postal codes. However, atleast for the present, they seem to be required by various style manuals and byeditorial policy of many, if not all, journals.

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References:

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Hutchinson, L.I. 1973. Standard handbook for secretaries.McGraw Hill;. 8^thedn.

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Merriam Webster 1986. Webster�s ninth new collegiatedictionary. Merriam Wester; Springfield, IL.

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Note that �Virgin Islands� in the Table are the U.S. VirginIslands, and they do not include the British Virgin Islands. There were oncepostal codes CZ for Canal Zone and AS for American Samoa.

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