Do you abbreviate states in AP style?
Most writers think “just use the two‑letter code” and move on. But the Associated Press has a whole set of rules that can change a headline, a news story, or even a casual blog post. Miss one and you might look sloppy to editors, or worse, confuse readers.
Let’s dive into the nitty‑gritty of state abbreviations the way an AP‑savvy editor would expect you to.
What Is AP‑Style State Abbreviation
In everyday conversation we say “California” or “New York,” but in AP copy those names often turn into “Calif.” or “N.Y.”—and only under certain conditions.
When the full name stays
If a state name is part of a proper noun that isn’t a city, town, or county, AP prefers the full spelling. Think “University of Texas at Austin” or “New Mexico State University.” The rule of thumb: if the name is part of an institution, keep it whole Simple, but easy to overlook..
When the two‑letter postal code is allowed
AP permits the USPS two‑letter abbreviation—but only in tables, graphics, or when space is at a premium. You’ll see “CA,” “TX,” or “FL” in a data chart, but not in the body of a news story Practical, not theoretical..
The “official” AP list
The AP stylebook maintains a curated list of shortened forms: “Calif.” for California, “Ill.Think about it: ” for Illinois, “Ga. ” for Georgia, and so on. It’s not a random guess; it’s a list that editors have been using for decades.
Why It Matters / Why People Care
You might wonder, “Why does a comma or a period after a state name even matter?”
First, credibility. Also, newsrooms run on tight deadlines, and a consistent style helps copy editors spot errors fast. If you’re a freelancer pitching to a major outlet, a single mis‑abbreviation can be the difference between a “yes” and a “no It's one of those things that adds up..
Second, readability. Imagine a story that reads “The storm moved from Texas to Louisiana, then into Mississippi.Plus, ” If you start chopping those names down to “Tx, La, and Miss. ” the flow breaks, and readers stumble Not complicated — just consistent. Took long enough..
Third, SEO. ” as different strings. Search engines treat “California” and “Calif.Over‑abbreviating can hurt discoverability, especially for local searches.
How It Works (or How to Do It)
Getting the AP state abbreviation right isn’t magic; it’s a series of simple checks. Below is the step‑by‑step process I use when I’m editing a piece.
1. Identify the context
Ask yourself:
- Is the state name part of a proper noun (university, museum, corporation)?
- Is the mention in a dateline (e.g., “CHICAGO, Ill.”)?
- Is the text a table, map, or graphic?
If the answer is “yes” to #1, keep the full name. On the flip side, if #2, use the AP abbreviation with a period. If #3, you can safely drop the period and use the two‑letter USPS code.
2. Consult the AP list
Here’s a quick cheat sheet for the most common states. Keep it bookmarked:
| State | AP Abbreviation | USPS Code |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Here's the thing — | AL |
| Alaska | — (use full) | AK |
| Arizona | Ariz. | AZ |
| Arkansas | Ark. | AR |
| California | Calif. | CA |
| Colorado | Colo. | CO |
| Connecticut | Conn. Which means | CT |
| Delaware | Del. But | DE |
| Florida | Fla. Still, | FL |
| Georgia | Ga. | GA |
| Idaho | — (use full) | ID |
| Illinois | Ill. | IL |
| Indiana | Ind. | IN |
| Iowa | — (use full) | IA |
| Kansas | Kans. | KS |
| Kentucky | Ky. | KY |
| Louisiana | La. Consider this: | LA |
| Maine | — (use full) | ME |
| Maryland | Md. Still, | MD |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Consider this: | MA |
| Michigan | Mich. That's why | MI |
| Minnesota | Minn. So | MN |
| Mississippi | Miss. On the flip side, | MS |
| Missouri | Mo. Worth adding: | MO |
| Montana | Mont. Because of that, | MT |
| Nebraska | Neb. | NE |
| Nevada | Nev. Practically speaking, | NV |
| New Hampshire | N. H. | NH |
| New Jersey | N.J. Consider this: | NJ |
| New Mexico | N. And m. | NM |
| New York | N.Practically speaking, y. | NY |
| North Carolina | N.C. | NC |
| North Dakota | N.In real terms, d. Now, | ND |
| Ohio | — (use full) | OH |
| Oklahoma | Okla. | OK |
| Oregon | Ore. And | OR |
| Pennsylvania | Pa. | PA |
| Rhode Island | R.Worth adding: i. That said, | RI |
| South Carolina | S. C. | SC |
| South Dakota | S.On the flip side, d. In real terms, | SD |
| Tennessee | Tenn. On top of that, | TN |
| Texas | Tex. Which means | TX |
| Utah | — (use full) | UT |
| Vermont | — (use full) | VT |
| Virginia | Va. Worth adding: | VA |
| Washington | Wash. | WA |
| West Virginia | W.Va. | WV |
| Wisconsin | Wis. | WI |
| Wyoming | Wyo. |
Notice the periods after most abbreviations—AP loves them.
3. Apply the period rule
If the abbreviation ends a sentence, keep the period; it doubles as the sentence‑ending punctuation. That said, example: “The rally started in Calif. ” (no extra period needed) Small thing, real impact..
If the abbreviation is in the middle of a sentence, keep the period and add a space after it. “He drove from Ill. to Ind. before stopping in Ohio.
4. Handle hyphenated city‑state combos
Datelines follow a strict format: “CHICAGO, Ill.” (city in all caps, state abbreviation with period). No extra hyphens, no “Chicago‑Ill The details matter here..
5. Double‑check for exceptions
A few states never get abbreviated in AP style: Alaska, Hawaii, and a handful of the smaller New England states. If you’re unsure, default to the full name.
Common Mistakes / What Most People Get Wrong
Even seasoned writers slip up. Here are the pitfalls I see most often.
Using USPS codes in prose
You’ll find freelancers writing “The fire spread from TX to LA.” That’s a no‑go unless you’re in a table. In narrative copy, stick to AP abbreviations Small thing, real impact..
Dropping the period
“Ga” looks like a typo for “go.” The period tells the reader it’s an abbreviation, not a missing letter.
Over‑abbreviating short‑named states
“Calif.Because of that, ” is fine, but “Cal. ” is not an AP form. Same with “Tex.Plus, ” vs. “Tex.” (the latter is correct).
Ignoring the “full name for institutions” rule
“University of Cal.” sounds odd and unprofessional. Keep “University of California Easy to understand, harder to ignore..
Mixing styles in one piece
A story that uses “N.Practically speaking, y. Think about it: ” in the lede but “NY” in the body looks sloppy. Consistency is key.
Practical Tips / What Actually Works
You can train yourself to follow AP state rules without pulling out a stylebook every time.
- Create a cheat sheet – Print the table above and tape it to your monitor.
- Set up a find‑replace macro – In Word, replace “California” with “Calif.” only when it’s not preceded by “University of.”
- Use a style‑checking plugin – Some newsroom tools flag non‑AP abbreviations automatically.
- Read a few AP stories daily – The more you see “Ill.” and “Ga.” in context, the more instinctive it becomes.
- Ask yourself “Is this a dateline?” – If you’re writing a news lead, the city‑state format is non‑negotiable.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to abbreviate “Washington, D.C.”?
A: No. The capital is always written out as “Washington, D.C.” – the “D.C.” part isn’t a state abbreviation, and AP keeps it exactly that way.
Q: What about “North Carolina” vs. “N.C.” in a headline?
A: Headlines can use the two‑letter USPS code without periods if space is tight, but AP prefers “N.C.” with periods in body copy Which is the point..
Q: Can I use “Calif.” in a tweet?
A: Technically yes, but Twitter isn’t AP‑bound. If you’re quoting a news source, keep the AP form; otherwise, full names are clearer for a broad audience.
Q: How do I handle “West Virginia” in a table?
A: Use the USPS code “WV” without a period. Tables are the one place AP allows the postal abbreviation.
Q: Is “Tex.” ever wrong?
A: Only when you’re referring to the state in a formal dateline (“Austin, Tex.” is fine). In a casual blog post, many editors prefer the full name “Texas.”
So, do you abbreviate states in AP style? The short answer: yes—but only the right way. Knowing when to keep the full name, when to drop a period, and when to reach for the two‑letter code will make your copy look polished and keep editors smiling.
Next time you type “The storm hit Calif.And that, my friend, is the kind of detail that separates a good writer from a great one. Which means ,” you’ll know you’re doing it by the book. Happy editing!
