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 Small thing, real impact..
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.Y.In real terms, ” or “N. ”—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. And 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.
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 Most people skip this — try not to. And it works..
The “official” AP list
The AP stylebook maintains a curated list of shortened forms: “Calif.” for California, “Ill.” for Illinois, “Ga.Also, ” 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. 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.
Second, readability. ” If you start chopping those names down to “Tx, La, and Miss.Consider this: imagine a story that reads “The storm moved from Texas to Louisiana, then into Mississippi. ” the flow breaks, and readers stumble Simple, but easy to overlook..
Third, SEO. But search engines treat “California” and “Calif. ” as different strings. 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. If #2, use the AP abbreviation with a period. If #3, you can safely drop the period and use the two‑letter USPS code It's one of those things that adds up. And it works..
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. | AL |
| Alaska | — (use full) | AK |
| Arizona | Ariz. Consider this: | AZ |
| Arkansas | Ark. But | AR |
| California | Calif. Still, | CA |
| Colorado | Colo. | CO |
| Connecticut | Conn. | CT |
| Delaware | Del. Now, | DE |
| Florida | Fla. | FL |
| Georgia | Ga. | GA |
| Idaho | — (use full) | ID |
| Illinois | Ill. Now, | IL |
| Indiana | Ind. | IN |
| Iowa | — (use full) | IA |
| Kansas | Kans. | KS |
| Kentucky | Ky. | KY |
| Louisiana | La. Now, | LA |
| Maine | — (use full) | ME |
| Maryland | Md. | MD |
| Massachusetts | Mass. | MA |
| Michigan | Mich. | MI |
| Minnesota | Minn. | MN |
| Mississippi | Miss. Consider this: | MS |
| Missouri | Mo. | MO |
| Montana | Mont. | MT |
| Nebraska | Neb. Plus, | NE |
| Nevada | Nev. Think about it: | NV |
| New Hampshire | N. H. | NH |
| New Jersey | N.J. | NJ |
| New Mexico | N.M. | NM |
| New York | N.So y. | NY |
| North Carolina | N.C. On the flip side, | NC |
| North Dakota | N. D. | ND |
| Ohio | — (use full) | OH |
| Oklahoma | Okla. | OK |
| Oregon | Ore. | OR |
| Pennsylvania | Pa. Now, | PA |
| Rhode Island | R. I. | RI |
| South Carolina | S.Day to day, c. | SC |
| South Dakota | S.D. | SD |
| Tennessee | Tenn. | TN |
| Texas | Tex. That's why | TX |
| Utah | — (use full) | UT |
| Vermont | — (use full) | VT |
| Virginia | Va. | VA |
| Washington | Wash. Consider this: | WA |
| West Virginia | W. And va. | WV |
| Wisconsin | Wis. | WI |
| Wyoming | Wyo. |
Notice the periods after most abbreviations—AP loves them Simple, but easy to overlook..
3. Apply the period rule
If the abbreviation ends a sentence, keep the period; it doubles as the sentence‑ending punctuation. Example: “The rally started in Calif.” (no extra period needed).
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 The details matter here..
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.
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 Simple, but easy to overlook..
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.
Dropping the period
“Ga” looks like a typo for “go.” The period tells the reader it’s an abbreviation, not a missing letter That's the part that actually makes a difference..
Over‑abbreviating short‑named states
“Calif.Same with “Tex.” is not an AP form. In real terms, ” is fine, but “Cal. “Tex.” vs. ” (the latter is correct).
Ignoring the “full name for institutions” rule
“University of Cal.” sounds odd and unprofessional. Keep “University of California That alone is useful..
Mixing styles in one piece
A story that uses “N.Y.In practice, ” 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 Which is the point..
- 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 Worth knowing..
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.
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 Small thing, real impact..
Next time you type “The storm hit Calif.,” you’ll know you’re doing it by the book. And that, my friend, is the kind of detail that separates a good writer from a great one. Happy editing!
