Do you put a period after a state abbreviation?

[Mommamia]

I'm finding mixed answers.

 

What do you do?

[lovetobehome]

No...the correct way is supposed to be the 2 letter abbreviation and no punctuation.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

I'm finding mixed answers.

 

What do you do?

 

 

 

For the Post Office, no. Just capitalize both letters. No punctuation.

 

For abbreviating the word in regular writing, capitalize only the first letter, and use a period (like any other abbreviation).

[nukeswife]

No...the correct way is supposed to be the 2 letter abbreviation and no punctuation.

 

:iagree: Many of my family members are postal workers and the proper way to abbreviate the states is just the 2 letters, also when addressing envelopes and packages you should omit any commas. Here is a snippet from the USPS website.

 

Delivery Address

Print clearly the delivery address parallel to the longest side of the package. Do not use commas or periods.

[LisaKinVA]

I believe... many, many years ago... before automation of the USPS, that it was proper to punctuate state abbreviations with a period (Virginia = Va.)

 

I have letters from my grandma (who would have been 100 this year, along with letters from her school-teacher sister, who would have been 110 this year) the state abbreviations are punctuated that way.

 

However, today (I don't even remember which way I was taught, but I do have a vague recollection of writing San Jose, Ca. 95131...) it is proper to write VA, CA (all uppercase).

 

Of course, the USPS would prefer all addresses be sans punctuation... in all caps, typed ...

[JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst]

The current method is with the two letter abbreviation, in all caps, no punctuation.

 

Back in the day...there were four letter abbreviations. Those put only the first letter as a capital and used a period at the end.

[Mommamia]

Thanks. Our curriculum seems to use a variety of ways:glare: Mass., MA, N.H. ....it was getting us very frustrated. I'm going to teach all capitals , no punctuation.

[Crimson Wife]

In addressing envelopes, use the 2 digit post-office abbreviation with no periods.

 

In general use, Mass., Conn., N.H., and so on are acceptable.

[Ellie]

There are two kinds of abbreviations: the ones that you use when you mail/ship something and the traditional abbreviations that should be used everywhere else.

 

When you mail/ship, everything should be all caps, abbreviations as much as possible (including two letters for the state), and no punctuation.

 

Any other time that you abbreviate a state, it should be the traditional abbreviation, including punctuation.

 

Not that anyone does this any more, lol, but it is correct.

[LauraGB]

Not since the abbreviations changed from the first three letters to two capital letters. I think that was sometime during my grade school years, so...a really long time ago, it would seem :D. For instance, Wisconsin used to be Wis. but now it is WI.

[Laurie4b]

For the Post Office, no. Just capitalize both letters. No punctuation.

 

For abbreviating the word in regular writing, capitalize only the first letter, and use a period (like any other abbreviation).

 

:iagree:

[KidsHappen]

I actually remember when it was the first four letters with the first capitalized and then followed with a period just like any other abbreviation, then the transition to just two letters with the first capitalized and a period at the end, to the current practice of just two capital letters with no punctuation. Yeah, I'm that old. :001_smile: