States and Provinces
(Note that some are not abbreviated)
By directive of the US Postal Service, and according to the professional style guide we follow (the Associated Press Stylebook), USPS abbreviations (e.g., NY) should be used only when a full and complete address is used for mailing purposes. Until that changes (which it probably will eventually), we abide by it.
*When indicating in what community someone lives, use the “old-fashioned” abbreviations, with periods, as shown below: “Jane Alumna now lives in Burlington, Vt.” (Large, well-known cities do not require the state).
*When using state names only, always spell them out: “Jane Alumna has moved from Minnesota [not MN or Minn.] to Vermont.”
*Do not abbreviate the names of any foreign countries. For The United States, use “U.S.”
Abbreviations
U.S. States
Alabama: Ala.
Alaska
Arizona: Ariz.
Arkansas: Ark.
California: Calif.
Colorado: Col.
Connecticut: Conn.
Delaware: Del.
(District of Columbia): D.C.
Florida: Fla.
Georgia: Ga.
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois: Ill.
Indiana: Ind.
Iowa
Kansas: Kan.
Kentucky: Ky.
Louisiana: La.
Maine
Maryland: Md.
Massachusetts: Mass.
Michigan: Mich.
Minnesota: Minn.
Mississippi: Miss.
Missouri: Mo.
Montana: Mont.
Nebraska: Neb.
Nevada: Nev.
New Hampshire: N.H.
New Jersey: N.J.
New Mexico: N.M.
New York: N.Y.
North Carolina: N.C.
North Dakota: N.D.
Ohio
Oklahoma: Okla.
Oregon: Ore.
Pennsylvania: Pa.
Rhode Island: R.I.
South Carolina: S.C.
South Dakota: S.D.
Tennessee: Tenn.
Texas
Utah
Vermont: Vt.
Virginia: Va.
Washington: Wash.
West Virginia: W.Va.
Wisconsin: Wis.
Wyoming: Wyo.
Alberta: Alb.
British Columbia: B.C.
Manitoba: Man.
New Brunswick: N.B.
Newfoundland: Newf.
Northwest Territories: N.W.T.
Nova Scotia: N.S.
Nunavut: Nun.
Ontario: Ont.
Prince Edward Island: P.E.I.
Quebec: Que.
Saskatchewan: Sask.
Yukon Territory: Y.T.