Every time I see a headline about the Veterans Administration,

[GoddessOfGuinness]

my first thought is that Virginia is really screwed up lately...

Probe: VA not doing enough for Iraq vets
VA orders review of 1,400 clinics

There's got to be a better abbreviation...VetAd or something!

[electricmonk]

1. I'm not the only one then

Keep thinking, damn what happened here now, then it sinks in that it's the other VA.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

2. I 'm glad I'm not alone!

Thanks for speaking up! :toast:

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. I agree that it can be confusing

But AP style prohibits use of postal abbreviations. This is how newspapers are supposed to abbreviate state names:

Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Kan., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Neb., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.M., N.Y., N.C., N.D., Okla., Ore., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.D., Tenn., Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.

Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah are not abbreviated.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

4. Interesting...

I never noticed that...

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. Most people don't

It's a copy editor thing. :blush:

A standard question on copy-editing tests is "Which states are not abbreviated?"

[Breeze54]

7. I've seen MA for Mass.

Now, of course, I can't find a relative story. :P

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I wish you could

If it's in a newspaper that uses AP style — and just about all of 'em do — it's a mistake.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. Also Louisiana ("LA") and Los Angeles ("L.A.")

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Good Point...

All those LA Times articles!

[Jamastiene]

8. DVA would be better.

Department of Veteran's Affairs. I agree that it can be confusing.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. Excellent suggestion!

It's only one letter longer...