Do you say you live in "Nova, "Northern Virginia" or ...? (pls don't say "the DMV"!) (Manassas: community college, area)

[persnicketygal]

The Post has a series it calls "The State of NoVa" -- hate that "NoVa" usage because to me, Nova is short for Nova Scotia salmon, or lox.

The Post uses that only on the website, so far (thank God). Well, there are a lot of ridiculous things on its website.

So are you a "NoVa" (or "Nova") person?
I admit that most times, when someone asks where I live, I tell them just outside Washington, D.C., in Virginia.

[beatlecrazy]

I just say the entire thing "Northern Virginia" It takes 2x as long but whenever I say Nova I think of the PBS documentary or the superhero

[Caladium]

I tend to use Nova for writing. I vary on whether it's Nova or NoVa. I tend to say Virginia or northern Virginia when speaking. More often than not I simply say Virginia.

I NEVER use DMV. I also NEVER say I live in DC. Nothing against DC, but that's the city next door. If I'm talking to someone from such a far away distance that they've never heard of Virginia I might say I live next to DC.

[dkf747]

To me NOVA is either:

a Chevy
a TV program
nickname for a college in Virginia

This forum is the only place I see it used as if it is the name of a city. (as if Washington did not exist).

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by dkf747

This forum is the only place I see it used as if it is the name of a city. (as if Washington did not exist).

That brings up another interesting question. Do you call the city next door "Washington" or "DC" ? To me, Washington is reserved for the state north of Oregon. Next door is always DC.

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by Caladium

That brings up another interesting question. Do you call the city next door "Washington" or "DC" ? To me, Washington is reserved for the state north of Oregon. Next door is always DC.

Neither. It's "The District."

[roninsedge]

For me it goes like this:

Northern Virginia is the general area
DC or the District are used interchangeably when referring to the capitol
NoVA is the community college

[farplaner]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

For me it goes like this:

Northern Virginia is the general area
DC or the District are used interchangeably when referring to the capitol
NoVA is the community college

The same for me.

[beatlecrazy]

I always say "DC" when referring to the city, and if I'm talking to someone that lives far away and isn't sure where Manassas is, I'll say outside of DC. But when I lived in Pennsylvania, we always said "Washington DC" haha. My parents and brother still say that.

[pcity]

"Outside of DC" or "DC area"