Why Do People Always Refer to Pennsylvania as "P.A."?

[Dave5150]

Im from North Carolina and we frequently say NC where im from because its a long name and we have to clarify between SC and NC. My cousin is from Vermont and she says VT. My DH lived in Virginia and we also call that VA. And we say Jersey or South Jersey. And PA. And I also say AK for Alaska, Mass for Mass, Tenn for Tennessee.

[warren zee]

Cause "PA" sounds cool. "Cause 'PA" is cool.
And that's the fact, Jack.

[Raena77]

Hmmmmm same reason we say O.J for orange juice. Or C.P.A, P.B&J,V.M.D,A.C.,and T.V.

[jimmyev]

Louisianans refer to Louisiana as 'L-A.' Which always confused me when I lived in Texas because I thought they were talking about Los Angeles.

[PreservationPioneer]

DC, anyone? No one says "District of Columbia."

[ker8]

I admit, I was shocked the first time I met someone new outside of PA and when asked where I was from, I replied "I'm from PA", to which I got a quizzical look and a "what?" Thinking they didn't hear me I said, "PA". Nothing, still a quizzical face. So then, "PA, you know, Pennsylvania?" Then, "oh, ok!" Keep in mind I'm only 25.

My grandmother tends to refer to it as Pennsy. I presume like all her colloquialisms it's because she grew up in the hills of Appalachian PA (or Pennsy), while I grew up in NWPA.

[ironpig]

Originally Posted by Billustrator

I spent 18 years in the military...anyone from the states would understand me when I said I was from PA. It's the other nationals that say, "Huh?" Then I would say Pennsylvania, and they would say, "Transylvania?!" and I would say, "No, Penn-sylvania...Penn's woods..." Then their eyes glaze over until I would say, "USA...?"
Anyway, I think it's just the way people shorten everything they say. The military uses acronyms for everthing, e.g. S.N.A.F.U. instead of Situation Normal, All Fed Up, or F.U.B.A.R. instead of Fed Up Beyond All Recognition. These are from way before my time, though, as is "PA". I do a bit of genealogy and history research, and I've seen documents from the 19th Century listing Pennsylvania as "PA" (although not many). In fact, I wonder if the Postal Service decided to go with 2-letter abbreviations for all states because we already were so used to it here.

Thx...never knew the meaning of f.u.b.a.r, heard it in movie " saving private ryan". Ya learn something new every day.

[KillerK]

I think it's because Pennsylvania is more difficult to say than other state names. Lots of consonants and if you have a lisp or something it can be difficult to say. Just easier to say "P.A."

[HappyRider]

Cali?

[bradjl2009]

I'm so used to saying PA that it feels weird actually saying Pennsylvania to anyone.