AN ABBREVIATED RANT

BY DAN MILLER

My friends and family have learned to leave the room when this topic comes up.

Back in 1963, some old geezers at the Postal Service decided there should be a new way to abbreviate states when addressing mail.

Each state would have two capital letters, and no commas would be used in addresses.
We would unlearn what we had been taught about our language and punctuation in order to keep the Post Office computers happy, and (in theory) speed up delivery.

Here's what amazes me.
Reasonable, intelligent people have assumed that what the Postal Service decided has now become the official rule for abbreviation. Well, it hasn't.

The official abbreviation for Tennessee is not TN -- it's Tenn.
The official abbreviation for Minnesota is not MN -- it's Minn.

I have checked Style Manuals and Publication Manuals for 5 or 6 universities.
Every one -- without exception -- makes it clear that postal abbreviations are not accepted for writing or publication within the university.

Here are the exact words lifted from the Style Manual at Utah State University:
"Zip code abbreviations belong on mailing envelopes, but NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT in text."

Let's remember, these postal abbreviations are not the law of the land.
The Postal Service doesn't have the authority to change our language.

Sadly, we use the postal abbreviations in our graphics here at WSMV, and it distresses me.... but it's out of my hands.
The Associated Press uses the correct abbreviations, as do virtually all newspapers and magazines.... and the TV networks. I wish we did as well.

A New York Times article by John Tierney several years ago featured a quote from stationery engraver Ann Patron, who still always uses the elegant symmetry of "New York, New York" on envelopes she prepares for her clients.

She said, "I don't think the post office has the right to alter the English language. The traditional way of writing addresses has beauty and elegance and a correctness that should not be changed to please their computers."

For whatever it's worth.... I'm told that the sophisticated post office computers of today could, in fact, easily handle the commas and the correct state abbreviations.

Quickly.... tell me which states are listed here: ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MT.

Now, read them again: Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mont.

And doesn't it just look silly to abbreviate our home team as the TN Titans, or the TN Volunteers?

How about TN Gov. Phil Bredesen?

Or songs... oh, I just love the beautiful TN Waltz.

What's next.... airport abbreviations?
Yes, come visit me in my hometown of BNA TN

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