How should a state name be written in correspondence?

How should a state name be written in correspondence?

• A. Two letters
• B. Full state name
• C. Abbreviation with periods
• D. Three-letter code

Answer: (A)

Two-letter postal abbreviations for states are the standard in correspondence. This form aligns with USPS addressing rules, keeps the address line concise, and is reliably read by sorting systems. Writing the full state name is acceptable in the body of a letter, but the mailing address line typically uses the two-letter code. Abbreviations with periods are considered outdated in modern addressing, and a three-letter code isn’t used in standard U.S. postal addressing. For these reasons, the two-letter state abbreviation is the best practice.

Two-letter postal abbreviations for states are the standard in correspondence. This form aligns with USPS addressing rules, keeps the address line concise, and is reliably read by sorting systems. Writing the full state name is acceptable in the body of a letter, but the mailing address line typically uses the two-letter code. Abbreviations with periods are considered outdated in modern addressing, and a three-letter code isn’t used in standard U.S. postal addressing. For these reasons, the two-letter state abbreviation is the best practice.