diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json index 6a5dd06..11973d3 100644 Binary files a/package-lock.json and b/package-lock.json differ diff --git a/package.json b/package.json index 29ab27c..7684465 100644 --- a/package.json +++ b/package.json @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ { "name": "blog", - "version": "1.2.9", + "version": "1.3.0", "description": "Florine's personal blog.", "author": "Florine W. Dekker", "browser": "dist/bundle.js", @@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ }, "devDependencies": { "@11ty/eleventy": "^1.0.0", - "grunt": "^1.4.1", + "grunt": "^1.5.2", "grunt-cli": "^1.4.3", - "grunt-contrib-clean": "^2.0.0", + "grunt-contrib-clean": "^2.0.1", "grunt-contrib-copy": "^1.0.0", "grunt-contrib-watch": "^1.1.0", "grunt-exec": "^3.0.0", diff --git a/src/main/_data/site.json b/src/main/_data/site.json index b15f482..f44245a 100644 --- a/src/main/_data/site.json +++ b/src/main/_data/site.json @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ { "baseurl": "/blog/", - "title": "FWDekker's blog", + "title": "Florine's blog", "description": "Florine's personal blog", "author": "Florine W. Dekker" } diff --git a/src/main/_posts/2022-04-17-remember-us-state-abbreviations.md b/src/main/_posts/2022-04-17-remember-us-state-abbreviations.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee7e24d --- /dev/null +++ b/src/main/_posts/2022-04-17-remember-us-state-abbreviations.md @@ -0,0 +1,125 @@ +--- +title: How to Remember U.S. State Abbreviations +tags: post +layout: post +date: 2022-04-17 +permalink: remember-us-state-abbreviations/ +excerpt: A set of consistent rules to follow for determining the U.S. postal code abbreviation for any state. +--- + +I like maps and recently learnt the U.S. state abbreviations by heart for no particular reason. +The abbreviations are highly irregular, both for logical reasons and historical reasons, which makes them especially +hard to learn. +I created a set of rules that may help you remember the abbreviations more easily. +The rules are very straightforward, as my goal was to avoid creating rules that have multiple levels of exceptions. + +There are eight rules divided into three categories. +Firstly, states that consist of two words have one very simple rule. +Secondly, states that start with M, A, I, or N have a complicated rule each. +Finally, the remaining states have a very simple rule depending on the first letter. + +1. **Two-word states** + If the state consists of two words, the abbreviation is the **first letter of each word**. + | State | Abbreviation | + |------------------------|--------------| + | New Hampshire | NH | + | New Jersey | NJ | + | New Mexico | NM | + | New York | NY | + | North Carolina | NC | + | North Dakota | ND | + | Rhode Island | RI | + | South Carolina | SC | + | South Dakota | SD | + | West Virginia | WV | + | _District of Columbia_ | _DC_ | + | _Puerto Rico_ | _PR_ | +2. **MAIN states** + The following four rules describe states that start with M, A, I, or N. + These are the most frequent first letters, and are the most complicated to remember. + + 1. **M states** + These are by far the hardest to remember, because there is no real structure to them. + But we can sub-divide this into three categories: + starting with MA, starting with MI, and starting with MO. + Once you figure that out, you can use mnemonics to distinguish them from each other. + | State | Abbreviation | Mnemonic | + |---------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------| + | Maine | ME | All other options are taken | + | Maryland | MD | Medical Doctors live in Maryland | + | Massachusetts | MA | Easternmost MA state gets simplest abbreviation | + | Michigan | MI | Easternmost MI state gets simplest abbreviation | + | Minnesota | MN | All other options are taken | + | Mississippi | MS | Many S's | + | Missouri | MO | Miss Ouri | + | Montana | MT | MounTain | + 2. **A states** + We actually have two sets of two here: two states starting with AL, and two starting with AR. + I've come up with a few mnemonics to help you distinguish them. + | State | Abbreviation | Mnemonic | + |---------------|--------------|--------------------------------------| + | Alabama | AL | Al lives in Alabama | + | Alaska | AK | Alaskans like Kalashnikovs? | + | Arizona | AZ | Z is unique, so use it when you can! | + | Arkansas | AR | Pirate says "Arr" | + 3. **I states** + Use the **first two letters, unless it's Iowa**. + As a mnemonic, try "I owes an A". + | State | Abbreviation | + |---------------|--------------| + | Idaho | ID | + | Illinois | IL | + | Indiana | IN | + | Iowa | IA | + 4. **N states** + This one requires a bit of deduction. + Both Nebraska and Nevada could use NE, but if we give NE to Nevada then Nebraska becomes NB, and no abbreviation + ever uses the letter B. + Therefore, we **must give NE to Nebraska**. + | State | Abbreviation | + |---------------|--------------| + | Nebraska | NE | + | Nevada | NV | +3. **Simple rules** + All remaining states are very regular, and we can determine the abbreviation by looking at the first letter. + 1. **Texassee** + If we're talking about Tennessee or Texas, the abbreviation is the **first and third letter**. + | State | Abbreviation | + |-----------|--------------| + | Tennessee | TN | + | Texas | TX | + 2. **WOODRUFF states** + If the name starts with a letter of WOODRUFF, the abbreviation is the **first two letters**. + Remember that Rhode Island is already covered by the very first rule! + | State | Abbreviation | + |------------|--------------| + | Delaware | DE | + | Florida | FL | + | Ohio | OH | + | Oklahoma | OK | + | Oregon | OR | + | Utah | UT | + | Washington | WA | + | Wisconsin | WI | + | Wyoming | WY | + 3. **HYPERCLEVER GEEK states** + If the name starts with a letter of HYPERCLEVER GEEK, the abbreviation is the **first and last letter**. + Alternatively, remember that these are the states that start with a consonant, but are not covered by MAIN, + WOODRUFF, or Texassee. + Either way, remember that Rhode Island is already covered by the very first rule. + | State | Abbreviation | + |--------------|--------------| + | California | CA | + | Colorado | CO | + | Connecticut | CT | + | Georgia | GA | + | Hawaii | HI | + | Kansas | KS | + | Kentucky | KY | + | Louisiana | LA | + | Pennsylvania | PA | + | Vermont | VT | + | Virginia | VA | + +And that wraps up the list of rules! +Good luck with learning!