Abbreviating geographic names
Abbreviate state and territory names when they are preceded by a city, county or territory name.
She was last seen by a dentist in Los Angeles, CA a year ago.
The patient states he relocated from New Orleans, LA after Hurricane Katrina.
Do not abbreviate names of states, territories, countries or similar geographic locations when they stand alone.
The patient has recently returned to the United States from Canada.
He recently moved from Louisiana to Dallas.
In correspondence, always use the appropriate two-letter state abbreviation in an address, both in the letter's inside address and on the envelope.
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