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Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
what to call people who live in the 50 states
Mrs. B has noticed in her travels that anchors and reporters are
having some trouble with how they talk about people from various
states. Here's a rundown courtesy of the U.S. Government Printing
Office Style Manual.
These states just add "n": Alaskan, Arizonan, Californian, Georgian,
Iowan, Minnesotan, Montanan, Nebraskan, Nevadan, North
Dakotan, Oklahoman, Pennsylvanian, South Dakotan, Utahn,
Virginian, West Virginian.
These states add "an": Delawarean, Hawaiian, Idahoan, Illinoisan,
Massachusettsan, Mississippian, Missourian, Ohioan.
These states drop the final letter and add "n" or "an": Arkansan,
Coloradan, Kansan, New Mexican, Tennessean, Texan.
These states add "ian": Michiganian, Oregonian, Washingtonian.
These states drop the final letter and add "ian": Alabamian, Floridian,
Indianian, Kentuckian, Louisianian, North Carolinian, South
Carolinian.
These states add "er": Connecticuter, Marylander, New Yorker,
Rhode Islander, Vermonter.
These states add "ite": New Jerseyite, Wisconsonite, Wyomingite.
One state drops the final letter and adds "ite": New Hampshirite.
One state adds an "r": Mainer or Mainiac.
Mrs. B is not joking.
"Mainiac"is the term some people in Maine actually prefer, those
with a well evolved sense of humor.
Don't you think?
