The official New Jersey abbreviation is NJ, the state's two-letter mail code. On envelopes, shipping labels and forms it appears as two capitals and no periods. Newspapers and many older reference books prefer N.J., the traditional form, which carries a period after each letter.
So what is the abbreviation for New Jersey in a normal sentence? Usually none. Most style guides tell you to spell out "New Jersey" in running text and save the short forms for addresses, datelines, tables and tight spaces.
Quick facts
Postal code
NJTraditional and AP style
N.J.Periods
None in NJ, two in N.J.ZIP codes start with
07 or 08Capital
TrentonNot to be confused with
NH (New Hampshire), NM (New Mexico), NY (New York)
New Jersey abbreviation: which form goes where
| Where you are writing | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Envelope or package label | NJ | Princeton, NJ 08540 |
| Online form or drop-down menu | NJ | State: NJ |
| News dateline, AP style | N.J. | CAMDEN, N.J. |
| City and state in a news sentence | N.J. | a school in Hoboken, N.J., closed early |
| State named alone in a sentence | New Jersey | "New Jersey has a long shoreline." |
The pattern is the same for every state. Postal codes are built for machines and forms. Traditional abbreviations are built for readers. The full name is best whenever you have room for it.
NJ, the postal code
The Postal Service set two-letter state codes in the 1960s so addresses would fit with the new ZIP codes on mail sorting equipment. New Jersey got NJ, the first letters of its two words. The code never takes periods, and both letters stay capitalized.
Mailing address:
Sam Rivera
210 Shore Rd.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Put a comma after the city, then NJ, then the ZIP code.
New Jersey ZIP codes begin with 07 or 08, a handy test for whether an address really belongs to the state.
N.J., the traditional abbreviation
Before postal codes, writers shortened state names with periods, and New Jersey became N.J. AP style still uses that form in datelines, photo captions and lists, while the body of a story spells out New Jersey even right after a town. You will also see it in older books, court records and footnotes.
Note the details: two capitals, two periods, no space between them. "NJ." with one period and "N. J." with a space are both errors.
What is the abbreviation for New Jersey in an essay?
In school papers, business letters and reports, spell out New Jersey in sentences. "She grew up in New Jersey" reads better than "She grew up in NJ," which looks like a text message. Use NJ only inside a full address or a data table, and N.J. only if your teacher or style guide asks for traditional abbreviations.
Codes that look like NJ
Four states start with "New," and mail sorters see their codes swapped all the time:
- New Hampshire is NH
- New Mexico is NM
- New York is NY
- New Jersey is NJ
Since New Jersey borders New York and many people live in one and work in the other, NJ and NY often appear on the same form. Check the ZIP code: most New York ZIP codes start with 10 to 14, not 07 or 08. The state also borders Pennsylvania (PA) and Delaware (DE). For every code in one place, see the state abbreviations chart.
Quick New Jersey facts for addresses
New Jersey's capital is Trenton, and its largest city is Newark. The state takes its name from Jersey, an island in the English Channel. Its best known nickname is the Garden State, which you may see on license plates. Locals often say "Jersey" for short, but that nickname is not an abbreviation and does not belong on forms. Curious how writers shorten words in general? The how to abbreviate guide walks through it.
Questions people ask
Which two letters stand for New Jersey on mail?
NJ. Those two capitals, with no periods, are the Postal Service code and the right choice for mail and forms.
Is it NJ or N.J.?
Each one is right in its own setting. Use NJ in addresses and forms, and N.J. in an AP dateline, caption or list, or when a guide asks for traditional abbreviations.
Does AP style abbreviate New Jersey?
Only in short forms. AP uses N.J. in datelines, photo captions and lists. Story text is different: AP writes New Jersey in full there, whether it stands alone or comes after a city.
What is the difference between NJ and NY?
The J belongs to Jersey and the Y to York. They are neighbors, so check the ZIP code: New Jersey codes start with 07 or 08.
Should I write NJ in a sentence?
In sentences, the full name New Jersey reads more naturally. Save NJ for addresses, tables and forms.