Learn English – Abbreviations of St, Ave, Blvd, etc., for intersections and plurals of

abbreviations

For a document I'm preparing that includes photos, each photo caption includes the approximate street intersection from which the photo was taken, e.g.:

…., Market St & Grant Ave looking east.

In cases where both streets are of the same "type" (both "St" or "Ave"), I omit the first and pluralize the second, e.g.:

…., Market & Kearny Sts looking west.

Is that an OK thing to do? (I couldn't find this addressed in The Chicago Manual of Style. If it's in there, please give the citation.)

One thing I did find in the CMOS is that I should put the period after the abbreviations, e.g.:

…., Market St. & Grant Ave. looking east.

If I do that, what is the proper plural? Still just the period after the abbreviation and no other punctuation?

…., Market & Kearny Sts. looking west.

Do the same rules apply for intersection abbreviations in the main body text? Thanks.

Best Answer

I would say that there are several answers to this question:

The least formal approach:

Omit St. altogether.

Corner of Market and Kearney
-Or-
Market St. and Kearney

I don't think you need St. on both unless a road with the same name which is an Ave. crosses it somewhere else.

In New York City, we always go St. & Ave. as a convention.

So, you would say 60th and 2nd.

A more formal approach:

Per the AP manual of style

Write out the word Street or Avenue in any instance where an exact address is not given.

Market Street and Kearney Street
-Or-
Market Street, 700 block, facing East.

But, abbreviate when there is an exact address:

423 West Mercy St.
Chicago, IL 12345

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