Meghan JonesUpdated: Aug. 24, 2023
50 states, only 25 letters. Which one's missing?
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Ready for a quick language brain game? Quick—run through the list of U.S. states in your mind. We’re not going to ask you which state name starts with two vowels—but we will have you guess this: what letter is not in any state name?
What letter is not in any state name?
Got your guess? Well, my trivia-savvy friends, the answer is…Q. That’s right—50 different names, and not one of them contains the letter Q. Every other letter of our alphabet shows up at least once (well, unless you count these letters that dropped out of our alphabet.)
If you guessed J or Z, though, you were close—and probably don’t live in New Jersey or Arizona, since those are the only states that contain J and Z, respectively. There are couple of other rare letters, too, that only show up twice. No states except Alabama and Nebraska have a B in their name, and California and Florida are the only state names that contain F. If X was your guess, you were also close—the rare letter makes an appearance in only New Mexico and Texas. For a tougher state trivia challenge, try toguess each U.S. state based off its nickname.
The only other letter with fewer than five appearances might surprise you: P! It’s only in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Mississippi (the latter’s double-P bumps it up to four appearances, even though it’s only in three state names). However, if the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico become our 51st and 52nd states, that’ll mean a little more representation for B, F, and P. Still no love for Q, though! Of course, there’s more to the states than just their names—just look at thesefacts about each of the U.S. states.
The Dumbest Laws in Every State" width="295" height="295" />Originally Published: April 12, 2019
Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. Meghan graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2017; her creative nonfiction piece “Anticipation” was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Angles literary magazine.
As a language enthusiast with a deep passion for linguistics and language-related trivia, I've delved into various aspects of the topic, ranging from etymology to language games. My extensive exploration in this field has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge that extends beyond conventional language studies. Now, let's dive into the intriguing linguistic puzzle presented in the RD.COM article by Meghan Jones.
In this brain game, Meghan challenges us to identify the letter that is conspicuously absent from all U.S. state names. Drawing from my expertise, I can confirm that the elusive letter is 'Q.' Remarkably, out of the 50 states, not a single one features the letter 'Q' in its name. This fascinating linguistic tidbit showcases the diversity and distribution of letters in the names of U.S. states.
Furthermore, the article provides additional insights into the occurrence of certain letters in state names. While 'J' and 'Z' only appear in New Jersey and Arizona, respectively, 'B' is exclusive to Alabama and Nebraska, 'F' is found solely in California and Florida, and 'X' makes its rare appearance in New Mexico and Texas.
The article also highlights the scarcity of the letter 'P' in state names, with only Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Mississippi featuring it. The prospect of the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico becoming additional states is mentioned, which could bring a bit more representation for 'B,' 'F,' and 'P,' but 'Q' remains unrepresented.
This linguistic exploration not only uncovers an intriguing pattern in the distribution of letters across state names but also adds a layer of trivia to our understanding of the linguistic landscape of the United States. If you find such language puzzles fascinating, there's much more to explore in the realm of words, grammar, and linguistic curiosities. Feel free to delve into topics like etymology, regional dialects, or language evolution for a truly enriching linguistic journey.
