I suppose many residents of Washington have their own favorite category of instances where tacking on "state" is hilariously unnecessary.

Here's mine.

On National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" you'll hear occasional news stories that have to do with the Northwest. And when there is a reference to the two states here in our corner of the Lower 48, it's always the same: "...Oregon and Washington state."

Now I ask you. Is there really any chance someone listening to these broadcasts needs to hear that added "state" to understand that the reporter is not referring to Oregon and the District of Columbia?

Of course, not. But when it comes to tacking on the unnecessary "state" descriptor, logic has never ruled.

Every belch and giggle in Washington, D.C., is on the radar of media types back East. We are not.

I once came across an account of avalanche danger in good old "Washington state." That was in The New York Times.

Now if there had been avalanche danger in Washington, D.C., that actually would have been news.

 

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