undefined | Better HN

0 pointsstrogonoff1y ago0 comments

When feasible, spoken English favours double syllable combinations. Three is too many, one is too few for disambiguation in a lossy environment. Hence Jersey, LA, San Fran, Philly, but not York. It’s not a hard rule, of course.

0 comments

Trasmatta1y ago

Ahh that makes a lot of sense, thank you! It does feel like it's more about the syllables than anything.

> San Fran

Or SF, if you want to avoid making the people that live there mad

AnnikaL1y ago

My SF-born mother also often calls it "The City" (though this is 3 syllables).

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse