[OSM-talk] shortened names

[John Smith]

On 27 July 2011 22:00, Richard Fairhurst <richard at systemed.net> wrote:
> John Smith wrote:
>> The period after St. is the correct way in English to abbreviate
>> Saint, where as the abbreviation of street doesn't have a period.
>
> Not in British English, it isn't.
>
> "_Saint._ St or S. is better than St. for the abbreviation (see PERIOD IN
> ABBR.); Pl. Sts or SS."
>
> That's from Fowler's Modern English Usage, which is as close as there is to
> an authority in British English style.

It seems 50/50, although even your reference basically says it's an
acceptable practice, even if that publisher had a style preference
that was different.