Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

Wondering if there is a common name for the "Dis-contiguous" states of Alaska and Hawaii. If not, what would be a good single word label to describe these two states, especially in context of dividing the country up into time zones.

Context: this is for a web application that presents data based on various filters. One of these filters is time zone. I want to use Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, and some other word that encompasses both Alaska and Hawaii, even though they are really in two different time zones.

share|improve this question
1  
What about "Other"? – KitFox♦ Jul 16 '12 at 13:17
1  
'Non-contiguous states of the United States'? 'Detached'? '49 and 50' (if Puerto Rico ever joins,... oh.. you care about -time zone-? This is kinda mixed up. – Mitch Jul 16 '12 at 13:21
4  
How about "Alaska & Hawai'i"? You'll have to update your program once a new state joins anyway..... – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇 Jul 16 '12 at 13:23
I agree with Mr Shiny. I see national advertising sopmetimes with a disclaimer at the end: Prices higher in Alaska and Hawaii. So there is no need for a fancier way to say it. – GEdgar Jul 16 '12 at 14:35
1  
You want to filter by time zone but one of the choices is actually two time zones? – Samuel Edwin Ward Jul 16 '12 at 20:20
show 3 more comments

4 Answers

up vote 4 down vote accepted

"Alaska & Hawaii" is short, accurate, and precise. It's 3 words, but only 15 characters (depending on how you choose to spell Hawaii/Hawai'i/Hawaiʻi.

share|improve this answer
1  
After seeing all the suggestions, I think I agree. But I'm going to use AK & HI to make it even shorter. And abbreviated state names are used elsewhere in the application too. – Ben Jul 16 '12 at 17:25
Isn't this a single word request? – Zetta Suro Oct 9 '12 at 4:44
@phoenixheart6 The answer was accepted by the questioner, so I'm not sure I understand your issue. – Mark Beadles Oct 9 '12 at 16:25
@MarkBeadles yes, I see that. I wasn't saying that it was an issue, just stating the reason for the downvote. – Zetta Suro Oct 9 '12 at 20:11
@phoenixheart6 Oh, I see. The tag was not entered by the questioner. – Mark Beadles Oct 9 '12 at 21:29
show 1 more comment
up vote 9 down vote

Noncontinguous states is what I've always heard those two states called.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I have seen the phrase "Non-Continental" used in many cases.

You see it most often on shipping orders where they quote prices to Continental United States

share|improve this answer
3  
Alaska is on the continent. Is it part of the Continental US? – Mr. Shiny and New 安宇 Jul 16 '12 at 13:24
The US government specifies CONUS as "continental US" on this site. Alaska is specifically excluded from CONUS for governmental purposes. – KitFox♦ Jul 16 '12 at 13:44
2  
Well, the EU specifies carrot as fruit and snail as "land fish". The fact some office classifies something some way doesn't make it factually correct. – SF. Jul 16 '12 at 14:31
@SF. Does it? If yes, where? Sounds weird. – dezso Jul 16 '12 at 19:35
@dezso: Fairly loud cases, google them. To allow fruit juices to use carrot juice, and to have snail pickers to enjoy similar protections as fishers, the regulations extended the definitions of "fruit" and "fish". – SF. Jul 17 '12 at 10:56
up vote 0 down vote

I have heard the states other than Alaska and Hawaii called "The Lower 48".

Perhaps we could call them "The Other Two".

[Yes, I know the standard form is to include the period inside the quotes, but the practice jars since the period is not part of what is being quoted.]

share|improve this answer
1  
The 48 contiguous states aren't "lower" compared to Hawaii :) – Mark Beadles Jul 16 '12 at 14:25
It may have taken root in those few months between the entry of Alaska and Hawaii. – bib Jul 16 '12 at 14:29
In Hawaii it's usually called "the Mainland". In Alaska it's either "Lower 48" or "Outside". – Mark Beadles Jul 16 '12 at 16:15

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.