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Is there anyone on my f'list who hails from the Midwest? I'm wanting to know how someone from that neck of the woods would refer to highway 90, near Chicago. would it be I90 or just 90, and would it have 'the' in front of it?

Like in college I always could tell if someone was from Northern or Southern California by if they called the local freeway '101' or 'the 101'. But I'm totally not up on what people in the rest of the country say.

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There are 17 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

I have family in Chicago, but I've honestly never paid that much attention to what they call that particular road. I'm from Michigan, though, and no one says I-###, though we do say M-### for the state routes. So, my analysis would lean me towards just calling it "90", especially if you're giving directions like "take 90 East and get off at Bellvadere Road, then turn right at the first light".

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the actual sentence is:

He was a long-haul trucker, Chicago to parts East, and one night he skidded on a patch of black ice on I90 and never came home.

But it sounds like I should take the 'I' out.

Thank you!

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See, but ... who is the narrator talking to? Someone local? I think leaving "I" in that setting is okay because "90" is more ambiguous without it.

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She's telling a general story to the reader. So would probably say something that identified it as a highway at least.

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I always said I-90, but I'm a freak.

*is from Chicago*

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That makes you a freak? *g* I might leave it I90, because I'm not sure it's clear I'm talking about a highway otherwise.

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I'm an Minnesotan, so slightly removed from the specific area you're talking about, but we definitely just call it 90. No "I", no "the." "Take 90 West until..." Yeah. I'm also about 75% certain that my former suitemate from undergrad uses it the same way, and SHE is Chicago-native through and through.

If anyone with actual Chicago-experience contradicts me, please to disregard my thoughts on the matter -- I, personally, have only been there twice. But. yes. *nod*

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Well, my character is actually from Iowa City, rather than Chicago. Which I probably should have pointed out. So.

I was thinking about what I would say. If I were giving directions, I would just say 'five', but I might say 'He lives out near interstate five' if I wasn't giving directions, so people knew I was referring to a highway. So I'm not sure.

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Hmmm... I'm pretty sure them crazy Iowegians mostly conform with us more normal Minnesotans. (note: snark, I don't mean the dis). Although, I can't vouch with any more certainty than if it were Chicago. The thing is, there isn't really anything to confuse 90 with. If we had Interstate 5 cutting through, there'd be much possible befuddlement: 'cuz, y'know... Highway 5, County Road 5, even 5th st/Ave might potentially get in the way really easily. I don't know if there's a Minnesota Highway 90, but pretty much if you hear 90 there's only one thing it can be.

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I grew up in Kansas and we always put the letter in front.

:)

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I think i'm going to leave the letter, because it clarifies it in the context of the story. So it's good to hear that some people would :)

I love how differently language works!

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Would saying "101" be Southern Cal? Because I've driven a lot around LA & Orange County, and that's what I would say.

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No. Southern Californian's tend to put 'the' in front of highway names. But I think it's a peculiarity to there. Though Jeffrey Deaver had it be a Californian thing in general in one of his latest books. Which irritated me :)

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Well, I'd naturally say "I'm driving up the San Diego Freeway", but I'd also say "I'm driving up 405."

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I'm glad you said that, as I was going to ask. Being a native SoCalifornian I was wondering, because I've also been deaf since age 6 which does mean I haven't the opportunity of picking up "native terminology" by overhearing or listening to the news or other normal methods. I sometimes pick up terminology from books that's got nothing to do with my own geographical location.

However it turns out my natural inclination to call it "the 101" is suitably native. I probably learned that from family members & from reading the local newspapers.

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Here via an old fic rec from a friend. I live on the IA/IL border, and I can tell you that it would pretty definitely be referred to as I-90. Not THE I-90, just I-90. Hope it helps.

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That is exactly perfectly what I wanted to know. Thank you!

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rivers_bend

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