Python .replace 'st' with 'street' but leave street name the same

Question

I'm trying to change st. to street, ave. to avenue, etc. using .replace() for addresses in a single cell. For example: WEST ST. should be WEST STREET or MOUNT PEBBLE RD. should be MOUNT PEBBLE ROAD

Here is my code:

if 'STREET' not in address and address.find('ST.'):
    address = address.replace('ST','STREET')

The result gives me WESTREET STREET. How can I leave the address name untouched without altering the address name? I tried .split() but most cells had different list lengths so it got really confusing.

Answer 1

Try using Regex with boundaries.

Ex:

import re

s = """WEST ST
       MOUNT PEBBLE RD"""

toReplace = {"ST": 'STREET', "RD": "ROAD", "ave": "avenue"}
for k,v in toReplace.items():
    s = re.sub(r"\b" + k + r"\b", v, s)
print(s)

Output:

WEST STREET
MOUNT PEBBLE ROAD