50 US States or 46?

Factual Questions
1

Is it true that technically there are only 46 “states” in the U. S. of A, and the other 4; Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, are “commonwealths?” If so, what is the difference, why are they different, and where can I find more information?

2

Others on this board have asked much the same question.

Here’s a thread on this very matter:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=14120

Here’s another:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=14640

3

And, more important, Cecil has weiged in on the question Why is Virginia (and MA and PA and KY) called a commonwealth?

Knowledge, right there at your fingertips.

4

To be concise, since the OP made the cardinal error of not reading every one of Cecil’s answers to every question:

There are fifty states. Four are named “commonwealth”, 46 are named “state.” For instance, New York is a state named “The State of New York” while Massatwoshits is a state named “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” They could call themselves “The People’s Republic of Massachusetts” (as some have suggested) and they’d still be a state.

Since no one else has brought it up yet, I must… the official name of Rhode Island is “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” apparently making it the longest official state name on the smallest state.