Ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. Associated press style basics journalists resource. May 07, 2009 the associated press was founded more than 150 years ago and now has thousands of employees working in more than a hundred countries for a readership that numbers in the millions. Bachelor of arts is capitalized as an academic degree, as are b. It includes all stylebook listings, plus an ask the editor feature with more than twice as many entries as the book itself, a pronunciation guide with phonetic spellings and audio pronouncers, and topical style guides about news events. When, on subsequent reference, formal names are reversed to delete the of, retain the capitalization. Do not add the word degree after an abbreviation of the degree or after the full name of the. Capitalize chapter when used with a numeral in reference to a section of a book or legal code. Making compound words possessive, such as the attorney generals report. There are clear guidelines for capitalizing academic degrees in ap style. Select the sentence free of errors in ap style for addresses, abbreviations, capitalization, numerals, punctuation and spelling and time in print copy. However, computer game apps such as farmville are in quotes. Names of most websites and apps are capitalized without quotes.
Postal service abbreviations for states unless you are providing a full address including zip code. The lieutenant governor, gavin newsom, was serving in the. The associated press stylebook app offers current style guidance as you write or edit in word. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style. Abbreviate company, corporation, incorporated and limited when used after the name of a. As a writer following the associated press stylebook, however, i capitalize according to the rules and not peoples egos. Official names of the coop residences are chadbourne, doughty, lambert.
This can be particularly tricky with the titles of major works, so heres a few. In text, use bachelors degree or bachelors rather than b. The ap stylebook 2 print edition, webbased access and stylechecking software. I recently wrote a blog post about the future of journalism and how astonished i was to learn that my undergraduate journalism students were never made to even purchase their own copy of the ap stylebook, let alone use it. Spell out the names of all states when used alone and in body text. As a gal who spent 35 years as an abderhalden and had to spell both first and last names each and every time to each and every george and georgette out there, take it from me. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. Distributed by satellite and the internet to more than 120 nations, ap services daily reach more than.
Ap style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. According to ap style you do not use a comma before inc. Professional journalists and business communicators in the united states commonly write in associated press ap style. Ap stylebook, also known by its full name the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, is an english grammar style and usage guide created by american journalists working for or connected with the associated press to standardize mass communication. For slide presentations of ap style basics, go here. I dont know if this will help, but for chapter style, ap says. Aug 25, 2019 as a writer following the associated press stylebook, however, i capitalize according to the rules and not peoples egos. If you are going to write for a newspaper even some magazines you need to have your ap style guide handy. Dont include a state name, whether in a dateline or in text, for.
The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style guide of the associated press, a notforprofit news agency thats been around since 1846. We m dash here xyz company is a specialized manufacturer of. When a title stands alone or is offset from a name by commas, it should be lowercase. Ap, or associated press, style is most commonly used by journalists. Never capitalize a title used alone, no matter how important it seems. Rules for capitalizing academic degrees in ap style bka. If company or companies appears alone in second reference, spell out the full word. Ap stylebook adds ebook edition to digital product suite. This can be particularly tricky with the titles of major works, so heres a few rules to brush up on. The choice between e book and ebook could be considered a style choice, but ebook is simply wrong. May 01, 2014 making compound words possessive, such as the attorney generals report. Do not call anyone an allamerica selection unless he is listed on either the camp or ap roster. As ap has added entries over the years, the stylebook has grown more useful and comprehensive, but also more daunting.
Ap style is designed to address the challenges of the organizations large size and readership. What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules. Its mobile optimized so you can use it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Ap definitive source making a case for a singular they. What are the ap, apa, chicago, and mla writing styles. One of the first things a student in a beginning journalism course learns about is associated press style or ap style for short. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of ap style used in answers. Not the parakeet looked upset as he watched the cat nap on the couch.
Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding united states postal service. The associated press was founded more than 150 years ago and now has thousands of employees working in more than a hundred countries for a readership that numbers in the millions. At more than 5,000 entries, the 2015 ap stylebook is the biggest edition in its more than six decades of publication. Its often used by news organizations, magazines, and web publications, but brands often use it to form the basis of their own style guides, too. Ap style has a funny little way of sneaking into your ear and whispering sweet nothings like, didnt i teach you better than to leave street designations unabbreviated.
Its updated throughout the year and valuable onlineonly resources, including ask the editor, topical guides and pronunciation guide, expand on the print books guidance. The following formal names of specific degrees should always be capitalized in ap style. Your organizations inhouse style guide may provide contraction guidelines. Professional and honorary titles capitalize brief titles when used before the individuals name. Use the word and unless the ampersand is found in the formal name of a company. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new. Jan 15, 2020 the associated press stylebook app offers current style guidance as you write or edit in word. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free. But do you know the big differences between these four popular writing styles. Cite a website in ap style by capitalizing the name, just like a proper noun. Ap definitive source a new look for ap stylebook online. How do you make names that end in s possessive and would you welcome a change to ap style. In print, we remove columbia datelines but keep datelines for all other locations. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals and many other questions of language usage.
The associated press style is the goto style for journalism and news writing. The associated press recognizes only one allamerica football and basketball team each year. Not the parakeet looked upset as he watched the cat. Ap style is simply a standardized way of writing everything from dates to street addresses to job titles. Never capitalize titles used after the name or titles that stand alone. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style. The verb are could have gone in that place as in this case. As a writer following the associated press stylebook, however, i capitalize according to the. I think the author is trying to add the pronoun we just to emphasize that they are the company.
The ap stylebook is the definitive resource for journalists and a musthave reference for writers, editors, students and professionals. Do not add the word degree after an abbreviation of the degree. In most instances, our style is based on the associated press ap stylebook online. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. Sometimes its difficult to remember which rules are ap and which rules are remnants from years of college courses. Seeing your name in print correctly is about as big a thrill as any.
Jul, 2019 one of the first things a student in a beginning journalism course learns about is associated press style or ap style for short. Remember back in college when you had to keep track of all the different ap rules for your student newspaper on top of the chicago manual of style for your academic classes. Should the names of decades be capitalized when written out. The guidelines are based on the associated press ap stylebook, websters new. Use the abbreviation of the appropriate degree set off by commas.
Avoid applying personal pronouns he, she, him, her to an animal unless its sex has been established or the animal has a name. Send contributions to relief fund, box 185, pasadena, ca 91030. Capitalize formal names of schools and divisions of the college. Select time references as if the story were being written today for publication tomorrow morning. If you want to direct readers to the website, use lowercase letters and include the hypertext transfer protocol at the beginning of the address. In ap style, magazines names and titles are governed. May 25, 2017 when it comes to animals, the ap stylebook has several notes for reporters.
Rules for capitalizing academic degrees in ap style bka content. The ebook makes it faster and easier to find a relevant style rule. In football, only walter camps selections through 1924, and the ap selections after that, are recognized. You should use abbreviations like these only after full names, never after just a last name. When it comes to animals, the ap stylebook has several notes for reporters. For a company s formal name, consult the national stock exchanges, the new york stock exchange.
Bernard the parakeet had a concerned look on his face as he watched the two children approach his cage. The ap stylebook 2 print edition, webbased access and style checking software. Associated press style quick reference guide to subscribe to the associated press stylebook online, or to find out about purchasing hard copies of the book, start here. Now journalists, students, public relations professionals and other writers and editors will have style guidance at the ready at all times. Italicized words are still iffy for wire transmission ap stories, so book titles are enclosed in quote marks. However, italicized type could not be sent over associated press teletypes and isnt supported by the computer programs in use today. Here are three questions to ponder as you decide if you should use contractions in your own business writing. Improve your writing with this cheat sheet for the associated press ap style. Ap style cheat sheet for wjeas writeoff contests and beyond student journalists should have at least these two sources available to answer basic style questions. Use abbreviations for degrees only when you need to include a list of credentials after a name. You dont need a masters degree to know the proper names for credentials. But, the associated press stylebook says to put spaces.
If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and. Formal titles in ap style should be capitalized when they immediately precede one or more names. If an article the, a, an is the first or last word in a title, capitalize it. Ebooks currently make up two percent of my book sales. We, xyz company, are a specialized manufacturer of. Brand names, such as ipad, sometimes use camel case an internal capital letter, but in standard english such style is unacceptable for anything other than names. The same rule applies to words of fewer than four letters. The choice between ebook and ebook could be considered a style choice, but ebook is simply wrong. This is the style guide that professional media use. Books and magazines often italicize newspaper names as well as book titles and magazine names as part of their inhouse style.
Ah, yes, the familiar panic of poring over your article to make sure hyphens are correctly placed and quotes are wellattributed. The following guidelines are rules set out in the ap stylebook for ap style book titles, computer game titles, ap style movie titles, opera titles, play titles, poem titles, album titles, ap style song titles, radio and television titles, and the titles of lectures, speeches, and work of art. How to include ap style company names in your writing bka. The subscriptionbased ap stylebook online is updated throughout the year with new and revised entries. Ap stylebook online takes everything you love about the stylebook az guide to usage, spelling and punctuation and makes it an even more convenient tool.
If you are writing something for work, inquire whether your company has a house style guide, and check there first to see if it has a ruling on the spaces issue. All you need to know about titles in ap style gatehouse. As an example, you might say, journalists have many resources available to them, including my dictionary. While it often may seem that ap stylebook guidelines can be difficult to learn, ap style company names are quite simple if you keep a few. Oct 30, 2015 remember back in college when you had to keep track of all the different ap rules for your student newspaper on top of the chicago manual of style for your academic classes. Before we get into the differences between these four writing styles, we should explain them all a little more. Ap style was developed and is maintained by the associated press, the worlds oldest news service. For a companys formal name, consult the national stock exchanges, the new york stock exchange. Sep 05, 20 but, the associated press stylebook says to put spaces. If you are writing something that requires the authority of a particular style guide, then check that guide for the answer. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Do you know the big differences between ap, apa, chicago.