We took at look at the ap stylebook s section on possessions possessives and exorcised some demons coming up with these guidelines. 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. The associated press recognizes only one allamerica football and basketball team each year. Associated press style is used for the listing of locations. Associated press stylebook 2015 and briefing on media law was a textbook for my introduction to journalism course. Ap style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. On wednesday, professor james currier, who has a doctorate in biology and a masters in economics, will argue that improving automobile fuel efficiency from an average of 17 to 22 miles per gallon would save billions of dollars and protect endangered. Home ap style ap style composition titles 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. If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and. Use the office rather than the abbreviation for the office. Use the twoletter postal service abbreviations only with full addresses, including zip code. Addresses writing style guide western michigan university. The office of communications uses the associated press stylebook as the preferred reference for.
The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals and many other questions of language usage. Associated press stylebook 2015 and briefing on media law. When a phrase lists only a month and a year, do not separate the year with commas. Associated press style cheat sheet compiled with assistance from online resources, including scribd, purdue university and towson university abbreviations and acronyms as a general rule, use only commonly recognized abbreviations. First published in 1977, the associated press stylebook lists the rules regarding. In this post, we will summarize all of the ap stylebook state abbreviations rules. If you want to know all about the ap style state abbreviations, you have been a wise soul to click on this article. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style.
Ap stylebook rules for height, feet, inches gatehouse. Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding united states postal service abbreviations, provided in parentheses. Ap is not done rocking the journalism world with style changes. See our full page on abbreviations and acronyms for a more in depth discussion on their differences. 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. 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. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free download. Capitalize chapter when used with a numeral in reference to a section of a book or legal code.
In a news story, can you start a sentence with an acronym. Most examples here are taken and condensed from these style books. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction. For example, radar if formed from radio detecting and ranging. Use quotation marks around names of all works such as book titles, computer and video. However, the chicago manual of style now recommends use of the uppercase twoletter abbreviations, with the traditional forms as an option.
An abbreviation is a shortening of a word or words. Abbreviate street, avenue, and boulevard when used with a numbered. The most common, such as nasa, fbi and cia, can be used on all references. Datelines appear at the beginning of stories and include the name of the city in all capital letters, usually followed the state or territory in which the city is located. Currently, most state names are abbreviated in stories. The city will close sections of ohio michigan and idaho aves.
An a to z listing of guides to capitalization, abbreviation. Northern michigan university, 1401 presque isle ave. Other references consulted in the preparation of the ap style book. There are quite a few rules in the ap stylebook for state names and ap style state abbreviations. Associated press website faq this faq webpage from the ap is a great source of information on current issues of grammar, style, punctuation, abbreviations, and other style questions. Founded in 1846, ap today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. The sba is committed to simplifying our message by using a standard style without jargon and unidentifiable acronyms. 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. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire states name. Even so, the associated press stylebook chose to exclude the slash from the punctuation section. Choose from 100 different sets of ap stylebook flashcards on quizlet. Ap stylebook rules for height, feet, inches gatehouse media 20170706. Ap style states that the time zone abbreviations est, cdt, pst, etc. Below is a list of military titles and how they should appear in ap style.
It wouldnt be ap style without an exception or two. There are eight states that should never be abbreviated in text or datelines. Ap style isnt keen on using state abbreviations in titles, so spell them out. Associated press style provides guidelines for news writing. Those with a subscription to ap stylebook online can view the composition titles entry for more detail. If possession is ninetenths of the law, just imagine how important correctly signifying it in your writing is. With the ap stylebook in hand, you can learn how to write and edit with the clarity and professionalism for which they are famous. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free. The associated press stylebook and websters new world college. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. The names of reference books like the ap stylebook, websters new world dictionary, the bible and for that matter, the koran are not italicized or enclosed. Editorial style university marketing and communications at nmu. When searching for height in the ap stylebook, it refers readers to the dimensions entry.
It is a professional stylebook and journalists follow the information with accuracy. Capitalize degree abbreviations with periods and set off with commas when following a. It addresses many of the more commonly asked questions about style and several of the. What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules. It follows the most current editions of the associated press stylebook and merriamwebsters. Two of the more commonly used comprehensive style guides are the associated press stylebook, commonly called ap style, and the. Plase one comma between the city and the state name, and another comma after the state name, unless ending a sentence or indicating a dateline. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals.
Thats an old typewriter convention thats entirely out of date today in media writing. Its updated throughout the year and valuable onlineonly resources, including ask the editor, topical guides and pronunciation guide, expand on the print book s guidance. In this case, the preferred form again is the ap style. This section can be used as a primer and a quick reference, not a replacement to the gpo or ap style books. I dont know if this will help, but for chapter style, ap says. Use quotation marks around the titles of books, songs, television shows, computer games. In the past we discussed how to correctly use ap style title case, and now were here to tackle the often confused topic of ap style numbers. Its mobile optimized so you can use it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet.
Msu editorial style guide university communications michigan. For words not in this book use the firstlisted abbreviation in websters new world college dictionary. A big change announced at aces 2019, percentage symbols are now acceptable to use with numerals in. The style of the associated press is the gold standard for news writing.
Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference for most forms of publicfacing corporate communication over the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Generally, omit periods in acronyms unless the result would spell an unrelated word. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Italicized words are still iffy for wire transmission ap stories, so book titles are enclosed in quote marks. Al for alabama alaska ak this state is not abbreviated in text ariz. Use a twoletter abbreviation with no periods as in en 111. The change is being made to be consistent in our style for domestic and international. Before we begin to enlist the abbreviations, it is mandatory for one to learn and garner information about what ap is, with.
Ap style holds that acronyms are formed from the first letters or letters of a series of words. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style. In football, only walter camps selections through 1924, and the ap selections after that, are recognized. Ap style for states abbreviations march 14, 2015 a. Dont bother consulting the stylebooks official dictionaries for the proper abbreviations. It isnt necessary to spell out the most common abbreviations on first reference, like nba, nfl, mlb allamerica, allamerican. Avoid unfamiliar abbreviations do not use periods in them. However, the department of defense uses the ap stylebook s military titles in news releases because the abbreviations are more easily understood. When used with a city, state names are abbreviated using the abbreviations in the associated press stylebook, and the state is set off by commas. Ap style composition titles 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. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only jan. Those are alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas and utah. The associated press style is the goto style for journalism and news writing. Introduction to writing for and about wmu writing style guide.
445 870 91 751 395 1406 544 954 1020 1556 80 300 370 758 111 528 728 1476 274 927 1391 322 1221 352 1374 1072 76 660 309 239 183