Note that ap style omits state names for a specified list of cities. In subsequent references, do not continue ising the. Mass communications 307 public relations processes ap style tips for pr writers. The names of eight states are never abbreviated in datelines or text. The ap style abbreviations arbitrarily range in length from two to six letters, and all twoword names are abbreviated with the initials, such as n. Some of these decisions might run a bit counter to ap style, and thats ok, as long as you are consistent.
Abbreviate all other states as they are listed on our ap style state abbreviations page. The main objective of any type of writing is to help people understand what you are trying to say and explain. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Include the companys full name use the companys full name somewhere in the article, especially if the articles subject matter could affect the companys business. And the abbreviated form of united states of america is usa no periods. Youll find the list of acceptable abbreviations under state names in the stylebook. When a persons gender isnt clear indicate it by using he or she later in the text. Aug 07, 2012 this style guide is considered a newspaper industry standard. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. Postal service abbreviations for states unless you are providing a full address including zip code. When abbreviating the state names, dont make the mistake of using the postal code abbreviations. You must register and have a current subscription to access ap. The equivalent resource for the older apa 6 style can be found here.
The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals and many other questions of language usage. In football, only walter camps selections through 1924, and the ap selections after that, are recognized. May 25, 2017 when it comes to animals, the ap stylebook has several notes for reporters. 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. Select the sentence free of errors in ap style for abbreviations for print publications. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of ap style used in answers. Associated press style colorado department of transportation. For all other abbreviations, ap uses its own state abbreviations and chicago prefers postal abbreviations but has its own state abbreviations should that style be more appropriate for your. Ap style holds that formal titles should be capitalized when they appear directly in front of one or more names. The package was sent to smithson, virginia, by mistake. Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference for most forms of publicfacing corporate. The 2016 edition of the gpo style manual is the first revision to be issued under gpos new name, u. Avoid applying personal pronouns he, she, him, her to an animal unless its sex has been established or the animal has a name.
Style rules examples academic degrees use an apostrophe and spell out academic degrees use abbreviations for degrees only when you need to include a list of credentials after a name. All you need to know about titles in ap style gatehouse. So, i am providing a reference for those who may be interested. The associated press stylebook, the usage guide for most united states newspapers, counsels the use of abbreviations for most state names, when appended to a city name for example, santa ana, calif. Spell out the name of a month when it is used without a specific date. The 2016 associated press stylebook and briefing on media law. Select time references as if the story were being written today for publication tomorrow morning. In some cases, an academic degree may be abbreviated after an individuals name see academic degrees. Abbreviate junior or senior after an individuals name. Ap editor david minthorn fields questions of widest interest posed by subscribers to the online ap stylebook.
Punctuation use a comma to separate a year used with a date. Some states are abbreviated, as is the united states with periods u. Public relations writers use standard media style that is, associated press style for communicating with the news media. Spell out the names of the states whether standing alone or with a place name. Titles of books, computer games, movies, operas, plays, poems.
Select the sentence free of errors in ap style for addresses, abbreviations, capitalization, numerals, punctuation and spelling and time in print copy. Spell out the names of the 50 states when they stand alone in. Before you start in on a writing project for a client, be sure to ask them what style guide they use. Abbreviate company, corporation, incorporated and limited when used after the name of a corporate entity. How to abbreviate united states erin wright writing. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of ap style. In the case of proper names, use words or numerals according to the organizations practice. Here are a few answers to common style issues, based on the ap stylebook.
Ap style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. City names should be in capital letters and in most cases followed by the appropriate ap style abbreviation for the state. My ap stylebook always lists examples in italics, so its difficult to see if italics. Associated press style basics journalists resource. Ap suggests spelling out the names of alaska, hawaii, and all states with five or fewer letters. If you want to know all about the ap style state abbreviations, you have been a wise soul to click on this article. Names of most websites and apps are capitalized without quotes. However, if the sentence contains the name of another country, the.
Register to view your products, order status, shipment trackings and manage your account settings. Use the lowercase unless it is part of the companys formal name. 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 is designed to address the challenges of the organizations large size and readership. 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. What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules. Its a topical quiz for copy editors in a week where the associated press is changing a longtime style rule about how to render state names. If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and. Use the ap s state abbreviations with place names only in lists and tabular material, or shortform listings of party affiliation. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free.
Ap style, or chicago manual of style for additional rules and guidelines for writing about states and other locations. Before we begin to enlist the abbreviations, it is mandatory for one to learn and garner information about what ap is, with a brief, supplementary note on the history of the same. Heres a refresher course what the ap stylebook says for datelines and cities that stand alone in datelines. This follows a trend of disappearing hyphens, which the chicago manual of style s blogger, the subversive copy editor, humorously discusses here.
On first reference, use the appropriate title before the full name of a member of the military. These are the rules wed like you to follow for the contests. There are quite a few rules in the ap stylebook for state names and ap style state abbreviations. Only use it in direct quotations or if a woman specifically requests it. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style. Since 1894, the gpo style manual has served as a guide to the style and form of federal government printing and publishing. Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individuals name. 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 things in mind. The following list of common uses and the az index include highlights of ap style and provide policies for consistently representing appalachian in your communications. The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per ap style. For slide presentations of ap style basics, go here. The bill was signed on may 5, 20, two days before the session ended. Alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas and utah.
Spell out all generic parts of street names avenue, north, road. Mar 14, 2015 ap style for states abbreviations march 14, 2015 a. For a full list of ap style state abbreviations, see our full page. For singular proper names ending in s sounds such as x, ce, and z, use s for plurals of a single letter, add s do not use s for plurals of numbers or multiple letter combinations bullets associated press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only jan. The wire service first talked about making the change in 2010 and met a lot. Ap style state abbreviations for press release dateline follow these associated press guidelines for the u. How to include ap style company names in your writing. The choice between ebook and ebook could be considered a style choice, but ebook is simply wrong. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire states name. 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.
The thumb rule for the basic ap style state abbreviations is that one should never abbreviate the term if the readers will face difficulty in figuring out what the actual term is. Abbreviate months with six or more letters if they are used with a specific date. This page reflects the latest version of the apa publication manual i. The good news the positive here is that the grammar gods dont care either way, so if these rules arent in line with your house style or your clients way of writing, then scrap the. Companies, listed alphabetically with ticker symbols and headquarters. The 2016 associated press stylebook and briefing on media law associated press on.
Ap style states that you should use lowercase for internal elements of an organization when they have names that are widely used generic terms. The following quick reference is taken from the associated press stylebook. Welcome to ask the editor, a forum on writing, style and phrasing issues that go beyond the pages of the ap stylebook. Abbreviate state names in lists, tabular matter, bibliographies, and mailing addresses. See the lists that follow to determine whether the title should be spelled out or abbreviated in regular text. In apa, abbreviations should be limited to instances when a the abbreviation is standard and will not interfere with the readers understanding and b if space and repetition can be greatly. 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 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. In this post, we will summarize all of the ap stylebook state abbreviations rules.
Ap style does not require the name of a state to accompany the names of the. The writers of most content creation companies usually write using a popular style guide ap, apa, chicago, mla mixed with a house style. 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. 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. Do not call anyone an allamerica selection unless he is listed on either the camp or ap roster. She read the new york times before she turned on the television to watch survivor. Abbreviate state names of seven or more letters when used with a city name, with commas before and after the abbreviation. Top 10 ap style guide 2016edits university blog service. If you use a title, dont use it on second reference.
Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding united states postal service abbreviations, provided in parentheses. Thats an old typewriter convention thats entirely out of date today in media writing. Bernard the parakeet had a concerned look on his face as he watched the two children approach his cage. Send contributions to relief fund, box 185, pasadena, ca 91030. Those states are alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas, and utah. Ap stylebook type search query into the search bar below. In running text, ap and chicago both spell out state names. Following is the breakdown between ap style and chicago style. For mailing addresses, ap and chicago both default to the twoletter postal abbreviations. Effective may 1, the ap will spell out state names in the body of stories. The latest edition of the ap stylebook is now out in the market. You must register and have a current subscription to access ap stylebook online.
Similarly, do not call anyone an allamerica basketball player unless an ap selection. For those who want to learn the basics of the ap stylebook, you may want to check on the guide below. Government printing office style manual says that united states should be spelled out unless it is used as an adjective for government intentionally capitalized, a government agency, or a general noun, in which case the abbreviation should include periods. Navy style guide, which follows most ap style recommendations, doesnt recommend italicizing the names of ships or boats, either. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as. Ap state name switch is a good time to address clarity.
Jack gillespie, rowan university, purdue university writing lab and ap stylebook page 2. Some organizations and government agencies are widely recognized by their initials and can be referred to using their. For example, the reverend bill graham has met with many presidents. Sep 05, 20 the style czars at the associated press stylebook have taken away the humble hyphen in email for their 2011 edition, due out this summer.
Apr 15, 2020 if youd like a more visually appealing way to reference ap style state name abbreviations, save this map weve created with all the names you need. Abbreviations abbreviate junior or senior after a name, but dont use a comma. Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference. At bka, we prefer ap style, which is a standard in journalism.
Writing style guide appalachian state university uses the associated press stylebook as its editorial guide, which is in keeping with the communications industry. Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding us postal service abbreviations, are in parentheses. Neither means that the usual headline style or title style caps still apply, but the title name is naked as far as quotes and italics are concerned. The associated press style is the goto style for journalism and news writing. Note that with the traditional state abbreviations, the first letter is capitalized, subsequent letters are lowercase unless theyre abbreviating a new word, and each abbreviation. Scientific style guides say to omit periods in capitalized abbreviations. However, computer game apps such as farmville are in quotes. Abbreviations for states and provinces traditional abbreviations for states and provinces begin with a capital letter and end with a period. 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. To subscribe to the associated press stylebook online, or to find out about purchasing hard copies of the book. We took at look at the ap stylebooks section on possessions possessives and exorcised some demons coming up with these guidelines. Not the parakeet looked upset as he watched the cat nap on the couch.
The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free download. Use an ampersand only if it is part of the companys formal name but not otherwise in place of and. English is a tricky languageand how you write it can be even trickier. The manual has come to be widely recognized by writers and editors both within and outside the federal government as an important editorial. Any state name may be condensed, however, to fit typographical requirements for tabular material. Best of ap style and grammarpunctuationspelling gps 1. 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. If possession is ninetenths of the law, just imagine how important correctly signifying it in your writing is. In headlines under ap style, however, its postal style us no periods. A formal title is different, however, from a simple occupational description. The domestic list of cities that stand alone is on page 79 of the 2010 ap stylebook, and it is a good idea to mark this page with a sticky note of some sort so it is easy to find and you never list the state, country or territory unnecessarily. Starting on may 1, the ap will change from abbreviating most states names in the body of stories to spelling those names out. The associated style, ap style, for the united states. 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.
The associated press stylebook ap style doesnt recommend italicizing any words, including the names of boats or ships. It had to be easy for reporters and editors to use and also produce. Sep 19, 2012 ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. Ap stylebook rules for datelines, cities that stand alone. Capitalization, abbreviations, punctuation, titles and general word usage. Use twoletter postal codes ca in tabular matter unless your publisher prefers traditional. Mar, 2015 e books currently make up two percent of my book sales. Use lowercase spellings for college courses, unless part of the course name is a proper noun or includes course numbers. How to use religious titles in ap style bka content. Do not capitalize federal, state, department, division, board. You should always spell out alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas, and utah. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Neither means that the usual headlinestyle or titlestyle caps still apply, but the titlename is naked as far as quotes and italics are concerned.