Associated press ap style checklist associated press style is a form of writing used primarily by journalists and public relations professionals. Ap style quiz d abbreviations style quiz dabbreviations. This is the style guide that professional media use. Select the sentence free of errors in ap style for abbreviations for print publications. We will continue to use state abbreviations in datelines and stories. After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. Mar 14, 2015 ap style for states abbreviations march 14, 2015 a. In this quick guide to state abbreviations, i will cover the differences between ap style and chicago style andjust to prolong your state of confusionwhen to use the common twoletter abbreviations created by the united states postal service if youre writing a research paper or dashing off a blog post, you can probably ignore all the exceptions and special cases and just lean on. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire states name. Ap style for states abbreviations march 14, 2015 a. Apr 15, 2020 okay, so new is stretching it a bit, but some writers may be unaware that in 2014 ap changed the rule regarding how state names should be written. Capitalize the names of the state and city legislative bodies when they are part of the full name.
Use the state abbreviations not the postal abbreviations indicated below in lists, tabular material, and shortform listings of. Use the state names entry to find the correct abbreviation. State abbreviations provide instructions for use of state abbreviations for correct ap formatting in public affairs documents. Dont forget these changes to the ap stylebook columbia. Associated press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. The united states postal service prefers these abbreviations. Rick perry is in it for himself, candidate bill white said. The national rifle association announced on monday it will move its state headquarters to the erickson building. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name. The local style guide is up to you and your staff to create. State abbreviations, ap style professional journalists and business communicators in the united states commonly write in associated press ap style. Social media guidelines the purpose of these guidelines are to inform members utilizing social media outlets of the dos and donts of social media interfacing.
Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding united states postal service abbreviations, provided in parentheses. 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 publication. Also omit state abbreviations in datelines for wellknown u. In conjunction with the name of a city, town, village or military base in text. In running text, spell out the names of states whether standing alone or in conjunction with a city, town, village, or military base.
If ap stylebook entry does not cover a word or specific usage, refer to the websters dictionary. Titles only capitalize formal titles when the precede an individuals name. Here are all the ap abbreviations and their usps counterparts. When a state name is followed by a zip code, you should always use the twoletter, noperiod abbreviation see below. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of ap style used in answers. You will still use abbreviations in datelines, photo captions, lists, etc. Unlike academic writing, ap style does not require a reference list or in text citations. 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. Okay, so new is stretching it a bit, but some writers may be unaware that in 2014 ap changed the rule regarding how state names should be.
In this post, we will summarize all of the ap stylebook state abbreviations rules. State abbreviations will continue to be used in lists, agate. This handout will provide an introduction to ap style and a summary of common rules. Religion writer rachel zoll helped create the new chapter, which combines existing terms from the stylebooks entries with new and revised entries, covering the worlds major. May 28, 2014 ap works with two technology companies to provide electronic proofing for ap style, and both products are being updated to reflect the latest guidance in the 2014 edition. State abbreviations according to ap style gatehouse newsroom.
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. 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. Ap is not done rocking the journalism world with style changes. For convenience, each column is also provided in its own. There are quite a few rules in the ap stylebook for state names and ap style state abbreviations. Chicago style differs from ap style state abbreviations in that chicago style allows these two. These are the rules wed like you to follow for the contests. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. In running text, ap and chicago both spell out state names. The following guidance went out on the ap wire wednesday.
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. For mailing addresses, ap and chicago both default to the twoletter postal abbreviations. The journalists bible, as it calls itself, now advises writers to spell out state names in the body of stories. Spell out the names of the two states that are not part of the contiguous united states and of the continental states that are five letters or fewer. Style quiz d abbreviations if the sentence is correct, place a c in the blank.
May 09, 2014 visit the poynter institute 801 third street south st. Ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. Remember this when ratioing journalists for suggesting that your home states bread scene is anything less than yeasttacular. Geographic regions and states editorial style guide. Ap now reinstitutes the spell out state names style. Mar 03, 2014 for the 2014 edition, ap stylebook changed that. Ap changes style on district of columbia references poynter. The associated press today released the 2014 associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, which includes about 200 new or revised entries plus a separate chapter with more than 200 religion terms. Associated press ap style is the style of writing used for various types of newswriting and copyediting.
There is indeed a science and art behind writing a press release. It focuses on clear and concise writing, with each paragraph only being about two or three sentences long. Think about whether your readers will be confused by state names abbreviated in some instances. Ap style state abbreviations for press release dateline follow these associated press guidelines for the u. Edit this sentence february 5, 2014 uncategorized rebekahrubyrae during the 1990s, a nine year old girl in ruston louisiana won a trophy, 5000 dollars, and a trip to the united states capital bl. Capitalization of city and state compiled by marla sharp, rpr, clr, ccrr, csr page 2of 6 bad grammargood punctuation capitalization. Do not use postal codes instead of state abbreviations not ok but okla. Ap postpones changing style on state abbreviations apme. Tansa offers an ap stylebook module for its proofing tools, which work with newsroom production systems, and the company also developed ap lingofy, which proofs text composed. Any change involves a great deal of debate, discussion and, in many cases, consultations with others within the ap and outside the ap. Ap editor david minthorn fields questions of widest interest posed by subscribers to the online ap stylebook. Many public relations offices and publications, such as magazines and newspapers, use ap style as a standardized writing style. It wouldnt be ap style without an exception or two. One of the most heatedly debated over the years is the spelling of web site ap or w.
Ap state name switch is a good time to address clarity issues aces. Sep 19, 2012 ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. 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. Ap says the abbreviations should continue to be used in datelines, lists, tables, photo captions, and such. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. If you are not familiar with the ap stylebook, its a style guide for writers and editors. I have studied it searching for changes you might want to know about if you dont subscribe to the aps tweets, and they appear below. However, there are exceptions for large cities that stand alone in datelines. Government printing office are 1 chicago style allows for abbreviation even if the name of another country appears in the sentence 3 and 2 chicago style recommends us unless the document uses periods to abbreviate state names, in which case u. Use the state abbreviations not the postal abbreviations indicated below in lists, tabular material, and shortform listings of party affiliation. Welcome to ask the editor, a forum on writing, style and phrasing issues that go beyond the pages of the ap stylebook. Style guide and defense imagery style guide, along with established army public affairs style, or common usage. The ap stylebook says state abbreviations are used in both datelines and in text. Ap stylebook associated press grammar and style mediawire.
If a state s name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire state s name. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction. In the past, states were generally abbreviated in domestic articles and news stories, but they were always spelled out in international content. Also use state abbreviations in conjunction with the name of a city, county, town, village or military base in. Of course, use state abbreviations in conjunction with the name of a city, town, village or military base in most datelines. Ap suggests spelling out the names of alaska, hawaii, and all states with five or fewer letters.
How to abbreviate united states erin wright writing. 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. For example, the state of michigan is made up of two peninsulas. One of the most heatedly debated over the years is the spelling of web site ap or website as much of the online community. If you find errors, use the copyediting symbols to correct it. Following the recent launch of the 2019 ap stylebook, we spoke with paula froke, editor of the ap stylebook and executive director of apme associated press media editors, on the evolution of language and some of the books new updates for this year froke, who is based in philadelphia, has been the stylebooks lead editor since 2016 and a member of the stylebook team since 20. Colon capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. Ap style it will be website and spell out state names. Some state names are not abbreviated because they have six or fewer letters. We will also continue to use canadian provinces in datelines. Ap stylebook 2014 adds religion chapter with over 200 terms.
Styles are taken from the 2014 ap stylebook, 2010 yahoo. Note that while ap style uses abbreviations for months sept. Before we begin to enlist the abbreviations, it is mandatory for one to learn and garner information about what ap is, with. If you want to know all about the ap style state abbreviations, you have been a wise soul to click on this article. While none of the changes are as momentous as last years overmore than proclamation, they reflected an increased sensitivity to how language can be. Spell them out when part of a formal street name without a number. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street. The biggest differences between chicago style and the u. At the time, ap stylebook editors said its an issue of clarity for a diverse group of readers. 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. However, if the sentence contains the name of another country, the.
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. Ap is set to make some major changes in the upcoming stylebook. The associated press stylebook announced some changes last week at the annual conference of the american copy editors society. Effective may 1, the ap will spell out state names in the body of stories. The change to writing out state names was necessary because ap is a global news organization, and state abbreviations that are reasonably well known in the united states are not at all known by readers in other.
Currently, most state names are abbreviated in stories. Follow these associated press guidelines for the u. Associated press style colorado department of transportation. The ap stylebook 2014 just came out, and my copy arrived in the mail on wednesday. The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per ap style. Those are alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas and utah. No state name is necessary if it is the same as the dateline. Use the state abbreviations listed at the end of this section.
791 472 695 841 1139 967 377 420 1155 288 1549 847 1544 479 1266 886 1367 28 502 1566 206 710 306 1486 1107 328 1110 86 854 642 707 1405 1246 1230