Job titles used before an individuals name are capitalized. Heres what the ap stylebook says about when to capitalize. You can find the list of preferred abbreviations under months in the ap stylebook. Sometimes its difficult to remember which rules are ap and which rules are remnants from years of college courses. This is the style guide that professional media use. The associated press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Below are some guidelines on how to work with formal titles in ap style. Vice president joe biden, or biden or the vice president, will be the democratic nominee for the same office as obamas running mate. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Select the sentence that is free of errors in ap style for capitalization, addresses and abbreviations in broadcast copy. But ap produced guides for its journalists well before that, including rules, regulations and general orders in 1909. Only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.
Always give the first names or initials of persons the first time. Now that the basics of number style have been laid out, i bet that you can smell the exceptions 1. Associated press style essentials this ap short guide is modeled on one made available in the past by. According to ap style you do not use a comma before inc. The first couple barack and michelle arrived in washington. Rules from the ap stylebook i recently conducted a workshop for employees in the development office at my university, and since they use associated press ap style, i was asked. What about when writing first lady, first kids, or first pets. See the ap stylebook for a discussion of the differences between a prison and a jail. Spell out severe acute respiratory syndrome later in the story.
This can be particularly tricky with the titles of major works, so heres a few rules to brush up on. I could almost buy capitalizing first couple it could be considered a neologism, created by the writer as a handy way to refer to the president and the first lady. Do you only capitalize president when saying the president or calling the president by name such as president obama. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. Obama will accept the nomination for a second term at the sept. This board, with members representing chapel hill, carrboro and orange county, oversees the water and sewer systems. The article is, however, correct in ap style when it does not capitalize the title first lady. Writing center quick reference associate press style guide. Sabrina datolli, the mayor, and michelle obama, the first lady.
But when only half of first couple is capitalized, and its surrounded by so many other mistakes with grammar and capitalization, it just looks wrong. First lady is not an official title and other tips from. The new 2018 issue, which became available in may, has more than 200 new entries to help guide journalists and other commutators accurately cover the changing social, political and cultural arenas. Here are a few more common errors that journalists make when copy editing for ap style. In football, only walter camps selections through 1924, and the ap selections after that, are recognized. 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 passover seder is a jewish feast that marks the beginning of the passover holiday.
For us states in headlines, no periods for those abbreviated with 2 capital letters. When do you capitalize president, first lady, first kids. Ap defers to websters new world college dictionary for backstage. The correct name is the national first ladies library. Grammar, style and more, a selfdirected course at poynter newsu.
Note that first lady is a courtesy title and is never capitalized. However, the style guides do have their differences in style which ill save for a later post. The ap style for the word internet is now lowercase, formerly was internet. If there is no relevant listing in this book for a particular word or phrase, consult websters new world college dictionary. Here are some examples of how to capitalize the names of historical periods such as the roaring twenties and century names. The first associated press stylebook was 60 pages, bound together with staples, a basic guide for newswriting. In general you should spell out numbers one through nine in ap style. Emt, aids, cpr are acceptable on first reference spell out all abbreviations and acronyms on first reference and then abbreviate in subsequent references. Capitalize common nouns such as party, river and street when they are part of a proper name for place, person or. In those cases, just let them know that youre adhering to the associated press stylebook.
Make sure you are using the most current version available. The associated press stylebook, first published in 1977, clarified the news organizations rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage. Rules from the ap stylebook i recently conducted a workshop for employees in the development office at my university, and since they use associated press ap style, i was asked to include a unit on avoiding common ap errors. For a married woman, the preferred form on first reference is to identify her by her own first name and the last name she uses, which could be her spouses or her birth name.
Sabrina datolli, the mayor, and michelle obama, the first lady, toured the memorial built to honor civil war veterans. Choose from 100 different sets of ap stylebook flashcards on quizlet. The ap finally realizes its 2016, will let us stop. When should president, vicepresident, first lady, and secretary be capitalized like the words king, queen, and prime minister, the words president, vicepresident, and secretary should not be capitalized when used alone. The associated press stylebook its considered the journalists stylebook. Many words and phrases, including special cases, are listed separately in this book. I read four books with more than 400 pages, sixty books with more than 100 pages, and a hundred articles with fewer than 4 pages. For a companys formal name, consult the national stock exchanges, the new york stock exchange. Use lowercase spellings for college courses, unless part of the course name is a proper noun or includes course numbers. According to cmos, the honorific title first lady should be capitalized in all instances. Should the names of decades be capitalized when written out. Capitalization, abbreviations, punctuation, titles and general word usage.
Coronavirus topical guide associated press stylebook. Your readers ease, not yours, is the cardinal rule. Learn ap stylebook with free interactive flashcards. Coast guard stylebook 2009 3 a abbreviations except where noted otherwise in the associated press stylebook and libel manual and the coast guard stylebook example. Former first lady barbara bush attended the ceremony. According to ap style, use the first and family name on the first reference to a current or former u. Only use abbreviations and acronyms that the reader would instantly recognize. Sars is acceptable on first reference for the disease first identified in asia in 2003.
The ap stylebook traces its roots to 1953, when we published what we. I see them capitalized randomly in different things i read and im so confused. The ap stylebook holds that you should capitalize president only as a formal title. Select the sentence that is free of errors in ap style for capitalization, addresses and abbreviations in print copy. All you need to know about titles in ap style gatehouse. Stylebook of the school of media and journalism entries. Capitalizing age names, time periods, and centuries. The ap stylebook exerts a strong influence over journalistic outlets all over the internet, which means there should be a deluge of young journalists finally learning how to style their articles. Secondary usage is the chicago manual of style, 16th ed. These selected rules have been reprinted with the permission of the associated press. Some authorities also capitalize titles if they immediately follow the name without the word the.
But, while ordinary job titles like regional manager and customer service representative also do not get capitalized. Abbreviations abbreviate junior or senior after a name, but dont use a comma. Ap style was developed and is maintained by the associated press, the worlds oldest news service. Ap style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. 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. And what about the first couple and the first kids. Since 1953, the stylebook has been published under different titles, including writing for the ap. When to capitalize peoples titles grammar and punctuation. Jun 18, 2012 capitalization of words in titles and headings.
It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law. Another useful resource for alaskaspecific questions is the ap stylebook for alaska. Election terminology, writing with context and cliches to avoid are included.
The associated press ap stylebook, or more commonly known as the bible around pr agencies and newsrooms, has released its latest edition. How to use religious titles in ap style bka content. The unofficial title first lady is not a proper noun. Unless included before names, these titles should always be lowercase. Avoid using long, bureaucratic, elaborate titles before names. 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. 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 ap stylebook holds that you should capitalize president only as a formal title that is before one or more names.
Abbreviate and capitalize most titles when they are used directly before a name. Titles should only be capitalized if they precede a proper name when used as part of the name. Military titles can usually be shortened see ap stylebook 2010military titles pg. Governors ball is the official name, and afterparties is the accepted spelling, also adopted by the stylebook. On any given day, more than half the worlds population sees news from ap. Orange water and sewer authority acceptable on second reference. Heres what the ap stylebook says about when to capitalize names. In honor of the associated press stylebook changes on capitalizing internet and. Capitalization the ap stylebook uses whats known as downstyle. One of the first things a student in a beginning journalism course learns about is associated press style or ap style for short. Capitalizing age names, time periods, and centuries capitalization rules are often tricky and they can vary depending on what style you follow.
According to ap style, use the first and family name on the first reference to a. 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. Obama won 92 percent of black voters under 45 nationally, according to exit polling. I hate gobbledygook initials and so do your readers. The associated press recognizes only one allamerica football and basketball team each year.
After each dash, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each section. Since its not an official title, first lady is always lowercase. Terms and definitions are from the ap stylebook or based on common usage in ap news reports. Unlike president which is capitalized when referring to a specific president, such as president obama, first lady shouldnt be capitalized. 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. Does that mean that the phrase the president and first lady is correctly. The corporate jet was traveling from grand rapids, mich. Ap compiles us elections style guide associated press.
Wired uses many sources when making style decisions, most notably the chicago manual of style and the merriamwebster dictionary, dustrud slacked an official statement to me. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. A solid grasp of ap style not only adds credibility to your work in the eyes of media editors and reporters. Dont capitalize internet and web any more 168 points by aaronbrethorst on apr 3, 2016. For example, use one number style for items in one category and another style for another category.
Spell out and lowercase representative and senator in all other uses. Facts and figures london is the first city to host the summer olympics for a third time. Consider the following examples of ap style numbers, the chicago white sox finished second. The ap therefore strives to keep its writing style easy to read, concise and free of bias. The year always precedes the host city and olympics. Capitalize the first word in a statement that stands as a sentence. First lady definition of first lady by merriamwebster. Nov 06, 2015 if you want to follow the writing style used by magazines, newspapers, editors and journalists, then you need to study up on associated press style, or ap style. Abbreviate and capitalize company, corporation, incorporated, limited and brothers when used after the name of a corporate entity.
What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules. The rival of the ap stylebook is the chicago manual of style cms for short, and it is the oldest style guide first published in 1891 and the most comprehensive over 1,000 pages and covers everything you cannot find in other style guides. 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. If you follow basic english grammar, dont throw in extraneous verbs. Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio, and television programs, works of art, etc. Formal titles in ap style should be capitalized when they immediately precede one or more names. This style guide is based primarily on the associated press stylebook. With the ap stylebook in hand, you can learn how to write and edit with the clarity. The style of the associated press is the gold standard for news writing. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Laser light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Stylebook definition of stylebook by the free dictionary. However, this is somewhat flexible, as the position of first lady is becoming more official over time, and the white house uses office of the first lady as an organization within the executive office of the president with its own budget and physical offices but no salary.
Top 10 ap style guide 2016edits university of texas at. The ap stylebook and briefing on media law is an essential handbook for all writers and editors. An acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words. 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.
Founded in 1846, ap today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. Headlines and titles of works the chicago manual of style. First reference for spelling and usage is websters new world college dictionary, fourth edition. And neither is administration, even when it is preceded by a presidents name. Ready reference let me offer just a few words about a couple of posts ive seen online regarding the associated press influential stylebook and the abortion issue. Ap style is simply a standardized way of writing everything from dates to street addresses to job titles. First lady definition is the wife or hostess of the chief executive of a country or jurisdiction. Games capitalized when attached to the host city or year. You should use figures for 10 or above and whenever preceding a unit of measure or referring to ages of people, animals, events or things. 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. The first publicly available edition of ap stylebook was published in 1953 under the title the associated press style book.
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