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Build your knowledge and understanding of AP style guidance, whether you're a new communicator or a seasoned professional. Created in partnership with three experienced AP style instructors, these study guides will step you through quizzes covering key Stylebook topics in both the mechanics of writing and the more complex issues of quality ...
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- Abbreviations and Acronyms. Some widely known abbreviations are required in certain situations, while others are acceptable but not required in some contexts.
- Addresses. For numbered addresses, always use figures. Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St. and directional cues when used with a numbered address. Always spell out other words such as alley, drive and road.
- Ages. For ages, always use figures. If the age is used as an adjective or as a substitute for a noun, then it should be hyphenated. Don’t use apostrophes when describing an age range.
- Books, Periodicals, Reference Works, and Other Types of Compositions. Use quotation marks around the titles of books, songs, television shows, computer games, poems, lectures, speeches and works of art.
- What Is AP Style?
- What Are The Benefits of Using AP Style?
- AP Style Cheat Sheet
- AP Style Guidelines For Numbers
- AP Style Guidelines For Dates
- AP Style Guidelines For Citations
- AP Style Guidelines For Capitalization
- AP Style Guidelines For Headlines
- AP Style Writing Examples
Associated Press (AP) style is the go-to English style and usage guide for journalism and news writing, such as magazines and newspapers. AP style dictates basic rules for grammar and punctuation, as well as specific styles for numbers, spelling, capitalization, abbreviations, acronyms, and much more. The ins and outs of AP style can be found withi...
AP style was originally developed with print media in mind. Back in the 1950s, when the guide was first published, writing space was limited, and it was extremely costly for news outlets to correct errors. Today, the ease of online media outlets and blogsmakes available space much less of an issue. However, that’s not to say that many of AP’s earli...
Unless you’re prepared to invest several hours into scanning hundreds of pages in the AP style guide, it’s easier to review the most common best practices for AP style. When it comes to content marketing, best practices typically revolve around numbers, dates, citations, capitalization, and headlines.
According to AP style, content writers should spell out numbers one through nine and use numerals for numbers 10 and higher. But readers be warned, there are exceptions to this rule. Instances in which a writer should always use numerals instead of writing out numbers include: However, there are also a few exceptions to AP style guidelines for numb...
When it comes to dates, writers should always use a numeral without the addition of “st, nd, rd, or th.” When a month is used with a specific date, the month should be abbreviated. In other words, a writer would refer to New Year’s Day as Jan. 1 — not January 1, January 1st, or January first. Months that should be abbreviated when used in a full da...
Most writers are familiar with MLA or APA citations used in high school and college essays. Unlike these style guides, AP style doesn’t specify page formatting and citation rules quite as harshly. However, it does provide a standardized way of referencing people, dates, and things. When referencing people, always use the person’s first and last nam...
AP style incorporates what’s known as a “downstyle” for capitalization. This means that words are all lowercase unless a specific rule says to capitalize them, such as proper nouns like specific state names in the United States. For example, when it comes to state names, if the state is used upon first reference in the description by itself, you sh...
AP style guidelines for headlines may differ from what certain content writers or marketers are used to. Generally speaking, AP style uses title case for headlines, which means all words are capitalized except for certain short words, such as articles and short prepositions. In AP style, headlines capitalize the first word, proper names, or proper ...
Now that you’re more familiar with AP style for various aspects of content writing let’s combine a few style guidelines to demonstrate best practices.
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What's new in the Associated Press Stylebook & briefing on media law?
The Associated Press Stylebook, first published in 1977, clarified the news organization's rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage. Now in its sixth edition, the Stylebook is the standard style guide for most U.S. newspapers, magazines and public relations firms.
The Associated Press Stylebook (generally called the AP Stylebook ), alternatively titled The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, is a style and usage guide for American English grammar created by American journalists working for or connected with the Associated Press journalism cooperative based in New York City.
