Associated Press (AP) style Learning to use Associated Press (AP) style Want your writing to look and read more like journalism? Using AP style is one important step in the process.

What kinds of styles are there? Depending on the topic and the purpose, writers have to change their styles to follow what their editors want and need. Here are a few of the most common styles and when they are used. Each has a style book writers can reference: Chicago Style is often used for fiction and nonfiction books. APA Style refers to the American Psychological Association style and is often used for research work about psychology, politics and sociology. MLA Style comes from the Modern Language Association Style and is used mostly in academics, literature, and humanities. You may have used this in English class for research papers. AP Style (Associated Press) is what journalists generally use.

What do styles dictate? For instance, styles have different acceptable ways to do the following: Punctuate words in a series (Oxford/serial comma or not) APA, Chicago and MLA Style: Speakers included professors, students, and community members. AP Style (Associated Press): Speakers included professors, students and community members. AP Style, if leaving it out could cause confusion: Breakfast was orange juice, English muffins, and ham and eggs. Numbers Chicago Style: Spell out whole numbers up to (and including) one hundred (e.g., zero, one, ten, ninety-six, 104) AP Style: Spell out whole numbers up to (and including) nine (e.g., zero, one, 10, 96, 104)

Why do journalists use AP style? The Associated Press (AP) started in 1846 during the Mexican War when five New York City newspapers shared the cost of a pony express route to bring news of battles north faster than the U.S. Post Office could. Now, AP operates in more than 250 locations in 100 countries. Its full-time reporters and its “stringers,” who supply news when it’s happening in their vicinity, produce content to more than 15,000 media outlets and other businesses. To be consistent everywhere, AP developed a stylebook, first available publicly in 1977. Most newspapers and news magazines follow this because it is designed to be concise, bias-free and current. In 2017, for instance, its editors expanded and updated entries on gender-related topics and addiction.

Let’s start with some common AP style examples Names Don’t use courtesy titles -- Mr., Mrs. Miss, etc. Dr. is OK when it refers to a medical doctor. The first time you use someone’s name (first reference), include first and last name and some kind of ID: police officer Jimmy Gore, Dr. Alton McGregor, head of pediatrics at Lakewood Falls Hospital. Capitalize titles, but not job descriptions: Dean Chester Worthington and professor Nate Smythe. When in doubt, check the AP Stylebook. On second and subsequent references, use only last names. Locations Spell out the full name of states with or without a city name accompanying it. Use a comma between the city and state, and a comma or period after the state: He lives in Lakewood Falls, Ohio. OR The mayor of Lakewood Falls, Ohio, is running for governor. States aren’t required with some well-known cities: Seattle, Miami, etc. Check AP Stylebook. Use address abbreviations Ave., Blvd., and St. only with numbered addresses: 3004 High St. Don’t abbreviate other designations like Drive, Place, Boulevard. Don’t abbreviate a street name without an address number: I live on High Street.

And a few more common examples Numbers Spell out whole numbers up to (and including) nine (e.g., zero, one, 10, 96, 104) Spell out numbers if it’s the first word in a sentence EXCEPT years: Forty-five people donated to the cause. AND 2006 was a good year. Ages always use digits: The 7-year-old girl. AND Sally was 7 years old. Percentages: 42 percent of those involved Money: Use only digits up to 999,999. 13 cents (not 13¢) $25 (not $25.00 -- only use if cents are part of the amount like $25.18) $1.6 billion Measurements: Use digits for distances, weights and other measurements 6 miles She is 4 feet 11 inches tall. 4-foot-11 woman 1 pound 14 ounces

And, finally, a few more common examples Days, dates and times Spell out months when they stand alone or are only with years: We start classes in January. OR We start classes in January 2018. (no comma) Abbreviate months when used with a date as follows: Aug. 15, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 14, Dec. 25, Jan. 12, Feb. 14 Do not abbreviate March, April, May, June or July. Do NOT use “th,” “nd” or “st” with numbers. Do NOT use “on” with a date: We left July 5. NOT We left on July 5. Times -- use digits except for noon and midnight 1 a.m., 12:59 p.m. (Note it’s NOT am or AM) Decades -- We were expected to dress like the ‘90s. (Note it’s the “19” that’s missing.)

And that’s just the beginning And that’s just the beginning. Be ready to check anything you’re not sure about in your AP Stylebook or the AP app.