The Cheater’s Guide To AP Style

Capitals / Proper nouns

Capitals / Proper nouns / “Real” titles directly before names / Proper nouns / “Real” titles directly before names

Capitals / Proper nouns / “Real” titles directly before names / Regions / Legislative bodies: Council, Assembly / Proper nouns / “Real” titles directly before names / Regions / Legislative bodies: Council, Assembly

Capital Don’ts / Plurals: the departments of Labor and Justice; the Tennessee and Ohio rivers / Compass directions / Shorthand names on second reference, or generic references / Plurals: the departments of Labor and Justice; the Tennessee and Ohio rivers / Compass directions / Shorthand names on second reference, or generic references

Numbers / Figures or words?

Numbers / Figures or words? / Generally follow the digit rule / Mix and match / Only years at the start of a sentence / Figures or words? / Generally follow the digit rule / Mix and match / Only years at the start of a sentence

Numbers: exceptions / Ages are always figures / Dimensions (inches, feet, yards) / Percent / Ages are always figures / Dimensions (inches, feet, yards) / Percent

Abbreviations / To abbreviate or not to abbreviate, that is the question.

Abbreviations / To abbreviate or not to abbreviate, that is the question. / Some things are always abbreviated: FBI, CNN. / To abbreviate or not to abbreviate, that is the question. / Some things are always abbreviated: FBI, CNN.

Abbreviations / To abbreviate or not to abbreviate, that is the question. / Some things are always abbreviated: FBI, CNN. / Some are abbreviated in specific usages: doctor vs. Dr. Jones; Wis. Vs. Wisconsin. / To abbreviate or not to abbreviate, that is the question. / Some things are always abbreviated: FBI, CNN. / Some are abbreviated in specific usages: doctor vs. Dr. Jones; Wis. Vs. Wisconsin.

Abbreviations / Some are evolving: frequently asked questions (FAQ) / Some can be abbreviated on second reference (National Rifle Association = NRA). / Some are evolving: frequently asked questions (FAQ) / Some can be abbreviated on second reference (National Rifle Association = NRA).

Titles / “Coach” is considered a job description, not a formal title: L/C. / Professor--lowercase and do not abbreviate before a name. / Plurals / Fire & police / “Coach” is considered a job description, not a formal title: L/C. / Professor--lowercase and do not abbreviate before a name. / Plurals / Fire & police

Addresses / Abbreviate exact numbered address: / 801 Algoma Blvd. but Algoma Boulevard. / B-A-S / Everything else is spelled out: road, lane, drive, circle, court, etc. / Abbreviate exact numbered address: / 801 Algoma Blvd. but Algoma Boulevard. / B-A-S / Everything else is spelled out: road, lane, drive, circle, court, etc.

Time references / Use days of week within seven days of an event (not today or tonight). Otherwise specify the date.

Time references / Use days of week within seven days of an event (not today or tonight). Otherwise specify the date. / Abbreviate months only when a day is specified: February 2007 vs. Feb. 27, / Use days of week within seven days of an event (not today or tonight). Otherwise specify the date. / Abbreviate months only when a day is specified: February 2007 vs. Feb. 27, 2007.

Time references / Five months (five letters or fewer) are never abbreviated.

Time references / Five months (five letters or fewer) are never abbreviated. / There is neither a 12 a.m. or a 12 p.m. / Avoid redundancies: next Tuesday, 10 a.m. this morning. / Five months (five letters or fewer) are never abbreviated. / There is neither a 12 a.m. or a 12 p.m. / Avoid redundancies: next Tuesday, 10 a.m. this morning.

Word usage / If you do not recognize a word, look it up.

Word usage / If you do not recognize a word, look it up. / Be sensitive to distinctions: burglary, larceny, robbery, theft; homicide, murder, manslaughter; pedal, peddle. / If you do not recognize a word, look it up. / Be sensitive to distinctions: burglary, larceny, robbery, theft; homicide, murder, manslaughter; pedal, peddle.

Word usage / If you do not recognize a word, look it up. / Be sensitive to distinctions: burglary, larceny, robbery, theft; homicide, murder, manslaughter; pedal, peddle. / Trademarks: photocopy sted Xerox. / If you do not recognize a word, look it up. / Be sensitive to distinctions: burglary, larceny, robbery, theft; homicide, murder, manslaughter; pedal, peddle. / Trademarks: photocopy sted Xerox.

Punctuation / Commas. / Hyphens / Quotation marks. / Apostrohes. / Colons & semicolons. / Commas. / Hyphens / Quotation marks. / Apostrohes. / Colons & semicolons.

Commas / 10 simple rules. / In journalism: When in doubt, leave it out. / 10 simple rules. / In journalism: When in doubt, leave it out.

Hyphens / Hyphens—use sparingly. / Distinguish between compound adjectives (hyphenated) and adverb- adjective combos (no hyphens). / Hyphens—use sparingly. / Distinguish between compound adjectives (hyphenated) and adverb- adjective combos (no hyphens).

Hyphens / Little-known athlete / Widely known author / Little-known athlete / Widely known author

Hyphens / Hyphen is not the same as a dash, which can work like a comma or parens to emphasize or set apart. / - / — / Hyphen is not the same as a dash, which can work like a comma or parens to emphasize or set apart. / - / —

Quotation marks He said, “I am shocked and horrified by the incident. “I am so horrified, in fact, that I will ask for the death penalty.” He said, “I am shocked and horrified by the incident. “I am so horrified, in fact, that I will ask for the death penalty.”

Quotation marks He said he was “shocked and horrified by the incident.” “I am so horrified, in fact, that I will ask for the death penalty.” He said he was “shocked and horrified by the incident.” “I am so horrified, in fact, that I will ask for the death penalty.”

Quotation marks / Commas and periods always, always, always inside (in U.S. usage).

Quotation marks / Commas and periods always, always always inside (in U.S. usage). / Question marks, exclamation points depend on the sense of the sentence. / Commas and periods always, always always inside (in U.S. usage). / Question marks, exclamation points depend on the sense of the sentence.

Apostrophes / Special rules for possessives: plural nouns not ending in s, plural nouns ending in s, nouns plural in form singular in meaning, nouns the same in singular and plural, etc.

Apostrophes / The ’20s. / Not the 20’s. / Four A’s and two B’s. / ABCs, VIPs. / The ’20s. / Not the 20’s. / Four A’s and two B’s. / ABCs, VIPs.

Colons & semicolons / Which is which? ; versus : / Which is which? ; versus :

Colons / He promised this: The company will make good on all the losses. / There were three considerations: expense, time and feasibility. / He promised this: The company will make good on all the losses. / There were three considerations: expense, time and feasibility.

Semicolons / He was survived by a son, John Smith, of Chicago; three daughters, Jane Smith of Wichita, Kan., Mary Smith, of Denver, and Susan of Boston; and a sister, Martha, of Omaha, Neb. / Can be used to link independent clauses but may signal complexity. / He was survived by a son, John Smith, of Chicago; three daughters, Jane Smith of Wichita, Kan., Mary Smith, of Denver, and Susan of Boston; and a sister, Martha, of Omaha, Neb. / Can be used to link independent clauses but may signal complexity.

Prefixes / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant.

Prefixes / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant. / Nonprofit, but non-nuclear. / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant. / Nonprofit, but non-nuclear.

Prefixes / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant. / Nonprofit, but non-nuclear. / Cooperate and coordinate, otherwise hyphenate: re-elect. / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant. / Nonprofit, but non-nuclear. / Cooperate and coordinate, otherwise hyphenate: re-elect.

Prefixes / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant. / Nonprofit, but non-nuclear. / Cooperate and coordinate, otherwise hyphenate: re-elect. / Look it up! / Generally do not use a hyphen with a word starting with a consonant. / Nonprofit, but non-nuclear. / Cooperate and coordinate, otherwise hyphenate: re-elect. / Look it up!

Suffixes / Two words for the verb form: / Stand out / Hyphenate noun or adjective / Standout (player) / Two words for the verb form: / Stand out / Hyphenate noun or adjective / Standout (player)

Suffixes / Two words for the verb form: / Stand out / Hyphenate noun or adjective / Standout (player) / But there are many exceptions! / Two words for the verb form: / Stand out / Hyphenate noun or adjective / Standout (player) / But there are many exceptions!

LOOK IT UP!!!