AP Style Quiz #5
Senate
Capitalize all specific references to governmental legislative bodies, regardless of whether the name of the state or nation is used: the U.S. Senate, the Senate, the Virginia Senate, the state Senate, the Senate. Lowercase plural uses: the Virginia and North Carolina senates. See governmental bodies. Lowercase references to non-governmental bodies: the student senate at Yale.
titles
Capitalize or use lowercase according to guidelines in titles in Stylebook's main section. Job descriptions, field positions and informal titles are lowercase: coach John Calipari; forward Alex Morgan; general manager John Elway. Some other informal titles commonly used in sports include general manager, trainer, team doctor, manager, captain.
sentences
Capitalize the first word of every sentence, including quoted statements and direct questions: Patrick Henry said, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death." Capitalize the first word of a quoted statement if it constitutes a sentence, even if it was part of a larger sentence in the original: Patrick Henry said, "Give me liberty or give me death." In direct questions, even without quotation marks: The story answers the question, Where does true happiness really lie? Use a single space between sentences. See ellipsis in Punctuation chapter and poetry.
school
Capitalize when part of a proper name: Public School 3, Madison Elementary School, Doherty Junior High School, Crocker High School.
state police
Capitalize with a state name if part of the formal description for a police agency: the New York State Police, the Virginia State Police. In most cases, state police standing alone is a shorthand reference for state policemen rather than a reference to the agency. For consistency and to avoid hairline distinctions about whether the reference is to the agency or the officers, lowercase the words state police whenever they are not preceded by a state name. See highway patrol.
web
Short form of World Wide Web, it is a part of the internet that enables the distribution of image-rich content and information. The web is not the same as the internet, but is a subset; other applications, such as email, exist on the internet. Also, website, webcam, webcast, webfeed, webmaster, webpage. But web address, web browser. See internet.
verbs
The abbreviation v. is used in this book to identify the spelling of the verb forms of words frequently misspelled. SPLIT FORMS: In many cases, splitting the infinitive or compound forms of a verb is necessary to convey meaning and make a sentence easy to read. Such constructions are acceptable. For example: Those who lie are often found out. How has your health been? The budget was tentatively approved. Let readability and comprehension be your guide. If splitting a verb results in an awkward sentence, don't do it. She wants to write clearly, not She wants to clearly write.
spelling
The basic rule when in doubt is to consult this book followed by, if necessary, a dictionary under conditions described in the dictionaries entry.
semiannual
Twice a year, a synonym for biannual. Do not confuse it with biennial, which means every two years.
ZIP code
Use all-caps ZIP for Zone Improvement Plan, but always lowercase the word code. Run the five digits together without a comma, and do not put a comma between the state name and the ZIP code: New York, NY 10020.
weapons
Gun is an acceptable term for any firearm. Note the following definitions and forms in dealing with weapons and ammunition: anti-aircraft A cannon or other weapon designed for defense against air attack. The form: a 105 mm anti-aircraft gun. artillery A carriage-mounted cannon. assault rifle, assault weapon
shall, will
Use shall to express determination: We shall overcome. You and he shall stay. Either shall or will may be used in first-person constructions that do not emphasize determination: We shall hold a meeting.We will hold a meeting. For second- and third-person constructions, use will unless determination is stressed: You will like it. She will not be pleased.
should, would
Use should to express an obligation: We should help the needy. Use would to express a customary action: In the summer we would spend hours by the seashore. Use would also in constructing a conditional past tense, but be careful: Wrong: If Soderholm would not have had an injured foot, Thompson would not have been in the lineup. Right: If Soderholm had not had an injured foot, Thompson would not have been in the lineup. See subjunctive mood.
team
Use singular verb and pronoun "it" when referring to the team as a collective unit. However, the team name takes a plural verb: The Orlando Magic are close to setting a franchise record. See collective nouns.
that, which (pronouns)
Use that and which in referring to inanimate objects and to animals without a name. Use that for essential clauses, important to the meaning of a sentence, and without commas: I remember the day that we met. Use which for nonessential clauses, where the pronoun is less necessary, and use commas: The team, which finished last a year ago, is in first place. (Tip: If you can drop the clause and not lose the meaning of the sentence, use which; otherwise, use that. A which clause is surrounded by commas; no commas are used with thatclauses.) See the essential clauses, nonessential clauses entry for guidelines on using that and which to introduce phrases and clauses.
Supreme Court
Capitalize U.S. Supreme Court and also the Supreme Courtwhen the context makes the U.S. designation unnecessary. The chief justice is properly the chief justice of the United States, not of the Supreme Court: Chief Justice John Roberts. The proper title for the eight other members of the court is associate justice. When used as a formal title before a name, it should be shortened to justice unless there are special circumstances: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. See judge.
slang
In general, avoid slang, the highly informal language that is outside of conventional or standard usage. See colloquialisms and dialect.
State
Lowercase in all state of constructions: the state of Maine, the states of Maine and Vermont. Four states Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia are legally commonwealths rather than states. The distinction is necessary only in formal uses: The commonwealth of Kentucky filed a suit. For simple geographic reference: Tobacco is grown in the state of Kentucky. Do not capitalize state when used simply as an adjective to specify a level of jurisdiction: state Rep. William Smith, the state Transportation Department, state funds. Apply the same principle to phrases such as the city of Chicago, the town of Auburn, etc. See also state names.
seasons
Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter and derivatives such as springtime unless part of a formal name: Dartmouth Winter Carnival, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics.
(sic) - quotations in the news
Never alter quotations even to correct minor grammatical errors or word usage. Casual minor tongue slips may be removed by using ellipses but even that should be done with extreme caution. Do not use (sic) to show that quoted material or person's words include a misspelling, incorrect grammar or peculiar usage.
-wise
No hyphen when it means in the direction of or with regard to. Some examples: clockwiseotherwiselengthwiseslantwise Avoid contrived combinations such as moneywise, religionwise. The word penny-wise is spelled with a hyphen because it is a compound adjective in which wise means smart, not an application of the suffix -wise. The same for street-wise in the street-wise youth (an exception to Webster's New World College Dictionary).
A social network on which users share text, photos, video and links to outside content with their followers, in short tweets. The verb is to tweet, tweeted.
U.N.
Abbrev: U.N. (no space). Use periods in U.N., for consistency with U.S. within texts. In headlines, it's UN (no periods). In datelines: UNITED NATIONS (AP) Use U.N. General Assembly, U.N. Secretariat and U.N. Security Council in first references not under a United Nations dateline. General Assembly, the Secretariat and Security Council are acceptable in all references under a United Nations dateline and on second reference under other datelines. Lowercase the assembly and the council when they stand alone. See UNESCO and UNICEF.
Washington
Abbreviate Wash. in datelines only; spell out in stories. For the U.S. capital, use WASHINGTON in datelines and Washington within a story. Use Washington, D.C., with the added abbreviation only if the city might be confused with the state. Postal code: WA See state names.
vote tabulations
Always use figures for the totals. Spell out below 10 in other phrases related to voting: by a five-vote majority, with three abstentions, four votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority. For results that involve fewer than 1,000 votes on each side, use these forms: The House voted 230-205, a 230-205 vote. To make totals that involve more than 1,000 votes on a side easier to read, separate the figures with the word to to avoid hyphenated adjectival constructions. See election returns for examples.
South
As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the 16-state region is broken into three divisions. The four East South Central states are Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. The eight South Atlantic states are Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The four West South Central states are Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. There is no official U.S. Census Bureau definition of Southeast.
times
Follow advice in time sequences and times entries in Stylebook's main section. Use common descriptions for time frames in sports events unless the exact time is truly relevant: Midway through the second quarter rather than 6:28 into the second quarter. Precise times down to the second are usually reserved for the final minute or two minutes of each period, depending on the sport.
versus
Follow guidance under versus in the main section, spelling out the word in ordinary speech and writing, as well as in quotes: Belichick's unconventional passing game versus Seattle's secondary. It is permissible to abbreviate as vs. in short expressions: Clippers vs. Warriors.
television program titles
Follow the guidelines in composition titles. Put quotation marks around show only if it is part of the formal name. The word show may be dropped when it would be cumbersome, such as in a set of listings. (Italics are used here only to illustrate examples; do not use italics on the wires.) In text or listing, treat programs named after the star in any of the following ways: "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Mary Tyler Moore" or the Mary Tyler Moore show. But be consistent in a story or set of listings. Use quotation marks also for the title of an episode: "The Clean Room Infiltration," an episode of "The Big Bang Theory."Also: "NBC Nightly News," the "Today" show, "The Tonight Show."
State names
Follow these guidelines: SPELL OUT: The names of the 50 U.S. states should be spelled out when used in the body of a story, whether standing alone or in conjunction with a city, town, village or military base. No state name is necessary if it is the same as the dateline. This also applies to newspapers cited in a story. For example, a story datelined Providence, R.I., would reference the Providence Journal, not the Providence (Rhode Island) Journal. See datelines. EIGHT NOT ABBREVIATED: The names of eight states are never abbreviated in datelines or text: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.
time of day
The exact time of day that an event has happened or will happen is not necessary in most stories. Follow these guidelines to determine when it should be included and in what form: SPECIFY THE TIME: Whenever it gives the reader a better picture of the scene: Did the earthquake occur when people were likely to be home asleep or at work? A clock reading for the time in the datelined community is acceptable although pre-dawn hours or rush hour often is more illustrative. Whenever the time is critical to the story: When will the rocket be launched? When will a major political address be broadcast? What is the deadline for meeting a demand?
weather terms
The following (except for storm names) are based on definitions used by the National Weather Service. All temperatures are Fahrenheit. The federal weather glossary is at http://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php blizzard Wind speeds of 35 mph or more and considerable falling and/or blowing of snow with visibility of less than one-quarter mile for three or more hours. coastal waters The waters within 100 miles of the coast, including bays, harbors and sounds. cyclone A storm with strong winds rotating about a moving center of low atmospheric pressure. The word sometimes is used in the United States to mean tornado and in the Indian Ocean area to mean hurricane. degree-day A measure of the amount of heating or cooling needed for a building. It is based on the difference between the average daily temperature and 65 degrees. Positive values are cooling degree-days and negative values are heating degree-days. derecho A widespread and usually fast-moving straight-line windstorm. It is usually more than hundreds of miles long and more than 100 miles across. Plural: derechos. dew point The temperature to which air must be cooled for dew to form. The higher the dew point, the more moisture in the air. dust devil A small, rapidly rotating wind that is made visible by the dust, dirt or debris it picks up. Also called a whirlwind, it develops best on clear, dry, hot afternoons. dust storm Visibility of one-half mile or less due to dust, wind speeds of 30 mph or more.
second reference
The listing of an acceptable term for second reference does not mean that it always must be used after the first reference. Often a generic word such as the agency, the commission or the company is more appropriate and less jarring to the reader. At other times, the full name may need to be repeated for clarity. For additional guidelines that apply to organizations, see abbreviations and acronyms and capitalization. For additional guidelines that apply to individuals, see courtesy titles and titles.
their, there, they're
Their is a plural possessive pronoun that, in general, should agree in number with the antecedent. For exceptions, see they, them, their. There is an adverb indicating direction: We went there for dinner. There also is used with the force of a pronoun for impersonal constructions in which the real subject follows the verb: There is no food on the table. They're is a contraction for they are.
west
Use West to cover the 13-state region as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and broken into two divisions. The eight Mountain division states are Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The five Pacific division states are Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Capitalize Western for the film or book genre, but lowercase the style of music better known as country. For directions, west and western. See directions and regions.
women
Use female as an adjective, not woman. She is the first female governor of North Carolina. Treatment of the sexes should be evenhanded and free of assumptions and stereotypes. This does not mean that valid and acceptable words such as mankind or humanity cannot be used. They are proper. See courtesy titles; divorce; man, mankind; and -persons.
temperatures
Use figures for all except zero. Use a word, not a minus sign, to indicate temperatures below zero. Right: The day's low was minus 10. Right: The day's low was 10 below zero. Wrong: The day's low was -10. Right: The temperature rose to zero by noon. Right: The day's high was expected to be 9 or 10. Also: 5-degree temperatures, temperatures fell 5 degrees, temperatures in the 30s (no apostrophe). Temperatures get higher or lower, but they don't get warmeror cooler. Wrong: Temperatures are expected to warm up in the area Friday. Right: Temperatures are expected to rise in the area Friday. See Fahrenheit; Celsius;; numerals and weather terms.
speeds
Use figures. The car slowed to 7 mph, winds of 5 to 10 mph, winds of 7 to 9 knots, 10-knot wind. See numerals.
weights
Use figures: The baby weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. She had a 9-pound, 7-ounce boy.
yesterday
Use only in direct quotations and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: Yesterday we were young. Use the day of the week in other cases.
that (conjunction)
Use the conjunction that to introduce a dependent clause if the sentence sounds or looks awkward without it. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but in general: -That usually may be omitted when a dependent clause immediately follows a form of the verb to say: The president said he had signed the bill. -That should be used when a time element intervenes between the verb and the dependent clause: The president said Monday that he had signed the bill. -That usually is necessary after some verbs. They include: advocate, assert, contend, declare, estimate, make clear, point out, propose and state. -That is required before subordinate clauses beginning with conjunctions such as after, although, because, before, in addition to, until and while: Haldeman said that after he learned of Nixon's intention to resign, he sought pardons for all connected with Watergate. When in doubt, include that. Omission can hurt. Inclusion never does.
time element
Use the days of the week, not today or tonight, in news stories. Use Monday, Tuesday, etc., for days of the week within seven days before or after the current date. Use the month and a figure where appropriate. See months for forms and punctuation. Avoid such redundancies as last Tuesday or next Tuesday. The past, present or future tense used for the verb usually provides adequate indication of which Tuesday is meant: He said he finished the job Tuesday. She will return Tuesday. Avoid awkward placements of the time element, particularly those that suggest the day of the week is the object of a transitive verb: The police jailed Tuesday. Potential remedies include the use of the word on (see the on entry), rephrasing the sentence, or placing the time element in a different sentence. See today, tonight for further discussion, including usage other than in news stories.
subjunctive mood
Use the subjunctive mood of a verb for contrary-to-fact conditions, and expressions of doubts, wishes or regrets: If I were a rich man, I wouldn't have to work hard. I doubt that more money would be the answer. I wish it were possible to take back my words. Sentences that express a contingency or hypothesis may use either the subjunctive or the indicative mood depending on the context. In general, use the subjunctive if there is little likelihood that a contingency might come true: If I were to marry a millionaire, I wouldn't have to worry about money. If the bill passes as expected, it will provide an immediate tax cut. See should, would.
years
When a phrase refers to a month and day within the current year, do not include the year: The hearing is scheduled for June 26. If the reference is to a past or future year, include the year and set it off with commas: Feb. 14, 2025, is the target date. Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries: the 1890s, the 1800s. Years are an exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure is not used to start a sentence: 2013 was a very good year. See A.D.; B.C.; century; historical periods and events; months and numerals.
who, whom
Who is the pronoun used for references to human beings and to animals with a name. Write the person who is in charge, not the person that is in charge. Who is grammatically the subject (never the object) of a sentence, clause or phrase: The woman who rented the room left the window open. Who is there? Whom is used when someone is the object of a verb or preposition: The woman to whom the room was rented left the window open. Whom do you wish to see? See essential clauses, nonessential clauses for guidelines on how to punctuate clauses introduced by who, whom, that and which. Also see that, which (pronouns).
