Basic AP Style Cheat Sheet
Seasons
Seasons are NEVER capitalized.
Academic degrees
Use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree and master's degree: they're singular possessive. Their proper names are Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science. Associate degree is not possessive.
Because, since
Use because to denote a specific cause-effect relationship: I went because I was told. Since is acceptable in casual senses when the first event in a sequence leads logically to the second, but wasn't its direct cause. They went to the show, since they had been given tickets. A good tip is to use since for time elements: Since the product's 2010 launch, it has sold more than 1 million copies.
Percentages
Use numerals with "percent" not "%"
Months and seasons
When using a month with a spec. date, abbreviate only: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec., and spell out when using alone or with just a year. Hint: The months never abbreviated fall chronologically and are five letters or fewer- March, April, May, June, and July. Seasons, again, are never capitalized.
Commas in a sequence
When writing a list, DON'T include a comma before the conjunction in a series (I like eggs, toast and bacon for breakfast.), but DO put a comma in front of the conjunction if an integral part of the sequence contains a conjunction (I had coffee, fruit, and a ham and cheese sandwich for breakfast.) AKA: Associated Press hates the Oxford comma.*cries*
Who or whom
Who refers to the subject of a clause (aka, a sentence) and whom refers to the object of the clause. Here's the trick: Answer the sentence using the word him (or he). If him works, then the correct usage is whom. For example: Whom did you visit? I visited him (not visited he). If he works, then the correct word is who. Ex: Who sent this email? He sent the email (not him sent it).
Numbers
write out all numbers one through nine, and use figures for 10 and above. Spell out a number if it starts a sentence (unless it's a year). Numbers are used for scores, measures, etc.
Farther, further
Farther refers to a physical distance. Ex: John walked farther than Jane. Further refers to an extension of time or degree. Ex: She will look further into the problem.
Commas and periods...
ALWAYS go inside quotation marks. "No further explanation needed," we said. "Just do it."
State abbreviations
AP doesn't follow standard ZIP code abbrev. Each state has it's own abbrev. Ex: Mass. for Massachusetts, N.Y. for New York, Calif. for California, Fla. for Florida, W. Va for West Virginia.
Double spacing after periods
AP style always uses single spacing after periods. This rule is in the stylebook twice and is very important. It has a lot to do with how printed stories are formatted.
8 States that aren't abbreviated:
Alaska Hawaii Idaho Iowa Maine Ohio Texas Utah Also omit state abbreviations in datelines for well-known U.S. cities such as: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New york, San Francisco etc.
United States, U.S.
An easy way to remember the difference: United States as a noun; U.S. as an adjective. Ex: The United States is a country; I travel with my U.S. documents.
Another recent change: drop the hyphen (before 2011 it was written e-mail).
That, Which
Ap says to use that and which in referring to inanimate objects or animals without names. Use 'that' for essential clauses, important to the meaning of the sentence. Ex: I remember the day that we met. Use 'which' for nonessential clauses , where the pronoun is less necessary, and use commas. Ex: The team which one the championship last year, begins its new season next month.
Datelines
City names should be in capital letters and in most cases followed by the appropriate AP style abbreviation for the state. Some popular U.S. cities stand alone. Detroit is one of them.
Like or such as
If you can substitute "for example" into a sentence then use "such as." Use "like" to compare things.
Website, web site
In 2010 the Associated Press switched from writing this as "Website" to "web site"
Composition titles
Magazine and newspaper titles aren't italicized; just capitalized. For composition titles such as books, video games, films, TV shows, works of art, speeches, etc., use quotation marks. Ex: She read The New York Times before she watched "Inception" and "Friends."
Titles
Only capitalize formal titles when the precede an individual's name. If it falls after, lowercase. Ex: Mayor John Appleseed signed the proclamation; John Appleseed, mayor of Leominster, Mass., attended the banquet.
Street addresses
Street, avenue, and boulevard are only abbreviated when with numbered addresses. Road and other related causeways such as court, drive, lane, way, etc. aren't abbreviated. Ex: 123 Public Relations Blvd., 12 Brady St., 26 Media., 1 Championship Road.
More than, over
This rule was changed in 2014, but many traditionalists (including this professor) will stick to the following rule: More than is preferred with numbers, while over generally refers to spatial elements. Ex: The company has more than 25 employees; The cow jumped over the moon.
Toward/towards
Toward never ends in an 's', same for forward, backward, upward, downward, etc.
a.m. and p.m.
it's important to note that the periods are always placed in this manner.