Forster's Expanded AP Style List
backup, back up
(n. and adj.) back up (v.)
advisory
(spelling)
cellphone
(spelling)
convict
(v.) Follow with preposition of, not for: He was convicted of murder.
drowned, was drowned
If a person suffocates in water or other fluid, the proper statement is that the individual drowned. To say that someone was drowned implies that another person caused the death by holding the victim's head under the water.
each
Takes a singular verb.
snowdrift, snowfall, snowflake, snowman, snowplow, showshoe, snowstorm, snowsuit
(spelling)
soft-spoken
(spelling)
son-in-law, sons-in-law
(spelling)
spaceship
(spelling)
springtime
(spelling)
states' rights
(spelling)
statewide
(spelling)
stem cell
(spelling)
steppingstone
(spelling)
stopgap
(spelling)
stormwater
(spelling)
storyline
(spelling)
storyteller
(spelling)
strikebreaker
(spelling)
strong-willed
(spelling)
subpoena, subpoenaed, subpoenaing
(spelling)
successor
(spelling)
summertime
(spelling)
supersede
(spelling)
sweatpants, sweatshirt, sweatsuit
(spelling)
syllabus, syllabuses
(spelling)
tailspin
(spelling)
take-home pay
(spelling)
teammate
(spelling)
thumbs-up, thumbs-down
(spelling)
tie, tied, tying
(spelling)
timeout
(spelling)
traffic, trafficked, trafficking
(spelling)
transfer, transferred, transferring
(spelling)
travel, traveled, traveling, traveler
(spelling)
trigger-happy
(spelling)
vacuum
(spelling)
vendor
(spelling)
vice versa
(spelling)
voicemail
(spelling)
wartime
(spelling)
weekend
(spelling)
well-being
(spelling)
well-informed
(spelling)
well-to-do
(spelling)
well-wishers
(spelling)
wherever
(spelling)
whistleblower
(spelling)
wildlife
(spelling)
wintertime
(spelling)
workbook, workday, workforce, workhorse, workout, workplace, worksheet, workstation, workweek
(spelling)
workers' compensation
(spelling)
worthwhile
(spelling)
wrongdoing
(spelling)
zip line
(spelling)
preventive
(spelling, presumably to differentiate from "preventative")
doughnut
(spelling, presumably to differentiate from donut)
strong-arm
(v. and adj.)
graduate
(v.) Graduate is correctly used in the active voice: She graduated from the university. It is correct, but unnecessary, to use the passive voice: He was graduated from the university. Do not, however, drop from: John Adams graduated from Harvard. Not: John Adams graduated Harvard.
outsourcing
A business practice used by companies to reduce costs by transferring work previously performed in-house to outside suppliers.
cyberattack
A computer operation carried out over a device or network that causes physical damage or significant and wide-ranging disruption. The term is routinely overused. A computer intrusion that causes damage — i.e., to machinery at a steel mill — or injury or death is unquestionably a cyberattack. Low-tech trickery aimed at robbing people of their passwords by using spam emails or social engineering is not a cyberattack. Avoid using the terms cyberattack or attack in cases where data has merely been stolen or leaked unless the consequences are catastrophic. Also avoid using where the damage is limited (as in the case when a single device is affected); virtual (as in the case when only data is destroyed); or short-term (as in the case when a network is temporarily rendered inoperable through denial of service.) If authorities or others term something a cyberattack, push for details and be specific in describing what happened or what is alleged. If it doesn't rise to the level of a cyberattack, avoid using the term, even in direct quotations, unless the quote is essential. Avoid putting a number to cyberattacks unless someone can explain in detail how such a figure was derived. Cyberattacks can be counted in so many different ways that figures are only rarely meaningful. For help in determining whether to call something a cyberattack, consider an action's equivalent in the physical world. Defacing of a company's website: The physical world equivalent would be someone spraying graffiti or leaving a taunting message on the headquarters building. Typical language would be vandalize or deface, not attack. Electronic theft of government data or an official's email: The physical equivalent might be someone stealing sensitive records from filing cabinets. Typical language would be theft or break-in, but not attack. A factory's controls are remotely compromised and rogue commands cause an explosion: The physical equivalent here might involve placing a bomb somewhere. Whether electronic or physical, such acts could properly be termed an attack. A huge amount of data is stolen — data of such sensitivity that its theft or release causes panic or dramatic financial losses. This might happen for example with the sudden publication of millions of medical records or credit card numbers: Imagine simultaneous break-ins at scores of hospitals or repeated bank robberies across the country. At a catastrophic scale, thefts or leaks can be described as cyberattacks. Other examples of wording: A denial of service can range in severity from a nuisance to a major attack. If disruption is minimal, use wording such as the website was hit by a denial of service and explain what that means. However, a denial of service that blocks millions of customers and businesses from making payments or receiving money for an extended length of time might be described as a cyberattack. Someone who breaks into a network and copies data is breaching a network, committing cyberespionage or engaged in electronic theft. Someone who remotely wipes a smartphone or trashes a company's webpage is an online vandal or a cybercriminal. But someone who wipes thousands of computers at critical infrastructure provider could be described as a cyberattacker given the severity of the potential damage.
first degree, first-degree
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: It was murder in the first degree. He was convicted of first-degree murder.
part time, part-time
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: She works part time. She has a part-time job.
long term, long-term
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: We will win in the long term. He has a long-term assignment.
one-
Hyphenate when used in writing fractions: one-half one-third Use phrases such as a half or a third if precision is not intended.
full-
Hyphenate when used to form compound modifiers: full-dress full-page full-fledged full-scale full-length See the listings that follow and Webster's New World College Dictionary for the spelling of other combinations.
off-site, on-site
Hyphenated.
race
Identification by race or ethnicity is pertinent: In biographical and announcement stories that involve significant, groundbreaking or historic events, such as being elected U.S. president, being named to the U.S. Supreme Court or other notable occurrences. Barack Obama was the first black U.S. president. Sonia Sotomayor is the first Hispanic justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Jeremy Lin is the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. For suspects sought by the police or missing person cases using police or other credible, detailed descriptions. Such descriptions apply for all races. The racial reference should be removed when the individual is apprehended or found. When reporting a demonstration or disturbance involving race or such issues as civil rights or slavery. In other situations with racial overtones, use news judgment. Do not use a derogatory term except in extremely rare circumstances when it is crucial to the story or the understanding of a news event. Flag the contents in an editor's note.
pedal, peddle
When riding a bicycle or similar vehicle, you pedal it. When selling something, you may peddle it.
couple
When used in the sense of two people, the word takes plural verbs and pronouns: The couple were married Saturday and left Sunday on their honeymoon. They will return in two weeks. In the sense of a single unit, use a singular verb: Each couple was asked to give $10.
tweet
(n. or v.) A short posting on Twitter.
get-together
(n.)
mock-up
(n.)
homebuyer, homeowner
(spelling)
homemade
(spelling)
hourlong, hourslong
(spelling)
impostor
(spelling)
incur, incurred, incurring
(spelling)
indispensable
(spelling)
innocuous
(spelling)
inoculate
(spelling)
judgment
(spelling)
kidnap, kidnapped, kidnapping, kidnapper
(spelling)
landline
(spelling)
liaison
(spelling)
life span
(spelling)
life-size
(spelling)
lifestyle
(spelling)
lifetime
(spelling)
likable
(spelling)
liquefy
(spelling)
livable
(spelling)
man-made
(spelling)
manageable
(spelling)
medieval
(spelling)
mother-in-law, mothers-in-law
(spelling)
narrow-minded
(spelling)
nationwide
(spelling)
never-ending
(spelling)
nightclub
(spelling)
nighttime
(spelling)
no one
(spelling)
nonprofit
(spelling)
occur, occurred, occurring, occurrence
(spelling)
login, logon, logoff
(n.) But use as two words in verb form: I log in to my computer.
one-sided
(spelling)
onstage
(spelling)
outperform
(spelling)
parallel, paralleled, paralleling
(spelling)
passer-by, passers-by
(spelling)
patrol, patrolled, patrolling
(spelling)
peacekeeping
(spelling)
peacetime
(spelling)
privilege, privileged
(spelling)
protester
(spelling)
questionnaire
(spelling)
re-elect, re-election
(spelling)
restaurateur
(spelling)
right of way, rights of way
(spelling)
roller coaster
(spelling)
runner-up, runners-up
(spelling)
running mate
(spelling)
serviceable
(spelling)
shortchange
(spelling)
single-handed, single-handedly
(spelling)
sister-in-law, sisters-in-law
(spelling)
sizable
(spelling)
skillful
(spelling)
slideshow
(spelling)
slumlord
(spelling)
moon
Lowercase.
monthlong, monthslong
One word as an adjective.
-in
Precede with a hyphen: break-in walk-in cave-in write-in
transvestite
Use cross-dresser instead.
X-ray
(n., v. and adj.) Use for both the photographic process and the radiation particles themselves.
rock 'n' roll
(note direction of apostrophes) But Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
20-something
(spelling)
24/7
(spelling)
3-D
(spelling)
Super Bowl
(spelling)
T-shirt
(spelling)
cancel, canceled, canceling, cancellation
(spelling)
driver's license(s)
(spelling)
embarrass, embarrassing, embarrassed, embarrassment
(spelling)
empty-handed
(spelling)
enroll, enrolled, enrolling
(spelling)
equal, equaled, equaling
(spelling)
front-runner
(spelling)
fulfill, fulfilled, fulfilling
(spelling)
goodbye
(spelling)
hand-picked
(spelling)
handmade
(spelling)
hands-free
(spelling)
hangover
(spelling)
health care
(spelling)
high-tech
(spelling)
hip-hop
(spelling)
year-end
(n. and adj.)
homebuilder
(spelling)
follow-up
(n. and adj.) Use two words (no hyphen) in verb form.
head-on
(adj. and adv.)
year-round
(adj. and adv.)
far-flung
(adj.)
far-off
(adj.)
far-ranging
(adj.)
stand-alone
(adj.)
white-collar
(adj.)
short-lived
(adj.) A short-lived plan. The plan was short-lived.
myriad
(adj.) Note word is not followed by of: The myriad books in the library.
long distance, long-distance
(adj.) We traveled a long distance. She's a long-distance runner.
awhile, a while
(adv.) a while He plans to stay awhile (adv.). He plans to stay for a while (n.).
U-turn
(n. and adj.)
drive-thru
(n. and adj.)
grown-up
(n. and adj.)
high-rise
(n. and adj.)
throwaway
(n. and adj.)
word-of-mouth
(n. and adj.)
internet
A decentralized, worldwide network of computers and other devices that can communicate with each other. The web, like email, is a subset of the internet. They are not synonymous and should not be used interchangeably in stories. See web. INTERNET ADDRESSES: In stories, use the name of the website rather than the web address — so it's Facebook, not Facebook.com. Use ".com" only if it's part of the legal name, as in Amazon.com Inc. When a story prominently mentions a specific website or web service, include the full address, starting with "http://" unless the site contains content considered graphic or otherwise objectionable under AP's standards. See domain names, as well as separate listings for some commonly used internet, computer and telecommunications terms. ___ Do not mistake the internet for an encyclopedia, and a search engine for a table of contents. The internet is a sprawling information repository. Anything you find should be assessed and vetted with the same care that you use for everything else. Even what may look like an official press release issued by a company can be doctored or fabricated. Be especially leery of press releases posted on sites other than a company or organization's own known website or an established clearinghouse like prnewswire.com, businesswire.com or globenewswire.com. Be especially careful about websites and social networks that allow anyone to contribute text, photos and other information. The stated name on an account may not actually reflect an individual or group's real identity. Some points to consider: - Whom does a webpage belong to? Is the owner's identity verifiable, or is that person pretending to be someone else? You should avoid anonymous pages just as you would avoid a source whose identity you could not verify. - Is there contact information in case you want to follow up? One way to check who owns a page is through a "Whois" query at a website such as http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp. Keep in mind, however, that data is self-reported and could be incorrect. - The source for the information on the page should be clearly stated. Is it a primary or secondary source? Can it be checked somewhere else? - Does the website accept user contributions? If so, is there a vetting process? Wikipedia, for instance, allows individuals to contribute to encyclopedia entries regardless of expertise. It may provide a good starting point for research, but you should follow the footnotes for the source material and look for additional sources of information. - Based on what you know, how accurate does the information seem? If there's something on the site that you know is incorrect, there may be other errors. - Are there any obvious signs of bias? One possible clue: the type of sites linked to. - Is the page current? If it hasn't been updated lately, the information may be outdated. - For social networks, are you sure that the account actually belongs to the individual or group it says it belongs to? Keep in mind that a password to an account could be compromised, and someone may have temporarily taken over a legitimate account. One way to check authenticity is to verify it directly with the individual or group, using contact information independently obtained. A social account can also be considered legitimate if a verifiably authentic website representing the same individual or group links to it. - Be wary of information in email because the sender's address can be easily forged. Again, it is best to verify information directly with the person you believe is the sender. - Don't believe everything you see. Software such as Photoshop makes it easy to alter or manufacture photographs or video clips that look real to the untrained eye. - Use common sense. Just as you wouldn't necessarily trust an anonymous flyer you pick up on the street, be wary of websites and social accounts you stumble across. Do not assume that a site belongs to a particular company or group just because its name is in the web address.
council, councilor, councilman, councilwoman
A deliberative body and those who are members of it. Capitalize councilor, councilman and councilwoman when used as a formal title before a name; otherwise, lowercase.
irregardless
A double negative. Regardless is correct.
felony, misdemeanor
A felony is a serious crime. A misdemeanor is a minor offense against the law. A fuller definition of what constitutes a felony or misdemeanor depends on the governmental jurisdiction involved. At the federal level, a misdemeanor is a crime that carries a potential penalty of no more than a year in jail. A felony is a crime that carries a potential penalty of more than a year in prison. Often, however, a statute gives a judge options such as imposing a fine or probation in addition to or instead of a jail or prison sentence. A felon is a person who has been convicted of a felony, regardless of whether the individual actually spends time in confinement or is given probation or a fine instead. Convicted felon is redundant.
spouse
A gender-neutral alternative in place of wife or husband. For example: physicians and their spouses, not physicians and their wives.
historic, historical
A historic event is an important occurrence, one that stands out in history. Any occurrence in the past is a historical event.
mishap
A minor misfortune. People are not killed in mishaps.
abbreviations and acronyms
A few universally recognized abbreviations are required in some circumstances. Some others are acceptable depending on the context. But in general, avoid alphabet soup. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms that the reader would not quickly recognize. Abbreviations and most acronyms should be avoided in headlines. Guidance on how to use a particular abbreviation or acronym is provided in entries alphabetized according to the sequence of letters in the word or phrase. An acronym is a word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words: laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). An abbreviation is not an acronym. Some general principles: BEFORE A NAME: Abbreviate titles when used before a full name: Dr., Gov., Lt. Gov., Mr., Mrs., Rep., the Rev., Sen. and certain military designations listed in the military titles entry. For guidelines on how to use titles, see courtesy titles; legislative titles; military titles; religious titles; and the entries for the most commonly used titles. AFTER A NAME: Abbreviate junior or senior after an individual's name. Abbreviate company, corporation, incorporated and limited when used after the name of a corporate entity. See entries under these words and company names. In some cases, an academic degree may be abbreviated after an individual's name. See academic degrees. WITH DATES OR NUMERALS: Use the abbreviations A.D., B.C., a.m., p.m., No., and abbreviate certain months (Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.) when used with the day of the month. Right: In 450 B.C.; at 9:30 a.m.; in room No. 6; on Sept. 16. Wrong: Early this a.m. he asked for the No. of your room. The abbreviations are correct only with figures. Right: Early this morning he asked for the number of your room. See months and individual entries for these other terms: IN NUMBERED ADDRESSES: Abbreviate avenue, boulevard and street in numbered addresses: He lives on Pennsylvania Avenue. He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. See addresses. STATES: The names of certain states and the United States are abbreviated with periods in some circumstances. See state names; datelines; and individual entries. AVOID AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONS: Do not follow an organization's full name with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses or set off by dashes. If an abbreviation or acronym would not be clear on second reference without this arrangement, do not use it. Names not commonly before the public should not be reduced to acronyms solely to save a few words. SPECIAL CASES: Many abbreviations are desirable in tabulations and certain types of technical writing. See individual entries. CAPS, PERIODS: Use capital letters and periods according to the listings in this book. For words not in this book, use the first-listed abbreviation in Webster's New World College Dictionary. Generally, omit periods in acronyms unless the result would spell an unrelated word. But use periods in most two-letter abbreviations: U.S., U.N., U.K., B.A., B.C. (AP, a trademark, is an exception. Also, no periods in GI, ID and EU, among others.) In headlines, do not use periods in abbreviations, unless required for clarity. Use all caps, but no periods, in longer abbreviations when the individual letters are pronounced: ABC, CIA, FBI. Use only an initial cap and then lowercase for abbreviations and acronyms of more than five letters, unless listed otherwise in this Stylebook or Webster's New World College Dictionary.
pseudonyms, nicknames
A nickname should be used in place of a person's given name in stories only when it is the way the individual prefers to be known: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, Magic Johnson. When a nickname is inserted into the identification of an individual, use quotation marks: Sen. Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson, Paul "Bear" Bryant. Capitalize without quotation marks such terms as Sunshine State, the Old Dominion, Motown, the Magic City, Old Hickory, Old Glory, Galloping Ghost.
Hispanic
A person from or whose ancestors were from a Spanish-speaking land or culture. Latino and Latina are sometimes preferred. Follow the person's preference. Use a more specific identification when possible, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican or Mexican-American. See Latino, nationalities and races and race.
accused
A person is accused of, not with, a crime. To avoid any suggestion that an individual is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as accused slayer John Jones; use John Jones, accused of the slaying.
Asian-American
A person of Asian birth or descent who lives in the U.S. When possible, refer to a person's country of origin. For example: Filipino-American or Indian-American. Follow the person's preference.
party affiliation
A political figure's party affiliation should be routinely included in stories. GENERAL FORMS: When party designation is given, use any of these approaches as logical in constructing a story: Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said ... Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said ... Sen. Tim Scott also spoke. The South Carolina Republican said ... Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, the senior Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, said he supports the amendment. In stories about party meetings, such as a report on the Republican National Convention, no specific reference to party affiliation is necessary unless an individual is not a member of the party in question. SHORT-FORM PUNCTUATION: Set short forms such as R-S.C. off from a name by commas, as illustrated above. Use the abbreviations listed in the entries for each state. (No abbreviations for Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah.) Use R- for Republicans, D- for Democrats, and I- for independents: Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., spoke with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. FORM FOR U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS: The normal practice for U.S. House members is to identify them by party and state. In contexts where state affiliation is clear and home city is relevant, such as a state election roundup, identify representatives by party and city: U.S. Reps. Ander Crenshaw, R-Jacksonville, and Frederica Wilson, D-Miami. If this option is used, be consistent throughout the story. FORM FOR STATE LEGISLATORS: Short-form listings showing party and home city are appropriate in state stories. For national stories, the normal practice is to say that the individual is a Republican or Democrat. Use a short-form listing only if the legislator's home city is relevant.
mega-
A prefix denoting 1 million units of a measure. Move the decimal point six places to the right, adding zeros if necessary, to convert to the basic unit: 5.5 megatons = 5,500,000 tons.
kilo-
A prefix denoting 1,000 units of a measure. Move a decimal point three places to the right, adding zeros if necessary, to convert to the basic unit: 10.5 kilograms equals 10,500 grams.
nano-
A prefix denoting one-billionth of a unit. Move the decimal point nine places to the left in converting to the basic unit: 2,999,888,777.5 nanoseconds equals 2.9998887775 seconds.
micro-
A prefix denoting one-millionth of a unit. Move the decimal point six places to the left in converting to the basic unit: 2,999,888.5 microseconds = 2.9998885 seconds.
milli-
A prefix denoting one-thousandth of a unit. Move the decimal three places to the left in converting to the basic unit: 1,567.5 millimeters equals 1.5675 meters.
pretense, pretext
A pretext is something that is put forward to conceal a truth: He was discharged for tardiness, but the reason given was only a pretext for general incompetence. A pretense is a false show, a more overt act intended to conceal personal feelings: My profuse compliments were all pretense.
overall
A single word in adjectival and adverbial use: Overall, the Democrats succeeded. Overall policy. The word for the garment is overalls.
cynic, skeptic
A skeptic is a doubter. A cynic is a disbeliever.
indigenous
A term used to refer to original inhabitants of a place. Aboriginal leaders welcomed a new era of indigenous relations in Australia. Bolivia's indigenous peoples represent some 62 percent of the population.
Kleenex
A trademark for a brand of facial tissue.
Styrofoam
A trademark for a brand of plastic foam. Use the term plastic foam unless referring specifically to the trademarked product. (Note: Cups and other serving items are not made of Styrofoam brand plastic foam.)
accept, except
Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude.
TV
Acceptable as an abbreviated form of television, as a noun or adjective.
incorporated
Abbreviate and capitalize as Inc. when used as a part of a corporate name. Do not set off with commas: Time Warner Inc. announced ...
junior, senior
Abbreviate as Jr. and Sr. and do not precede by a comma: Martin Luther King Jr. The notation II or 2nd may be used if it is the individual's preference. Note, however, that II and 2nd are not necessarily the equivalent of junior; they often are used by a grandson or nephew. Be clear in distinguishing between father and son on second reference if both names appear in a story. The elder Smith and the younger Smith is one option; Smith Sr. and Smith Jr. is also acceptable. The possessive form: Smith Jr.'s career.
saint
Abbreviate as St. in the names of saints, cities and other places: St. Jude; St. Paul, Minnesota; St. John's, Newfoundland; St. Lawrence Seaway. But see the entries for Saint John and Sault Ste. Marie.
street
Abbreviate only with a numbered address.
black
Acceptable for a person of the black race. African-American is acceptable for an American black person of African descent. (Use Negro only in names of organizations or in quotations.) Do not use colored as a synonym.
-person
Acceptable for the formal name of a post or person, or if preferred by an individual: chairperson or spokesperson.
friend, follow, like
Acceptable in a social media context as both nouns and verbs. Actions by which users connect to other users on social networks and engage with their content.
Acceptable in all references for electronic mail. Also: esports. Use a hyphen with other e- terms: e-book, e-reader, e-commerce.
LGBT, LGBTQ
Acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and/or queer. In quotations and the formal names of organizations and events, other forms such as LGBTQIA and other variations are also acceptable with the other letters explained. I generally stands for intersex, and A can stand for allies (a person who is not LGBT but who actively supports the LGBT community), asexual (a person who doesn't experience sexual attraction) or both. The word queer can be considered a slur in many contexts, so limit use of the word to quotes and names of organizations, following rules for obscenities, profanities, vulgarities as appropriate. Note that sex, gender and sexual orientation are not synonymous.
911
Acceptable in all references for the U.S. emergency call number: He called 911 to report a crash. No hyphen in any use: a 911 call; a 911 call problem.
text, texting, texted
Acceptable in all usages as a verb for to send a text message.
homophobia, homophobic
Acceptable in broad references or in quotations to the concept of fear or hatred of gays, lesbians and bisexuals. The governor denounced homophobia. In individual cases, be specific about observable actions; avoid descriptions or language that assumes motives. The leaflets contained an anti-gay slur. The voters opposed same-sex marriage.
fracking
Acceptable with brief explanation. The energy industry uses the technique to extract oil and gas from rock by injecting high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals.
website
Also, webcam, webcast, webmaster, webpage, webfeed, the web.
self-
Always hyphenate: self-assured self-government self-defense
acting
Always lowercase, but capitalize any formal title that may follow before a name: acting Mayor Peter Barry.
job descriptions
Always lowercase.
former
Always lowercase. But retain capitalization for a formal title used immediately before a name: former President Bill Clinton.
dollars
Always lowercase. Use figures and the $ sign in all except casual references or amounts without a figure: The book cost $4. Dad, please give me a dollar. Dollars are flowing overseas. For specified amounts, the word takes a singular verb: He said $500,000 is what they want. For amounts of more than $1 million, use up to two decimal places. Do not link the numerals and the word by a hyphen: He is worth $4.35 million. He proposed a $300 billion budget. The form for amounts less than $1 million: $4, $25, $500, $1,000, $650,000.
upstate
Always lowercase: upstate New York.
dates
Always use Arabic figures, without st, nd, rd or th.
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.
distances
Always use figures: He walked 4 miles.
Indians
American Indian or Native American is acceptable for those in the U.S. Follow the person's preference. Where possible, be precise and use the name of the tribe: He is a Navajo commissioner. Such words as wampum, warpath, powwow, teepee, brave, squaw, etc., can be disparaging and offensive. In Alaska, the indigenous groups include Aleuts, Eskimos and Indians, collectively known as Alaska Natives. First Nation is the preferred term for native tribes in Canada. Indian is also used to describe the peoples and cultures of the South Asian nation of India.
equal
An adjective without comparative forms. When people speak of a more equal distribution of wealth, what is meant is more equitable.
smartphone
An advanced mobile phone, such as an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy phone, that can be used to check email, browse the web and launch applications.
all time, all-time
An all-time high, but the greatest runner of all time. Avoid the redundant phrase all-time record.
corporation
An entity that is treated as a person in the eyes of the law. It is able to own property, incur debts, sue and be sued. Abbreviate corporation as Corp. when a company or government agency uses the word at the end of its name: the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Spell out corporation when it occurs elsewhere in a name: the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Spell out and lowercase corporation whenever it stands alone. The form for possessives: Chevron Corp.'s profits.
epidemic, pandemic
An epidemic is the rapid spreading of disease in a certain population or region; a pandemic is an epidemic that has spread worldwide. Use sparingly; follow declarations of public health officials.
dot-com
An informal description of companies that do business mainly on the internet.
Wikipedia
An online encyclopedia whose entries are created and edited by its users, regardless of their expertise. May contain useful links but should not be used as a primary source of information. It is operated by the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, based in San Francisco.
youth
Applicable to boys and girls from age 13 until 18th birthday. Use man or woman for individuals 18 and older.
infant
Applicable to children through 12 months old.
boy
Applicable until 18th birthday is reached. Use man or young man afterward.
girl
Applicable until 18th birthday is reached. Use woman or young woman afterward.
jihad
Arabic noun used to refer to the Islamic concept of the struggle to do good. In particular situations, that can include holy war, the meaning extremist Muslims commonly use. Use jihadi and jihadis. Do not use jihadist.
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.
Northeast region
As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the nine-state region is broken into two divisions the New England states and the Middle Atlantic states. Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont are the New England states. New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania are classified as the Middle Atlantic states.
Midwest region
As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the region (previously designated the North Central region) is broken into two divisions. The East North Central states are Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The West North Central states are Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
last
Avoid the use of last as a synonym for latest if it might imply finality. The last time it rained, I forgot my umbrella, is acceptable. But: The last announcement was made at noon may leave the reader wondering whether the announcement was the final announcement, or whether others are to follow. The word last is not necessary to convey the notion of most recent when the name of a month or day is used: Preferred: It happened Wednesday. It happened in April. Correct, but redundant: It happened last Wednesday. But: It happened last week. It happened last month.
average, mean, median, norm
Average refers to the result obtained by dividing a sum by the number of quantities added together: The average of 7, 9, 17 is 33 divided by 3, or 11. Mean, in its sense used in arithmetic and statistics, is an average and is determined by adding the series of numbers and dividing the sum by the number of cases: The mean temperature of five days with temperatures of 67, 62, 68, 69, 64 is 66. Median is the middle number of points in a series arranged in order of size: The median grade in the group of 50, 55, 85, 88, 92 is 85. The average is 74. Norm implies a standard of average performance for a given group: The child was below the norm for his age in reading comprehension.
dangling modifiers
Avoid modifiers that do not refer clearly and logically to some word in the sentence. Dangling: Taking our seats, the game started. (Taking does not refer to the subject, game, nor to any other word in the sentence.) Correct: Taking our seats, we watched the opening of the game. (Taking refers to we, the subject of the sentence.)
local
Avoid the irrelevant use of the word. Irrelevant: The injured were taken to a local hospital. Better: The injured were taken to a hospital.
planning
Avoid the redundant future planning.
record
Avoid the redundant new record.
history
Avoid the redundant past history.
source
Avoid the term if possible. Be as specific as possible about the source of information. If space is limited, use source as a last resort. Official or a similar word will often suffice, including in headlines.
Third World
Avoid use of this term. Developing nations is more appropriate when referring to the economically developing nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Do not confuse with nonaligned, which is a political term.
cop
Be careful in the use of this colloquial term for police officer. It may be used in lighter stories and in casual, informal descriptions, but often is a derogatory term out of place in serious police stories.
injuries
Be precise in describing injuries. Instead of knee injury describe how a player hurt his or her left knee, right knee or both knees. Avoid medical jargon as much as possible and try to define injuries as simply as information allows without just parroting team or league language if vague.
prior to
Before is less stilted for most uses. Prior to is appropriate, however, when a notion of requirement is involved: The fee must be paid prior to the examination.
beside, besides
Beside means at the side of. Besides means in addition to.
biannual, biennial
Biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual. Biennial means every two years.
demolish, destroy
Both mean to do away with something completely. Something cannot be partially demolished or destroyed. It is redundant to say totally demolished or totally destroyed.
greater
Capitalize when used to define a community and its surrounding region: Greater Boston.
route numbers
Do not abbreviate route. Use figures and capitalize route when used with a figure: U.S. Route 70, state Route 1A.
out of bounds
But as a modifier: out-of-bounds. The ball went out of bounds. He took an out-of-bounds pass.
kindergarten, kindergartners
But pre-K, K-12.
Association
Do not abbreviate. Capitalize as part of a proper name: American Medical Association.
gods and goddesses
Capitalize God in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions. Capitalize all noun references to the deity: God the Father, Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, Allah, etc. Lowercase personal pronouns: he, him, thee, thou. Lowercase gods and goddesses in references to the deities of polytheistic religions. Lowercase god, gods and goddesses in references to false gods: He made money his god.
military titles
Capitalize a military rank when used as a formal title before an individual's name. See the lists that follow to determine whether the title should be spelled out or abbreviated in regular text. On first reference, use the appropriate title before the full name of a member of the military. In subsequent references, do not continue using the title before a name. Use only the last name. Spell out and lowercase a title when it is substituted for a name: Gen. John Jones is the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. The general endorsed the idea. In some cases, it may be necessary to explain the significance of a title: Army Sgt. Maj. John Jones described the attack. Jones, who holds the Army's highest rank for enlistees, said it was unprovoked. In addition to the ranks listed on the next page, each service has ratings such as machinist, radarman, torpedoman, etc., that are job descriptions. Do not use any of these designations as a title on first reference. If one is used before a name in a subsequent reference, do not capitalize or abbreviate it. ABBREVIATIONS: The abbreviations, with the highest ranks listed first: MILITARY TITLES Rank Usage before a name ARMY Commissioned Officers general Gen. lieutenant general Lt. Gen. major general Maj. Gen. brigadier general Brig. Gen. colonel Col. lieutenant colonel Lt. Col. major Maj. captain Capt. first lieutenant 1st Lt. second lieutenant 2nd Lt. Warrant Officers chief warrant officer five (CW5) Chief Warrant Officer 5 chief warrant officer four (CW4) Chief Warrant Officer 4 chief warrant officer three (CW3) Chief Warrant Officer 3 chief warrant officer two (CW2) Chief Warrant Officer 2 warrant officer (W01) Warrant Officer Enlisted Personnel sergeant major of the Army Sgt. Maj. of the Army command sergeant major Command Sgt. Maj. sergeant major Sgt. Maj. first sergeant 1st Sgt. master sergeant Master Sgt. sergeant first class Sgt. 1st Class staff sergeant Staff Sgt. sergeant Sgt. corporal Cpl. specialist Spc. private first class Pfc. private Pvt. NAVY, COAST GUARD Commissioned Officers admiral Adm. vice admiral Vice Adm. rear admiral upper half Rear Adm. rear admiral lower half Rear Adm. captain Capt. commander Cmdr. lieutenant commander Lt. Cmdr. lieutenant Lt. lieutenant junior grade Lt. j.g. ensign Ensign Warrant Officers chief warrant officer Chief Warrant Officer Enlisted Personnel master chief petty officer of the Navy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy master chief petty officer Master Chief Petty Officer senior chief petty officer Senior Chief Petty Officer chief petty officer Chief Petty Officer petty officer first class Petty Officer 1st Class petty officer second class Petty Officer 2nd Class petty officer third class Petty Officer 3rd Class seaman Seaman seaman apprentice Seaman Apprentice seaman recruit Seaman Recruit MARINE CORPS Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army. Warrant officer ratings follow the same system used in the Navy. There are no specialist ratings. Others sergeant major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps sergeant major Sgt. Maj. master gunnery sergeant Master Gunnery Sgt. first sergeant 1st Sgt. master sergeant Master Sgt. gunnery sergeant Gunnery Sgt. staff sergeant Staff Sgt. sergeant Sgt. corporal Cpl. lance corporal Lance Cpl. private first class Pfc. private Pvt. AIR FORCE Ranks and abbreviations for commissioned officers are the same as those in the Army. Enlisted Designations chief master sergeant of the Air Force Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force chief master sergeant Chief Master Sgt. senior master sergeant Senior Master Sgt. master sergeant Master Sgt. technical sergeant Tech. Sgt. staff sergeant Staff Sgt. senior airman Senior Airman airman first class Airman 1st Class airman Airman airman basic Airman PLURALS: Add s to the principal element in the title: Majs. John Jones and Robert Smith; Maj. Gens. John Jones and Robert Smith; Spcs. John Jones and Robert Smith. RETIRED OFFICERS: A military rank may be used in first reference before the name of an officer who has retired if it is relevant to a story. Do not, however, use the military abbreviation Ret. Instead, use retired just as former would be used before the title of a civilian: They invited retired Army Gen. John Smith. FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS: Use the abbreviations listed here when a military-style title is used before the name of a firefighter or police officer outside a direct quotation. Add police or fire before the title if needed for clarity: police Sgt. William Smith, fire Capt. David Jones. Spell out titles such as detective that are not used in the armed forces.
statehouse
Capitalize all references to a specific statehouse, with or without the name of the state: The Vermont Statehouse is in Montpelier. The governor will visit the Statehouse today. Lowercase plural uses: the Massachusetts and Rhode Island statehouses.
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.
governor
Capitalize and abbreviate as Gov. or Govs. when used as a formal title before one or more names.
lieutenant governor
Capitalize and abbreviate as Lt. Gov. or Lt. Govs. when used as a formal title before one or more names both inside and outside quotations. Lowercase and spell out in all other uses.
secretary of state
Capitalize as a formal title before a name.
valley
Capitalize as part of a full name: the Mississippi Valley. Lowercase in plural uses: the Missouri and Mississippi valleys.
mountains
Capitalize as part of a proper name: Appalachian Mountains, Ozark Mountains, Rocky Mountains. Or simply: the Appalachians, the Ozarks, the Rockies.
lake
Capitalize as part of a proper name: Lake Erie, Canandaigua Lake, the Finger Lakes. Lowercase in plural uses: lakes Erie and Ontario; Canandaigua and Seneca lakes.
war
Capitalize as part of the name of a specific conflict: the Afghanistan War, the Iraq War, the Civil War, the Cold War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the War of 1812, World War I, World War II, the Gulf War.
executive director
Capitalize before a name only if it is a formal corporate or organizational title.
secretary
Capitalize before a name only if it is an official corporate or organizational title. Do not abbreviate.
point
Do not abbreviate. Capitalize as part of a proper name: Point Pleasant.
judge
Capitalize before a name when it is the formal title for an individual who presides in a court of law. Do not continue to use the title in second reference. Do not use court as part of the title unless confusion would result without it: No court in the title: U.S. District Judge John Bates, District Judge John Bates, federal Judge John Bates, Judge John Bates, U.S. Circuit Judge Priscilla Owen, appellate Judge Priscilla Owen. Court needed in the title: Juvenile Court Judge John Jones, Criminal Court Judge John Jones, Superior Court Judge Robert Harrison, state Supreme Court Judge William Cushing. When the formal title chief judge is relevant, put the court name after the judge's name: Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.; Chief Judge Karen J. Williams of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Do not pile up long court names before the name of a judge. Make it Judge John Smith of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Not: Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge John Smith. Lowercase judge as an occupational designation in phrases such as contest judge Simon Cowell.
prosecutor
Capitalize before a name when it is the formal title. In most cases, however, the formal title is a term such as attorney general, state's attorney or U.S. attorney. If so, use the formal title on first reference. Lowercase prosecutor if used before a name on a subsequent reference, generally to help the reader distinguish between prosecutor and defense attorney without having to look back to the start of the story.
justice
Capitalize before a name when it is the formal title. It is the formal title for members of the U.S. Supreme Court and for jurists on some state courts. In such cases, do not use judge in first or subsequent references.
political parties and philosophies
Capitalize both the name of the party and the word party if it is customarily used as part of the organization's proper name: the Democratic Party, the Republican Party. Include the political affiliation of any elected officeholder. Capitalize Communist, Conservative, Democrat, Liberal, Republican, Socialist, etc., when they refer to a specific party or its members. Lowercase these words when they refer to political philosophy (see examples below). Lowercase the name of a philosophy in noun and adjective forms unless it is the derivative of a proper name: communism, communist; fascism, fascist. But: Marxism, Marxist; Nazism, Nazi. EXAMPLES: John Adams was a Federalist, but a man who subscribed to his philosophy today would be described as a federalist. The liberal Republican senator and his Conservative Party colleague said they believe that democracy and communism are incompatible. The Communist said he is basically a socialist who has reservations about Marxism. Generally, a description of specific political views is more informative than a generic label like liberal or conservative.
highway patrol
Capitalize if used in the formal name of a police agency: the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Highway Patrol. Lowercase highway patrolman in all uses
office
Capitalize office when it is part of an agency's formal name: Office of Management and Budget. Lowercase all other uses, including phrases such as: the office of the attorney general, the U.S. attorney's office.
general manager
Capitalize only as a formal title before a name: corporate General Manager Jim Smith. Lowercase as a job description for sports teams: Giants general manager Jerry Reese.
stadium, stadiums
Capitalize only when part of a proper name: Dodger Stadium.
king
Capitalize only when used before the name of royalty: Queen Elizabeth II, King Felipe VI. In subsequent references, use only the given name: Elizabeth, Felipe. Lowercase king and queen when they stand alone: The queen's birthday is Monday. Capitalize in plural uses before names: Kings George and Edward. Lowercase in phrases such as strikeout king Nolan Ryan.
vice president
Capitalize or lowercase following the same rules that apply to president.
president
Capitalize president only as a formal title before one or more names: President Donald Trump, former Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter. Lowercase in all other uses: The president said Monday he will look into the matter. He is running for president. Lincoln was president during the Civil War. See titles. FULL NAMES: Use the first and family name on first reference to a current or former U.S. president or the president-elect: former President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, President-elect Donald Trump. On subsequent references, use only the last name. For presidents of other nations and of organizations and institutions, capitalize president as a formal title before a full name: President Francois Hollande of France, President John Smith of Acme Corp. On second reference, use only the last name.
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.
hands off, hands-off
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: He kept his hands off the matter. He follows a hands-off policy.
time zones
Capitalize the full name of the time in force within a particular zone: Eastern Standard Time, Eastern Daylight Time, Central Standard Time, etc. Lowercase all but the region in short forms: the Eastern time zone, Eastern time, Mountain time, etc. See time of day for guidelines on when to use clock time in a story. Spell out time zone in references not accompanied by a clock reading: Chicago is in the Central time zone. The abbreviations EST, CDT, etc., are acceptable on first reference for zones used within the continental United States, Canada and Mexico only if the abbreviation is linked with a clock reading: noon EST, 9 a.m. PST. (Do not set off the abbreviations with commas.) Spell out all references to time zones not used within the contiguous United States: When it is noon EDT, it is 1 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time and 8 a.m. Alaska Standard Time. One exception to the spelled-out form: Greenwich Mean Time may be abbreviated as GMT on second reference if used with a clock reading. See GMT.
organizations and institutions
Capitalize the full names of organizations and institutions: the American Medical Association; First Presbyterian Church; General Motors Co.; Harvard University, Harvard University Medical School; the Procrastinators Club; the Society of Professional Journalists. Retain capitalization if Co., Corp. or a similar word is deleted from the full proper name: General Motors. See company, companies; corporation; and incorporated. SUBSIDIARIES: Capitalize the names of major subdivisions: the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors. INTERNAL ELEMENTS: Use lowercase for internal elements of an organization when they have names that are widely used generic terms: the board of directors of General Motors, the board of trustees of Columbia University, the history department of Harvard University, the sports department of the Daily Citizen-Leader. Capitalize internal elements of an organization when they have names that are not widely used generic terms: the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association, the House of Bishops and House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church. FLIP-FLOPPED NAMES: Retain capital letters when commonly accepted practice flops a name to delete the word of: Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Dental School. Do not, however, flop formal names that are known to the public with the word of: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, not Massachusetts Technology Institute. ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS: Some organizations and institutions are widely recognized by their abbreviations: GOP, NAACP, NATO. For guidelines on when such abbreviations may be used, see the individual listings and the entries under abbreviations and acronyms and second reference.
court names
Capitalize the full proper names of courts at all levels. Retain capitalization if U.S. or a state name is dropped: the U.S. Supreme Court, the Supreme Court, the state Superior Court, the Superior Court, Superior Court. For courts identified by a numeral: 2nd District Court, 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
newspaper names
Capitalize the in a newspaper's name if that is the way the publication prefers to be known. Do not place name in quotes. Lowercase the before newspaper names if a story mentions several papers, some of which use the as part of the name and some of which do not. It is unnecessary to provide state identification for a newspaper cited in the body of a story if the newspaper is in the same state as the dateline. For example, a story datelined Newport, R.I., would reference the Providence Journal, not the Providence (Rhode Island) Journal. However, the state should be included and spelled out in the body of undated stories or stories datelined in other states. Where location is needed but is not part of the official name, use parentheses: The Huntsville (Alabama) Times.
magazine names
Capitalize the initial letters of the name but do not place it in quotes. Lowercase magazine unless it is part of the publication's formal title: Harper's Magazine, Newsweek magazine, Time magazine. Check the masthead if in doubt.
months
Capitalize the names of months in all uses. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out when using alone, or with a year alone. When a phrase lists only a month and a year, do not separate the year with commas. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with commas. EXAMPLES: January 2016 was a cold month. Jan. 2 was the coldest day of the month. His birthday is May 8. Feb. 14, 2013, was the target date. She testified that it was Friday, Dec. 3, when the crash occurred. In tabular material, use these three-letter forms without a period: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
historical periods and events
Capitalize the names of widely recognized epochs in anthropology, archaeology, geology and history: the Bronze Age, the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Pliocene Epoch. Capitalize also widely recognized popular names for the periods and events: the Atomic Age, the Boston Tea Party, the Civil War, the Exodus (of the Israelites from Egypt), the Great Depression, Prohibition. Lowercase century: the 18th century. Capitalize only the proper nouns or adjectives in general descriptions of a period: ancient Greece, classical Rome, the Victorian era, the fall of Rome. For additional guidance, see separate entries in this book for other epochs, events and historical periods. If this book has no entry, follow the capitalization in Webster's New World College Dictionary, using lowercase if the dictionary lists it as an acceptable form for the sense in which the word is used.
languages
Capitalize the proper names of languages and dialects: Aramaic, Cajun, English, Gullah, Persian, Serbo-Croatian, Yiddish.
nationalities and races
Capitalize the proper names of nationalities, peoples, races, tribes, etc.: Arab, Arabic, African, American, Caucasian, Cherokee, Chinese (both singular and plural), Eskimo (plural Eskimos) or Inuit, French Canadian, Japanese (singular and plural), Jew, Jewish, Nordic, Sioux, Swede, etc. See race for guidelines on when racial identification is pertinent in a story. Do not use a derogatory term except in extremely rare circumstances when it is crucial to the story or the understanding of a news event. Flag the contents in an editor's note.
days of the week
Capitalize them. Do not abbreviate, except when needed in a tabular format: Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat (three letters, without periods, to facilitate tabular composition).
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.
holidays and holy days
Capitalize them: New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Groundhog Day, Easter, Hanukkah, etc. The federal legal holidays are New Year's, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. See individual entries for the official dates and when they are observed if they fall on a weekend. The designation of a day as a federal legal holiday means that federal employees receive the day off or are paid overtime if they must work. Other requirements that may apply to holidays generally are left to the states. Many follow the federal lead in designating a holiday, but they are not required to do so.
county
Capitalize when an integral part of a proper name: Dade County, Nassau County, Suffolk County. Capitalize the full names of county governmental units: the Dade County Commission, the Orange County Department of Social Services, the Suffolk County Legislature. Retain capitalization for the name of a county body if the proper noun is not needed in the context; lowercase the word county if it is used to distinguish an agency from state or federal counterparts: the Board of Supervisors, the county Board of Supervisors; the Department of Social Services, the county Department of Social Services. Lowercase the board, the department, etc. whenever they stand alone. Capitalize county if it is an integral part of a specific body's name even without the proper noun: the County Commission, the County Legislature. Lowercase the commission, the legislature, etc. when not preceded by the word county. Capitalize as part of a formal title before a name: County Manager John Smith. Lowercase when it is not part of the formal title: county Health Commissioner Frank Jones. Avoid county of phrases where possible, but when necessary, always lowercase: the county of Westchester. Lowercase plural combinations: Westchester and Rockland counties. Apply the same rules to similar terms such as parish.
revolution
Capitalize when part of a name for a specific historical event: the American Revolution, the Bolshevik Revolution, the French Revolution. The Revolution, capitalized, also may be used as a shorthand reference to the American Revolution. Also: the Revolutionary War. Lowercase in other uses: a revolution, the revolution, the American and French revolutions.
school
Capitalize when part of a proper name: Public School 3, Madison Elementary School, Doherty Junior High School, Crocker High School.
legislature
Capitalize when preceded by the name of a state: the Kansas Legislature. Retain capitalization when the state name is dropped but the reference is specifically to that state's legislature: TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Both houses of the Legislature adjourned today. Capitalize legislature in subsequent specific references and in such constructions as: the 100th Legislature, the state Legislature. If a given context or local practice calls for the use of a formal name such as Missouri General Assembly, retain the capital letters if the name of the state can be dropped, but lowercase the word assembly if it stands alone. Lowercase legislature if a story uses it in a subsequent reference to a body identified as a general assembly. Lowercase legislature when used generically: No legislature has approved the amendment. Use legislature in lowercase for all plural references: The Arkansas and Colorado legislatures are considering the amendment. In 49 states the separate bodies are a senate and a house or assembly. The Nebraska Legislature is a unicameral body. All members are senators.
Reserve
Capitalize when referring to U.S. armed forces, as in Army Reserve. Lowercase in reference to members of these backup forces: reserves, or reservists.
navy
Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Navy, the Navy, Navy policy. Do not use the abbreviation USN. Lowercase when referring to the naval forces of other nations: the British navy. This approach has been adopted for consistency, because many foreign nations do not use navy as the proper name.
National Guard
Capitalize when referring to U.S. or state-level forces, or foreign forces when that is the formal name: the National Guard, the Guard, the Iowa National Guard, Iowa's National Guard, National Guard troops, the Iraqi National Guard. On second reference, the guard. When referring to an individual in a National Guard unit, use National Guardsman: He is a National Guardsman. Lowercase guardsman when it stands alone.
House of Representatives
Capitalize when referring to a specific governmental body: the U.S. House of Representatives, the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Capitalize shortened references that delete the words of Representatives: the U.S. House, the Massachusetts House. Retain capitalization if U.S. or the name of a state is dropped but the reference is to a specific body. BOSTON (AP) The House has adjourned for the year. Lowercase plural uses: the Massachusetts and Rhode Island houses. Apply the same principle to similar legislative bodies such as the Virginia House of Delegates.
sheriff
Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name.
manager
Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name: City Manager Dick O'Connell. Do not capitalize in job descriptions, including sports teams: Mets manager Terry Collins.
dean
Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name: Dean John Jones, Deans John Jones and Susan Smith. Lowercase in other uses: John Jones, dean of the college; the dean.
district attorney
Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name: District Attorney Hamilton Burger. DA acceptable on second reference.
pope
Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name; lowercase in all other uses: Pope Francis spoke to the crowd. At the close of his address, the pope gave his blessing. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI or Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus. Benedict alone on second reference. Use St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII on first reference for the canonized popes. On second reference John Paul and John. Make clear in the body of a story they were popes.
courthouse
Capitalize with the name of a jurisdiction: the Cook County Courthouse, the U.S. Courthouse. Lowercase in other uses: the county courthouse, the courthouse, the federal courthouse. Court House (two words) is used in the proper names of some communities: Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
supreme courts of the states
Capitalize with the state name (the New Jersey Supreme Court) and without the state name when the context makes it unnecessary: the state Supreme Court, the Supreme Court. If a court with this name is not a state's highest tribunal, the fact should be noted. In New York, for example, the Supreme Court is a trial court. Appeals are directed to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. The state's highest court is the Court of Appeals.
cement
Cement is the powder mixed with water and sand or gravel to make concrete. The proper term is concrete (not cement) pavement, blocks, driveways, etc.
damage, damages
Damage is destruction or loss: Authorities said the storm caused more than $1 billion in damage. Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc.: The woman received $25,000 in damages.
disinterested, uninterested
Disinterested means impartial, which is usually the better word to convey the thought. Uninterested means that someone lacks interest.
fort
Do not abbreviate for cities or for military installations. In datelines for cities: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - In datelines for military installations: FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) -
assistant
Do not abbreviate. Capitalize only when part of a formal title before a name: Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher. Whenever practical, however, an appositional construction should be used: Richard Boucher, assistant secretary of state.
committee
Do not abbreviate. Capitalize when part of a formal name: the House Appropriations Committee. Do not capitalize committee in shortened versions of long committee names: The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, for example, became the Senate banking committee.
superintendent
Do not abbreviate. Capitalize when used as a formal title before a name.
diseases
Do not capitalize arthritis, emphysema, leukemia, pneumonia, etc. When a disease is known by the name of a person or geographical area identified with it, capitalize only the proper noun element: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Ebola virus, etc. Avoid such expressions as: He is battling cancer. She is a stroke victim. Use neutral, precise descriptions: He has stomach cancer. She is a stroke patient.
primary
Do not capitalize: the New Hampshire primary, the Democratic primary, the primary.
mental illness
Do not describe an individual as mentally ill unless it is clearly pertinent to a story and the diagnosis is properly sourced. When used, identify the source for the diagnosis. Seek firsthand knowledge; ask how the source knows. Don't rely on hearsay or speculate on a diagnosis. Specify the time frame for the diagnosis and ask about treatment. A person's condition can change over time, so a diagnosis of mental illness might not apply anymore. Avoid anonymous sources. On-the-record sources may be family members, mental health professionals, medical authorities, law enforcement officials or court records. Be sure they have accurate information to make the diagnosis. Provide examples of symptoms. Mental illness is a general term. Specific conditions are disorders and should be used whenever possible: He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to court documents. She was diagnosed with anorexia, according to her parents. He was treated for depression. Some common mental disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (they are lowercase): Autism spectrum disorder. Many experts consider autism a developmental disorder, not a mental illness. Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) Depression Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Schizophrenia Here is a link from the NIMH that can be used as a reference: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ Do not use derogatory terms, such as insane, crazy/crazed, nuts or deranged, unless they are part of a quotation that is essential to the story. Do not assume that mental illness is a factor in a violent crime, and avoid unsubstantiated statements by witnesses or first responders attributing violence to mental illness. Studies have shown that the vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and experts say most people who are violent are not mentally ill. Nevertheless, a first responder often is quoted as saying, without direct knowledge, that a crime was committed by a person with a "history of mental illness." If used, such comments must be attributed to law enforcement authorities, medical professionals, family members or others who have knowledge of the history and can authoritatively speak to its relevance. In the absence of definitive information, there should be a disclaimer that a link had yet to be established. Avoid descriptions that connote pity, such as afflicted with, suffers from or victim of. Rather, he has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Double-check specific symptoms and diagnoses. Avoid interpreting behavior common to many people as symptoms of mental illness. Sadness, anger, exuberance and the occasional desire to be alone are normal emotions experienced by people who have mental illness as well as those who don't. When practical, let people with mental disorders talk about their own diagnoses. Avoid using mental health terms to describe non-health issues. Don't say that an awards show, for example, was schizophrenic. Use the term mental or psychiatric hospital, not asylum.
-like
Do not precede this suffix by a hyphen unless the letter l would be tripled or the main element is a proper noun: bill-like Norwalk-like businesslike shell-like An exception is flu-like.
his, her
Do not presume maleness in constructing a sentence. Usually it is possible, and always preferable, to reword the sentence to avoid gender: Reporters try to protect their sources. If essential, the pronoun they may be used as a singular, with a plural verb: The Obama administration told public schools to grant bathroom access even if a student's gender identity isn't what's in their record. The official said they are afraid for their safety. Be sure the context makes clear that only one person is involved.
noon
Do not put a 12 in front of it.
midnight
Do not put a 12 in front of it. It is part of the day that is ending, not the one that is beginning.
illegitimate
Do not refer to the child of unmarried parents as illegitimate. If it is pertinent to the story at all, use an expression such as whose parents were not married.
-ly
Do not use a hyphen between adverbs ending in -ly and adjectives they modify: an easily remembered rule, a badly damaged island, a fully informed woman.
lady
Do not use as a synonym for woman. Lady may be used when it is a courtesy title or when a specific reference to fine manners is appropriate without patronizing overtones.
ghetto, ghettos
Do not use indiscriminately as a synonym for the sections of cities inhabited by minorities or the poor. Ghetto has a connotation that government decree has forced people to live in a certain area. In most cases, section, district, slum area or quarter is the more accurate word.
late
Do not use it to describe someone's actions while alive. Wrong: Only the late senator opposed this bill. (The senator was not dead at that time.)
OK, OK'd, OK'ing, OKs
Do not use okay.
on
Do not use on before a date or day of the week when its absence would not lead to confusion, except at the beginning of a sentence: The meeting will be held Monday. He will be inaugurated Jan. 20. On Sept. 3, the committee will meet to discuss the issue. Use on to avoid an awkward juxtaposition of a date and a proper name: John met Mary on Monday. He told Obama on Thursday that the bill was doomed. Use on also to avoid any suggestion that a date is the object of a transitive verb: The House killed on Tuesday a bid to raise taxes. The Senate postponed on Wednesday its consideration of a bill to reduce import duties.
plead, pleaded, pleading
Do not use the colloquial past tense form, pled.
prison, jail
Do not use the two words interchangeably. DEFINITIONS: Prison is a generic term that may be applied to the maximum security institutions often known as penitentiaries and to the medium security facilities often called correctional institutions or reformatories. All such facilities usually confine people serving sentences for felonies. A jail is normally used to confine people serving sentences for misdemeanors, people awaiting trial or sentencing on either felony or misdemeanor charges, and people confined for civil matters such as failure to pay alimony and other types of contempt of court. See felony, misdemeanor. The guidelines for capitalization: PRISONS: Many states have given elaborate formal names to their prisons. They should be capitalized when used, but commonly accepted substitutes should also be capitalized as if they were proper names. For example, use either Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Walpole or Walpole State Prison for the maximum security institution in Massachusetts. Do not, however, construct a substitute when the formal name is commonly accepted: It is the Colorado State Penitentiary, for example, not Colorado State Prison. On second reference, any of the following may be used, all in lowercase: the state prison, the prison, the state penitentiary, the penitentiary. Use lowercase for all plural constructions: the Colorado and Kansas state penitentiaries. JAILS: Capitalize jail when linked with the name of the jurisdiction: Los Angeles County Jail. Lowercase county jail, city jail and jail when they stand alone. FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS: Maximum security institutions are known as penitentiaries: the U.S. Penitentiary at Lewisburg or Lewisburg Penitentiary on first reference; the federal penitentiary or the penitentiary on second reference. Medium security institutions include the word federal as part of their formal names: the Federal Correctional Institution at Danbury, Connecticut. On second reference: the correctional institution, the federal prison, the prison. Most federal facilities used to house people awaiting trial or serving sentences of a year or less have the proper name Federal Detention Center. The term Metropolitan Correctional Center is being adopted for some new installations. On second reference: the detention center, the correctional center.
full time, full-time
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: He works full time. She has a full-time job.
obscenities, profanities, vulgarities
Do not use them in stories unless they are part of direct quotations and there is a compelling reason for them. Try to find a way to give the reader a sense of what was said without using the specific word or phrase. For example, an anti-gay or sexist slur. If a profanity, obscenity or vulgarity must be used, flag the story at the top for editors, being specific about what the issue is: Eds: Note use of vulgarity "f---" [or "s---"] in story. However, online readers receiving direct feeds of the stories will not see that warning, so consider whether the word in question truly needs to be in the story at all. When possible, confine the offending language, in quotation marks, to a separate paragraph that can be deleted easily by editors. In reporting profanity that normally would use the words d*mn or god, lowercase god and use the following forms: d*mn, d*mn it, godd*mn it. If the obscenity involved is particularly offensive but the story requires making clear what the word was, replace the letters of the offensive word with hyphens, using only an initial letter: f---, s---. In some stories or scripts, it may be better to replace the offensive word with a generic descriptive in parentheses, e.g., (vulgarity) or (obscenity). When the subject matter of a story may be considered offensive or disturbing, but the story does not contain quoted profanity, obscenities or vulgarities, flag the story at the top: Eds: Graphic details of the killings could be offensive or disturbing to some readers. (quizlet note: AP style allows the printing of the word "d*mn," but quizlet automatically censors this. just refer to the stylebook so you can see the actual, uncensored rule)
N-word
Do not use this term or the racial slur it refers to, except in extremely rare circumstances when it is crucial to the story or the understanding of a news event. Flag the contents in an editor's note.
death, die
Don't use euphemisms like passed on or passed away except in a direct quote.
Xmas
Don't use this abbreviation for Christmas.
drunk, drunken
Drunk is the spelling of the adjective used after a form of the verb to be: He was drunk. Drunken is the spelling of the adjective used before nouns: a drunken driver, drunken driving. DUI, driving under the influence; DWI, driving while intoxicated; follow official state usage.
well
Hyphenate as part of a compound modifier: She is a well-dressed woman. He is well-fed.
man, mankind
Either may be used when both men and women are involved and no other term is convenient. In these cases, do not use duplicate phrases such as a man or a woman or mankind and womankind. Frequently the best choice is a substitute such as humanity, a person or an individual.
illegal
Except in sports and game contexts, use illegal only to mean a violation of the law. Be especially careful in labor-management disputes, where one side often calls an action by the other side illegal. Usually it is a charge that a contract or rule, not a law, has been violated.
legislative titles
FIRST-REFERENCE FORM: Use Rep., Reps., Sen. and Sens. as formal titles before one or more names. Spell out and lowercase representative and senator in other uses. Spell out other legislative titles in all uses. Capitalize formal titles such as assemblyman, assemblywoman, city councilor, delegate, etc., when they are used before a name. Lowercase in other uses. Add U.S. or state before a title only if necessary to avoid confusion: Former state attorney general Dan Sullivan, a Republican, defeated U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat from Alaska, during the 2014 general election. In stories with international datelines, include U.S. before legislative titles. FIRST-REFERENCE PRACTICE: The use of a title such as Rep. or Sen. in first reference is normal in most stories. It is not mandatory, however, provided an individual's title is given later in the story. Deletion of the title on first reference is frequently appropriate, for example, when an individual has become well known: Barack Obama declared Americans were ready to "cast aside cynicism" as he looked for a convincing win in the Democratic contest. The Illinois senator was leading in the polls. SECOND REFERENCE: Do not use legislative titles before a name on second reference unless they are part of a direct quotation. CONGRESSMAN, CONGRESSWOMAN: Rep. and U.S. Rep. are the preferred first-reference forms when a formal title is used before the name of a U.S. House member. The words congressman or congresswoman, in lowercase, may be used in subsequent references that do not use an individual's name, just as senator is used in references to members of the Senate. Congressman and congresswoman should appear as capitalized formal titles before a name only in direct quotation. ORGANIZATIONAL TITLES: Capitalize titles for formal, organizational offices within a legislative body when they are used before a name: House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, President Pro Tem Orrin Hatch, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley.
farther, further
Farther refers to physical distance: He walked farther into the woods. Further refers to an extension of time or degree: She will look further into the mystery.
flier, flyer
Flyer is the preferred term for a person flying in an aircraft, and for handbills: He used his frequent flyer miles; they put up flyers announcing the show. Use flier in the phrase take a flier, meaning to take a big risk.
over-
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. A hyphen seldom is used. Some frequently used words: overbuy overrate overexert override See the overall entry.
off-, -off
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some commonly used combinations with a hyphen: off-color off-white off-peak send-off Some combinations without a hyphen: cutoff offside liftoff offstage offhand playoff offset standoff offshore takeoff
-up
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some frequently used words (all are nouns, some also are used as adjectives): breakup makeup call-up mix-up change-up mock-up checkup pileup cleanup pushup close-up roundup cover-up runners-up crackup setup follow-up shake-up frame-up shape-up grown-up smashup hang-up speedup holdup tie-up letup walk-up lineup windup Use two words when any of these occurs as a verb. See suffixes.
-over
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some frequently used words (all are nouns, some also are used as adjectives): carry-over stopover holdover walkover takeover Use two words when any of these occurs as a verb.
half-
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some frequently used words without a hyphen: halfback halftone halfhearted halftrack Also: halftime, in keeping with widespread practice in sports copy. Some frequently used combinations that are two words without a hyphen: half brother half size half dollar Some frequently used combinations that include a hyphen: half-baked half-life half-blood half-moon half-cocked half-truth half-hour
out-
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some frequently used words: outargue outpost outbox output outdated outscore outfield outstrip outfox outtalk outpatient (n., adj.)
great-
Hyphenate great-grandfather, great-great-grandmother, etc. Use great grandfather only if the intended meaning is that the grandfather was a great man.
post-
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate if not listed there. Some words without a hyphen: postdate postnuptial postdoctoral postoperative postelection postscript postgame postwar postgraduate Some words that use a hyphen: post-bellum post-convention post-mortem
-out
Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Hyphenate nouns and adjectives not listed there. Some frequently used words (all nouns): cop-out hideout fade-out pullout fallout walkout flameout washout Two words for verbs: fade out walk out hide out wash out pull out
plurals
Follow these guidelines in forming and using plural words: MOST WORDS: Add s: boys, girls, ships, villages. WORDS ENDING IN CH, S, SH, SS, X AND Z: Add es: churches, lenses, parishes, glasses, boxes, buzzes. (Monarchs is an exception.) WORDS ENDING IN IS: Change is to es: oases, parentheses, theses. WORDS ENDING IN Y: If y is preceded by a consonant or qu, change y to i and add es: armies, cities, navies, soliloquies. (See PROPER NAMES below for an exception.) Otherwise add s: donkeys, monkeys. WORDS ENDING IN O: If o is preceded by a consonant, most plurals require es: buffaloes, dominoes, echoes, heroes, potatoes. But there are exceptions: pianos. See individual entries in this book for many of these exceptions. WORDS ENDINGS IN F: In general, change f to v and add es: leaves, selves. (Roof, roofs is an exception.) LATIN ENDINGS: Latin-root words ending in us change us to i: alumnus, alumni. (Words that have taken on English endings by common usage are exceptions: prospectuses, syllabuses.) Most ending in a change to ae: alumna, alumnae (formula, formulas is an exception). Most ending in um add s: memorandums, referendums, stadiums. Among those that still use the Latin ending: addenda, curricula, media. Use the plural that Webster's New World College Dictionary lists as most common for a particular sense of word. FORM CHANGE: man, men; child, children; foot, feet; mouse, mice; etc. Caution: When s is used with any of these words it indicates possession and must be preceded by an apostrophe: men's, children's, etc. WORDS THE SAME IN SINGULAR AND PLURAL: corps, chassis, deer, moose, sheep, etc. The sense in a particular sentence is conveyed by the use of a singular or plural verb. WORDS PLURAL IN FORM, SINGULAR IN MEANING: Some take singular verbs: measles, mumps, news. Others take plural verbs: grits, scissors. COMPOUND WORDS: Those written solid add s at the end: cupfuls, handfuls, tablespoonfuls. For those that involve separate words or words linked by a hyphen, make the most significant word plural: Significant word first: adjutants general, aides-de-camp, attorneys general, courts-martial, daughters-in-law, passers-by, postmasters general, presidents-elect, secretaries-general, sergeants major. Significant word in the middle: assistant attorneys general, deputy chiefs of staff. Significant word last: assistant attorneys, assistant corporation counsels, deputy sheriffs, lieutenant colonels, major generals. WORDS AS WORDS: Do not use 's: His speech had too many "ifs," "ands" and "buts." PROPER NAMES: Most ending in es or s or z add es: Charleses, Joneses, Gonzalezes. Most ending in y add s even if preceded by a consonant: the Duffys, the Kennedys, the two Kansas Citys. Exceptions include Alleghenies and Rockies. For others, add s: the Carters, the McCoys, the Mondales. FIGURES: Add s: The custom began in the 1920s. The airline has two 727s. Temperatures will be in the low 20s. There were five size 7s. (No apostrophes, an exception to Webster's New World College Dictionary guideline under "apostrophe.") SINGLE LETTERS: Use 's: Mind your p's and q's. He learned the three R's and brought home a report card with four A's and two B's. The Oakland A's won the pennant. MULTIPLE LETTERS: Add s: She knows her ABCs. I gave him five IOUs. Four VIPs were there. PROBLEMS, DOUBTS: Separate entries in this book give plurals for troublesome words and guidance on whether certain words should be used with singular or plural verbs and pronouns. See also collective nouns and possessives. For questions not covered by this book, use the plural that Webster's New World College Dictionary lists as most common for a particular sense of a word.
governmental bodies
Follow these guidelines: FULL NAME: Capitalize the full proper names of governmental agencies, departments and offices: The U.S. Department of State, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the Boston City Council, the Chicago Fire Department. WITHOUT JURISDICTION: Retain capitalization in referring to a specific body if the dateline or context makes the name of the nation, state, county, city, etc. unnecessary: The Department of State (in a story from Washington), the Department of Human Resources or the state Department of Human Resources (in a story from Georgia), the City Council (in a story from Boston), the Fire Department or the city Fire Department (in a story from Chicago). Lowercase further condensations of the name: the department, the council, etc. For additional guidance see assembly; city council; committee; Congress; legislature; House of Representatives; Senate; Supreme Court of the United States; and supreme courts of the states. FLIP-FLOPPED NAMES: Retain capital names for the name of a governmental body if its formal name is flopped to delete the word of: the State Department, the Human Resources Department. GENERIC EQUIVALENTS: If a generic term has become the equivalent of a proper name in popular use, treat it as a proper name: Walpole State Prison, for example, even though the proper name is the Massachusetts Correctional Institute-Walpole. For additional examples, see legislature; police department; and prison, jail. PLURALS, NONSPECIFIC REFERENCES: All words that are capitalized when part of a proper name should be lowercased when they are used in the plural or do not refer to a specific, existing body. Some examples: All states except Nebraska have a state senate. The town does not have a fire department. The bill requires city councils to provide matching funds. The president will address the lower houses of the New York and New Jersey legislatures. NON-U.S. BODIES: The same principles apply. Capitalize the names of the specific governmental agencies and departments, either with the name of the nation or without it if clear in the context: French Foreign Ministry, the Foreign Ministry. Lowercase the ministry or a similar term when standing alone.
possessives
Follow these guidelines: PLURAL NOUNS NOT ENDING IN S: Add 's: the alumni's contributions, women's rights. PLURAL NOUNS ENDING IN S: Add only an apostrophe: the churches' needs, the girls' toys, the horses' food, the ships' wake, states' rights, the VIPs' entrance. NOUNS PLURAL IN FORM, SINGULAR IN MEANING: Add only an apostrophe: mathematics' rules, measles' effects. (But see INANIMATE OBJECTS below.) Apply the same principle when a plural word occurs in the formal name of a singular entity: General Motors' profits, the United States' wealth. NOUNS THE SAME IN SINGULAR AND PLURAL: Treat them the same as plurals, even if the meaning is singular: one corps' location, the two deer's tracks, the lone moose's antlers. SINGULAR NOUNS NOT ENDING IN S: Add 's: the church's needs, the girl's toys, the horse's food, the ship's route, the VIP's seat. Some style guides say that singular nouns ending in s sounds such as ce, x, and z may take either the apostrophe alone or 's. See SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS, but otherwise, for consistency and ease in remembering a rule, always use 's if the word does not end in the letter s: Butz's policies, the fox's den, the justice's verdict, Marx's theories, the prince's life, Xerox's profits. SINGULAR COMMON NOUNS ENDING IN S: Add 's: the hostess's invitation, the hostess's seat; the witness's answer, the witness's story. (A change from previous guidance calling for just an apostrophe if the next word begins with s.) SINGULAR PROPER NAMES ENDING IN S: Use only an apostrophe: Achilles' heel, Agnes' book, Ceres' rites, Descartes' theories, Dickens' novels, Euripides' dramas, Hercules' labors, Jesus' life, Jules' seat, Kansas' schools, Moses' law, Socrates' life, Tennessee Williams' plays, Xerxes' armies. SPECIAL EXPRESSIONS: The following exceptions to the general rule for words not ending in s apply to words that end in an s sound and are followed by a word that begins with s: for appearance' sake, for conscience' sake, for goodness' sake. Use 's otherwise: the appearance's cost, my conscience's voice. PRONOUNS: Personal interrogative and relative pronouns have separate forms for the possessive. None involve an apostrophe: mine, ours, your, yours, his, hers, its, theirs, whose. Caution: If you are using an apostrophe with a pronoun, always double-check to be sure that the meaning calls for a contraction: you're, it's, there's, who's. Follow the rules listed above in forming the possessives of other pronouns: another's idea, others' plans, someone's guess. COMPOUND WORDS: Applying the rules above, add an apostrophe or 's to the word closest to the object possessed: the major general's decision, the major generals' decisions, the attorney general's request, the attorneys general's request. See the plurals entry for guidelines on forming the plurals of these words. Also: anyone else's attitude, John Adams Jr.'s father, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania's motion. Whenever practical, however, recast the phrase to avoid ambiguity: the motion by Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania. JOINT POSSESSION, INDIVIDUAL POSSESSION: Use a possessive form after only the last word if ownership is joint: Fred and Sylvia's apartment, Fred and Sylvia's stocks. Use a possessive form after both words if the objects are individually owned: Fred's and Sylvia's books. DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES: Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense: citizens band radio, a Cincinnati Reds infielder, a teachers college, a Teamsters request, a writers guide. Memory aid: The apostrophe usually is not used if for or by rather than of would be appropriate in the longer form: a radio band for citizens, a college for teachers, a guide for writers, a request by the Teamsters. An 's is required, however, when a term involves a plural word that does not end in s: a children's hospital, a people's republic, the Young Men's Christian Association. DESCRIPTIVE NAMES: Some governmental, corporate and institutional organizations with a descriptive word in their names use an apostrophe; some do not. Follow the user's practice: Actors' Equity, Diners Club, Ladies' Home Journal, the National Governors Association. QUASI POSSESSIVES: Follow the rules above in composing the possessive form of words that occur in such phrases as a day's pay, two weeks' vacation, three days' work, your money's worth. Frequently, however, a hyphenated form is clearer: a two-week vacation, a three-day job. DOUBLE POSSESSIVE: Two conditions must apply for a double possessive a phrase such as a friend of John's to occur: 1. The word after of must refer to an animate object, and 2. The word before of must involve only a portion of the animate object's possessions. Otherwise, do not use the possessive form of the word after of: The friends of John Adams mourned his death. (All the friends were involved.) He is a friend of the college. (Not college's, because college is inanimate.) Memory aid: This construction occurs most often, and quite naturally, with the possessive forms of personal pronouns: He is a friend of mine. INANIMATE OBJECTS: There is no blanket rule against creating a possessive form for an inanimate object, particularly if the object is treated in a personified sense. See some of the earlier examples, and note these: death's call, the wind's murmur. In general, however, avoid excessive personalization of inanimate objects, and give preference to an of construction when it fits the makeup of the sentence. For example, the earlier references to mathematics' rules and measles' effects would better be phrased: the rules of mathematics, the effects of measles.
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. Memory aid: Spell out the names of the two states that are not part of the contiguous United States and of the continental states that are five letters or fewer. IN THE BODY OF STORIES: Except for cities that stand alone in datelines, use the state name in textual material when the city or town is not in the same state as the dateline, or where necessary to avoid confusion: Springfield, Massachusetts, or Springfield, Illinois. Provide a state identification for the city if the story has no dateline, or if the city is not in the same state as the dateline. However, cities that stand alone in datelines may be used alone in stories that have no dateline if no confusion would result. ABBREVIATIONS REQUIRED: Use the state abbreviations listed at the end of this section: In conjunction with the name of a city, town, village or military base in most datelines. See datelines for examples and exceptions for large cities. In lists, agate, tabular material, nonpublishable editor's notes and credit lines. In short-form listings of party affiliation: D-Ala., R-Mont. See party affiliation entry for details. Following are the state abbreviations, which also appear in the entries for each state (postal code abbreviations in parentheses): Ala. (AL) Md. (MD) N.D. (ND) Ariz. (AZ) Mass. (MA) Okla. (OK) Ark. (AR) Mich. (MI) Ore. (OR) Calif. (CA) Minn. (MN) Pa. (PA) Colo. (CO) Miss. (MS) R.I. (RI) Conn. (CT) Mo. (MO) S.C. (SC) Del. (DE) Mont. (MT) S.D. (SD) Fla. (FL) Neb. (NE) Tenn. (TN) Ga. (GA) Nev. (NV) Vt. (VT) Ill. (IL) N.H. (NH) Va. (VA) Ind. (IN) N.J. (NJ) Wash. (WA) Kan. (KS) N.M. (NM) W.Va. (WV) Ky. (KY) N.Y. (NY) Wis. (WI) La. (LA) N.C. (NC) Wyo. (WY) These are the postal code abbreviations for the eight states that are not abbreviated in datelines or text: AK (Alaska), HI (Hawaii), ID (Idaho), IA (Iowa), ME (Maine), OH (Ohio), TX (Texas), UT (Utah). Also: District of Columbia (DC). Use the two-letter Postal Service abbreviations only with full addresses, including ZIP code. PUNCTUATION: Place one comma between the city and the state name, and another comma after the state name, unless ending a sentence or indicating a dateline: He was traveling from Nashville, Tennessee, to Austin, Texas, en route to his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She said Cook County, Illinois, was Mayor Daley's stronghold. HEADLINES: Avoid using state abbreviations in headlines whenever possible. MISCELLANEOUS: Use New York state when necessary to distinguish the state from New York City. Use state of Washington or Washington state within a story when it's necessary to differentiate the state name from the U.S. capital, Washington. It's written Washington, D.C., with the added abbreviation only if the city might be confused with the state.
like-
Follow with a hyphen when used as a prefix meaning similar to: like-minded like-natured No hyphen in words that have meanings of their own: likelihood likewise likeness
odd-
Follow with a hyphen: odd-looking odd-numbered
Islam
Followers are called Muslims. Their holy book is the Quran, which according to Islamic belief was revealed by Allah (God) to the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century in Mecca and Medina. The place of worship is a mosque. The weekly holy day is Friday. It is the religion of more than 1 billion people in the world, making it the world's second-largest faith, after Christianity. Although Arabic is the language of the Quran and Muslim prayers, not all Arabs are Muslims and not all Muslims are Arabs. Most of the world's Muslims live in a wide belt that stretches halfway around the world: across West Africa and North Africa, through the Arab countries of the Middle East and on to Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Asian countries, parts of the former Soviet Union and western China, to Indonesia and the southern Philippines. There are two major divisions in Islam: -Sunni The biggest single sect in Islam, comprising about 85 percent of all Muslims. Nations with Sunni majorities include Egypt, Saudi Arabia and most other Arab nations, as well as non-Arab Turkey and Afghanistan. Most Palestinian Muslims and most West African Muslims are Sunnis. The Saudis sometimes are referred to as Wahhabi Muslims. This is a subgroup within the Sunni branch of Islam. -Shiite The second-largest sect. Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Azerbaijan all have Shiite majorities. Lebanon and Yemen have large Shiite communities relative to their population. (The schism between Sunni and Shiite stems from the early days of Islam and arguments over Muhammad's successors as caliph, the spiritual and temporal leader of Muslims during that period. The Shiites wanted the caliphate to descend through Ali, Muhammad's son-in-law. Ali eventually became the fourth caliph, but he was murdered; Ali's son Hussein was massacred with his fighters at Karbala, in what is now Iraq. Shiites considered the later caliphs to be usurpers. The Sunnis no longer have a caliph.) Titles for the clergy vary from sect to sect and from country to country, but these are the most common: Grand Mufti - The highest authority in Quranic law and interpretation, a title used mostly by Sunnis. Sheikh - Used by most clergymen in the same manner that the Rev. is used as a Christian clerical title, especially common among Sunnis. (Not all sheikhs are clergymen. Sheikh can also be a secular title of respect or nobility.) Ayatollah - Used by Shiites, especially in Iran, to denote senior clergymen, such as Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Hojatoleslam - A rank below ayatollah. Mullah - Lower-level clergy. Imam - Used by some sects as a title for the prayer leader at a mosque. Among the Shiites, it usually has a more exalted connotation. The adjective is Islamic. Islamist is an advocate of political Islam, the philosophy that the Quran should rule all aspects of life - religious, political and personal. Islamic fundamentalist should not be used as a synonym for Islamic militant or radical.
9/11
For the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 9/11 is acceptable in all references. (Note comma to set off the year when the phrase refers to a month, date and year.)
Wi-Fi
For the wireless networking standards.
redneck
From the characteristic sunburned neck acquired in the fields by farm laborers. It refers to poor, white rural residents of the South and often is a derogatory term.
earth
Generally lowercase; capitalize when used as the proper name of the planet. She is down-to-earth. How does the pattern apply to Mars, Jupiter, Earth, the sun and the moon? The astronauts returned to Earth. He hopes to move heaven and earth.
fractions
Generally spell out amounts less than 1 in stories, using hyphens between the words: two-thirds, four-fifths, seven-sixteenths, etc. Use figures for precise amounts larger than 1, converting to decimals whenever practical. When using fractional characters, use a forward-slash mark (/): 1/8, 1/4, 5/16, 9/10, etc. For mixed numbers, use 1 1/2, 2 5/8, etc. with a full space between the whole number and the fraction. AP systems may automatically replace some fractions with single-character versions: 1/2 may be replaced by ½. These can be left in the form the system changes them to. (You may also choose to set the options on your system so that these replacements are not made.)
media
Generally takes a plural verb, especially when the reference is to individual outlets: Media are lining up for and against the proposal. The word is often preceded by "the." Sometimes used with a singular verb when referring to media as a monolithic group: The media plays a major role in political campaigns.
suicide
Generally, AP does not cover suicides or suicide attempts, unless the person involved is a well-known figure or the circumstances are particularly unusual or publicly disruptive. Suicide stories, when written, should not go into detail on methods used. Avoid using committed suicide except in direct quotations from authorities. Alternate phrases include killed himself, took her own life or died by suicide. The verb commit with suicide can imply a criminal act. Laws against suicide have been repealed in the United States and many other places. Do not refer to an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Refer instead to an attempted suicide. Medically assisted suicide is permitted in some states and countries. Advocacy groups call it death with dignity or right-to-die, but AP doesn't use those phrases on their own. When referring to legislation whose name includes death with dignity, right-to-die or similar terms, say the law or proposal allows the terminally ill to end their own lives. If the term is in the name of a bill or law, make that clear. Euthanasia should not be used to describe medically assisted suicide or physician-assisted suicide.
GOP
Grand Old Party. GOP is acceptable on second reference for Republican Party.
onetime, one-time, one time
He is the onetime (former) heavyweight champion. She is the one-time (once) winner in 2003. He did it one time.
grade, grader
Hyphenate in combining forms: a fourth-grade student, a 12th-grade student, first-grader, 10th-grader. But: She is in the fifth grade.
homicide, murder, manslaughter
Homicide is a legal term for slaying or killing. Murder is malicious, premeditated homicide. Some states define certain homicides as murder if the killing occurs in the course of armed robbery, rape, etc. Generally speaking, manslaughter is homicide without malice or premeditation. A homicide should not be described as murder unless a person has been convicted of that charge. Do not say that a victim was murdered until someone has been convicted in court. Instead, say that a victim was killed or slain. Do not write that X was charged with murdering Y. Use the formal charge murder and, if not already in the story, specify the nature of the killing shooting, stabbing, beating, poisoning, drowning, etc.: Jones was charged with murder in the shooting of his girlfriend. Examples: An officer pulled over 29-year-old John White, who was arrested and charged with murder, according to Andrew Johnson, the county sheriff's spokesman. The 66-year-old amateur photographer has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the slaying of four women. The killings occurred between 1977 and 1979. Prosecutors say Adams raped, tortured and robbed some of them before killing them. Cook County Sheriff James Jones says a shooting that left a man and a woman dead appears to be a murder-suicide.
anti-
Hyphenate all except the following words, which have specific meanings of their own: antibiotic antipasto antibody antiperspirant anticlimax antiphon antidepressant antiphony antidote antipollution antifreeze antipsychotic antigen antiseptic antihistamine antiserum antiknock antithesis antimatter antitoxin antimony antitrust antiparticle* antitussive *And similar terms in physics such as antiproton. This approach has been adopted in the interests of readability and easily remembered consistency. It's anti-lock in Webster's New World College Dictionary. But note these Stylebook exceptions to Webster's spellings: anti-abortion anti-social anti-aircraft anti-war anti-labor
first class, first-class
Hyphenate as a modifier before a noun. The restaurant was first class. It was a first-class restaurant.
police department
In communities where this is the formal name, capitalize police department with or without the name of the community: the Los Angeles Police Department, the Police Department. If a police agency has some other formal name such as Division of Police, use that name if it is the way the department is known to the public. If the story uses police department as a generic term for such an agency, put police department in lowercase. If a police agency with an unusual formal name is known to the public as a police department, treat police department as the name, capitalizing it with or without the name of the community. Use the formal name only if there is a special reason in the story. If the proper name cannot be determined for some reason, such as the need to write about a police agency from a distance, treat police department as the proper name, capitalizing it with or without the name of the community. Lowercase police department in plural uses: the Los Angeles and San Francisco police departments. Lowercase the department whenever it stands alone.
innocent, not guilty
In court cases, plea situations and trials, not guilty is preferable to innocent, because it is more precise legally. (However, special care must be taken to prevent omission of the word not.) When possible, say a defendant was acquitted of criminal charges.
slang
In general, avoid slang, the highly informal language that is outside of conventional or standard usage.
leftist, ultra-leftist
In general, avoid these terms in favor of a more precise description of an individual's political philosophy. Ultra-leftist suggests an individual who subscribes to a communist view or one holding that liberal or socialist change cannot come within the present form of government.
rightist, ultra-rightest
In general, avoid these terms in favor of more precise descriptions of an individual's political philosophy. Ultra-rightist suggests an individual who subscribes to rigid interpretations of a conservative doctrine or to forms of fascism that stress authoritarian, often militaristic, views.
radical
In general, avoid this description in favor of a more precise definition of an individual's political views. When used, it suggests that an individual believes change must be made by tearing up the roots or foundation of the present order. Although radical often is applied to individuals who hold strong socialist or communist views, it also is applied at times to individuals who believe an existing form of government must be replaced by a more authoritarian or militaristic one.
children
In general, call children 15 or younger by their first name on second reference. Use the last name, however, if the seriousness of the story calls for it, as in a murder case, for example. For ages 16 and 17, use judgment, but generally go with the surname unless it's a light story. Use the surname for those 18 and older.
legislative bodies
In general, capitalize the proper name of a specific legislative body abroad: the Knesset, the Diet. The most frequent names in use are Congress, National Assembly and Parliament. GENERIC USES: Lowercase parliament or a similar term only when used generically to describe a body for which the formal name is being given: the Diet, Japan's parliament. PLURALS: Lowercase parliament and similar terms in plural constructions: the parliaments of England and France, the English and French parliaments. INDIVIDUAL HOUSES: The principle applies also to individual houses of the nation's legislature, just as Senate and House are capitalized in the United States: ROME (AP) - New leaders have taken control in the Chamber of Deputies. Lowercase assembly when used as a shortened reference to national assembly. In many countries, national assembly is the name of a unicameral legislative body. In some, such as France, it is the name for the lower house of a legislative body known by some other name such as parliament.
titles
In general, confine capitalization to formal titles used directly before an individual's name. The basic guidelines: LOWERCASE: Lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an individual's name: The president issued a statement. The pope gave his blessing. Lowercase and spell out titles in constructions that set them off from a name by commas: The vice president, Mike Pence, was elected in 2016. Pope Francis, the current pope, was born in Argentina. FORMAL TITLES: Capitalize formal titles when they are used immediately before one or more names: Pope Francis, President Donald Trump, Vice Presidents John Jones and William Smith. A formal title generally is one that denotes a scope of authority, professional activity or academic activity: Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Dr. Benjamin Spock, retired Gen. Colin Powell. Other titles serve primarily as occupational descriptions: astronaut John Glenn, movie star John Wayne, peanut farmer Jimmy Carter. A final determination on whether a title is formal or occupational depends on the practice of the governmental or private organization that confers it. If there is doubt about the status of a title and the practice of the organization cannot be determined, use a construction that sets the name or the title off with commas. ABBREVIATED TITLES: The following formal titles are capitalized and abbreviated as shown when used before a name both inside and outside quotations: Dr., Gov., Lt. Gov., Rep., Sen. and certain military ranks listed in military titles. All other formal titles are spelled out in all uses. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: In stories with U.S. datelines, do not include U.S. before the titles of Secretary of State or other government officials, except where necessary for clarity. In stories with international datelines, include U.S. before the titles. ROYAL TITLES: Capitalize king, queen, etc., when used directly before a name. See individual entries and nobility. TITLES OF NOBILITY: Capitalize a full title when it serves as the alternate name for an individual. See nobility. PAST AND FUTURE TITLES: A formal title that an individual formerly held, is about to hold or holds temporarily is capitalized if used before the person's name. But do not capitalize the qualifying word: former President George W. Bush, deposed King Constantine, Attorney General-designate Griffin B. Bell, acting Mayor Peter Barry. LONG TITLES: Separate a long title from a name by a construction that requires a comma: Charles Robinson, the undersecretary for economic affairs, spoke. Or: The undersecretary for economic affairs, Charles Robinson, spoke. UNIQUE TITLES: If a title applies only to one person in an organization, insert the word the in a construction that uses commas: John Jones, the deputy vice president, spoke. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE: Many commonly used titles and occupational descriptions are listed separately in this book, together with guidelines on whether and/or when they are capitalized. In these entries, the phrases before a name or immediately before a name are used to specify that capitalization applies only when a title is not set off from a name by commas.
capitalization
In general, avoid unnecessary capitals. Use a capital letter only if you can justify it by one of the principles listed here. Many words and phrases, including special cases, are listed separately in this book. Entries that are capitalized without further comment should be capitalized in all uses. If there is no relevant listing in this book for a particular word or phrase, consult Webster's New World College Dictionary. Use lowercase if the dictionary lists it as an acceptable form for the sense in which the word is being used. As used in this book, capitalize means to use uppercase for the first letter of a word. If additional capital letters are needed, they are called for by an example or a phrase such as use all caps. Some basic principles: PROPER NOUNS: Capitalize nouns that constitute the unique identification for a specific person, place, or thing: John, Mary, America, Boston, England. Some words, such as the examples just given, are always proper nouns. Some common nouns receive proper noun status when they are used as the name of a particular entity: General Electric, Gulf Oil. PROPER NAMES: Capitalize common nouns such as party, river, street and west when they are an integral part of the full name for a person, place or thing: Democratic Party, Mississippi River, Fleet Street, West Virginia. Lowercase these common nouns when they stand alone in subsequent references: the party, the river, the street. Lowercase the common noun elements of names in plural uses: the Democratic and Republican parties, Main and State streets, lakes Erie and Ontario. Exception: plurals of formal titles with full names are capitalized: Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald R. Ford. Among entries that provide additional guidelines are: animals holidays and holy days brand names legislature building months committee monuments Congress nationalities and races datelines nicknames days of the week organizations and institutions directions and regions planets family names plants food police department geographic names religious references governmental bodies seasons heavenly bodies trademarks historical periods and events unions POPULAR NAMES: Some places and events lack officially designated proper names but have popular names that are the effective equivalent: the Combat Zone (a section of downtown Boston), the Main Line (a group of Philadelphia suburbs), the South Side (of Chicago), the Badlands (of South Dakota), the Street (the financial community in the Wall Street area of New York). The principle applies also to shortened versions of the proper names of one-of-a-kind events: the Series (for the World Series), the Derby (for the Kentucky Derby). This practice should not, however, be interpreted as a license to ignore the general practice of lowercasing the common noun elements of a name when they stand alone. DERIVATIVES: Capitalize words that are derived from a proper noun and still depend on it for their meaning: American, Christian, Christianity, English, French, Marxism, Shakespearean. Lowercase words that are derived from a proper noun but no longer depend on it for their meaning: french fries, herculean, malapropism, pasteurize, quixotic, venetian blind. SENTENCES: Capitalize the first word in a statement that stands as a sentence. See sentences and parentheses. In poetry, capital letters are used for the first words of some phrases that would not be capitalized in prose. See poetry. COMPOSITIONS: Capitalize the principal words in the names of books, movies, plays, poems, operas, songs, radio and television programs, works of art, etc. See composition titles, magazine names and newspaper names. TITLES: Capitalize formal titles when used immediately before a name. Lowercase formal titles when used alone or in constructions that set them off from a name by commas. Use lowercase at all times for terms that are job descriptions rather than formal titles. See academic titles, courtesy titles, legislative titles, military titles, nobility, religious titles and titles. ABBREVIATIONS: Capital letters apply in some cases. See abbreviations and acronyms.
disabled, handicapped
In general, do not describe an individual as disabled or handicapped unless it is clearly pertinent to a story. If a description must be used, try to be specific. An ad featuring actor Michael J. Fox swaying noticeably from the effects of Parkinson's disease drew nationwide attention. Avoid descriptions that connote pity, such as afflicted with or suffers from multiple sclerosis. Rather, has multiple sclerosis. Some terms include: blind: Describes a person with complete loss of sight. For others, use terms such as visually impaired or person with low vision. cripple: Considered offensive when used to describe a person who is disabled. deaf: Describes a person with total hearing loss. For others, use partial hearing loss or partially deaf. Avoid using deaf-mute. Do not use deaf and dumb. disabled: A general term used for a physical, mental, developmental or intellectual disability. Do not use mentally retarded. handicap: It should be avoided in describing a disability. mute: Describes a person who cannot speak. Others with speaking difficulties are speech impaired. wheelchair user: People use wheelchairs for independent mobility. Do not use confined to a wheelchair, or wheelchair-bound. If a wheelchair is needed, say why.
courtesy titles
In general, do not use courtesy titles except in direct quotations. When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, as in married couples or brothers and sisters, use the first and last name.
directions and regions
In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction; capitalize these words when they designate regions. Some examples: COMPASS DIRECTIONS: He drove west. The cold front is moving east. REGIONS: A storm system that developed in the Midwest is spreading eastward. It will bring showers to the East Coast by morning and to the entire Northeast by late in the day. Showers and thunderstorms were forecast in the Texas Panhandle. High temperatures will prevail throughout the Western states. The North was victorious. The South will rise again. Settlers from the East went to the West in search of new lives. The customs of the East are different from those of the West. The Northeast depends on the Midwest for its food supply. She has a Southern accent. He is a Northerner. Asian nations are opening doors to Western businessmen. The candidate developed a Southern strategy. The storm developed in the South Pacific. European leaders met to talk about supplies of oil from Southeast Asia. WITH NAMES OF NATIONS: Lowercase unless they are part of a proper name or are used to designate a politically divided nation: northern France, eastern Canada, the western United States. But: Northern Ireland, South Korea. WITH STATES AND CITIES: The preferred form is to lowercase directional or area descriptions when referring to a section of a state or city: western Montana, southern Atlanta. But capitalize compass points: When part of a proper name: North Dakota, West Virginia. When used in denoting widely known sections: Southern California, West Texas, the South Side of Chicago, the Lower East Side of New York. If in doubt, use lowercase. IN FORMING PROPER NAMES: When combining with another common noun to form the name for a region or location: the North Woods, the South Pole, the Far East, the Middle East, the West Coast (the entire region, not the coastline itself see coast), the Eastern Shore (see separate entry), the Western Hemisphere.
numerals
In general, spell out one through nine: The Yankees finished second. He had nine months to go. Use figures for 10 or above and whenever preceding a unit of measure or referring to ages of people, animals, events or things. Also in all tabular matter, and in statistical and sequential forms. Use figures for: ACADEMIC COURSE NUMBERS: History 6, Philosophy 209. ADDRESSES: 210 Main St. Spell out numbered streets nine and under: 5 Sixth Ave.; 3012 50th St.; No. 10 Downing St. Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. See addresses. AGES: a 6-year-old girl; an 8-year-old law; the 7-year-old house. Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun. A 5-year-old boy, but the boy is 5 years old. The boy, 5, has a sister, 10. The race is for 3-year-olds. The woman is in her 30s. 30-something, but Thirty-something to start a sentence. See ages. PLANES, SHIPS AND SPACECRAFT DESIGNATIONS: B-2 bomber, Queen Elizabeth 2, QE2, Apollo 9, Viking 2 An exception: Air Force One, the president's plane. Use Roman numerals if they are part of the official designation: Titan I, Titan II. See aircraft names; boats, ships; spacecraft designations. CENTURIES: Use figures for numbers 10 or higher: 21st century. Spell out for numbers nine and lower: fifth century. (Note lowercase.) For proper names, follow the organization's usage: 20th Century Fox, Twentieth Century Fund. COURT DECISIONS: The Supreme Court ruled 5-4, a 5-4 decision. The word to is not needed, except in quotations: "The court ruled 5 to 4." Court districts: 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. DATES, YEARS AND DECADES: Feb. 8, 2007, Class of '66, the 1950s. For the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 9/11 is acceptable in all references. (Note comma to set off the year when the phrase refers to a month, date and year.) DECIMALS, PERCENTAGES AND FRACTIONS WITH NUMBERS LARGER THAN 1: 7.2 magnitude quake, 3 1/2 laps, 3.7 percent interest, 4 percentage points. Decimalization should not exceed two places in most text material. Exceptions: blood alcohol content, expressed in three decimals: as in 0.056, and batting averages in baseball, as in .324. For amounts less than 1, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.03 percent. Spell out fractions less than 1, using hyphens between the words: two-thirds, four-fifths. In quotations, use figures for fractions: "He was 2 1/2 laps behind with four to go." See decimal units; fractions; percent. DIMENSIONS, TO INDICATE DEPTH, HEIGHT, LENGTH AND WIDTH: He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, the 5-foot-6 man ("inch" is understood), the 5-foot man, the basketball team signed a 7-footer. The car is 17 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5 feet high. The rug is 9 feet by 12 feet, the 9-by-12 rug. A 9-inch snowfall. Exception: two-by-four. Spell out the noun, which refers to any length of untrimmed lumber approximately 2 inches thick by 4 inches wide. See dimensions. DISTANCES: He walked 4 miles. He missed a 3-foot putt. GOLF CLUBS: 3-wood, 7-iron, 3-hybrid (note hyphen). HIGHWAY DESIGNATIONS: Interstate 5, U.S. Highway 1, state Route 1A. (Do not abbreviate Route. No hyphen between highway designation and number.) See highway designations. MATHEMATICAL USAGE: Multiply by 4, divide by 6. He added 2 and 2 but got 5. MILITARY RANKS, USED AS TITLES WITH NAMES, MILITARY TERMS AND WEAPONS: Petty Officer 2nd Class Alan Markow, Spc. Alice Moreno, 1st Sgt. David Triplett, M16 rifle, 9 mm (note space) pistol, 6th Fleet. In military ranks, spell out the figure when it is used after the name or without a name: Smith was a second lieutenant. The goal is to make first sergeant. See military units. MILLIONS, BILLIONS, TRILLIONS: Use a figure-word combination. 1 million people; $2 billion, NOT one million/two billion. (Also note no hyphen linking numerals and the word million, billion or trillion.) See millions, billions, trillions; dollars. MONETARY UNITS: 5 cents, $5 bill, 8 euros, 4 pounds. See cents. ODDS, PROPORTIONS AND RATIOS: 9-1 long shot; 3 parts cement to 1 part water; a 1-4 chance, but one chance in three. See betting odds; proportions; ratios. RANK: He was my No. 1 choice. (Note abbreviation for "Number"). Kentucky was ranked No. 3. The band had five Top 40 hits. SCHOOL GRADES: Use figures for grades 10 and above: 10th grade. Spell out for first through ninth grades: fourth grade, fifth-grader (note hyphen). SEQUENTIAL DESIGNATIONS: Page 1, Page 20A. They were out of sizes 4 and 5; magnitude 6 earthquake; Rooms 3 and 4; Chapter 2; line 1 but first line; Act 3, Scene 4, but third act, fourth scene; Game 1, but best of seven. See act numbers; chapters; earthquakes; line numbers; page numbers; scene numbers. POLITICAL DISTRICTS: Ward 9, 9th Precinct, 3rd Congressional District. See congressional districts; political divisions. Recipes: 2 tablespoons of sugar to 1 cup of milk. See recipes. SPEEDS: 7 mph, winds of 5 to 10 mph, winds of 7 to 9 knots. SPORTS SCORES, STANDINGS AND STANDARDS: The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 10-3 (No comma between the team and the score); in golf, 3 up, but a 3-up lead; led 3-2; a 6-1-2 record (six wins, one loss, two ties); par 3; 5 handicap, 5-under-par 67 but he was 5 under par (or 5 under, with "par" understood). In narrative, spell out nine and under except for yard lines in football and individual and team statistical performances: The ball was on the 5-yard line. Seventh hole. In basketball, 3-point play and 3-point shot. In statistical performances, hyphenate as a modifier: He completed 8 of 12 passes. He made 5 of 6 (shots is understood). He was 5-for-12 passing. He had a 3-for-5 day. He was 3-for-5. He went 3-for-5 (batting, shooting, etc., is understood). TEMPERATURES: Use figures, except zero. It was 8 degrees below zero or minus 8. The temperature dropped from 38 to 8 in two hours. See temperatures. TIMES: Use figures for time of day except for noon and midnight: 1 p.m., 10:30 a.m., 5 o'clock, 8 hours, 30 minutes, 20 seconds, a winning time of 2:17:3 (2 hours, 17 minutes, 3 seconds). Spell out numbers less than 10 standing alone and in modifiers: I'll be there in five minutes. He scored with two seconds left. An eight-hour day. The two-minute warning. See times; time sequences. VOTES: The bill was defeated by a vote of 6 to 4, but by a two-vote margin. Spell out: AT THE START OF A SENTENCE: Forty years was a long time to wait. Fifteen to 20 cars were involved in the accident. The only exception is years: 1992 was a very good year. See years. IN INDEFINITE AND CASUAL USES: Thanks a million. He walked a quarter of a mile. One at a time; a thousand clowns; one day we will know; an eleventh-hour decision; dollar store; a hundred dollars. IN FANCIFUL USAGE OR PROPER NAMES: Chicago Seven, Fab Four, Big Three automakers, Final Four, the Four Tops. IN FORMAL LANGUAGE, RHETORICAL QUOTATIONS AND FIGURES OF SPEECH: "Fourscore and seven years ago ..." Twelve Apostles, Ten Commandments, high-five, Day One. IN FRACTIONS LESS THAN ONE THAT ARE NOT USED AS MODIFIERS: reduced by one-third, he made three-fourths of his shots. ROMAN NUMERALS They may be used for wars and to establish personal sequence for people and animals: World War I, Native Dancer II, King George V. Also for certain legislative acts (Title IX). Otherwise, use sparingly. Pro football Super Bowls should be identified by the year, rather than the Roman numerals: 1969 Super Bowl, not Super Bowl III. ORDINALS Numbers used to indicate order (first, second, 10th, 25th, etc.) are called ordinal numbers. Spell out first through ninth: fourth grade, first base, the First Amendment, he was first in line. Use figures starting with 10th. CARDINAL NUMBERS Numbers used in counting or showing how many (2, 40, 627, etc.) are called cardinal numbers. The following separate entries provide additional guidance for cardinal numbers: amendments to the Constitution channel court names decades election returns fleet formula latitude and longitude mile parallels proportions serial numbers telephone numbers weights SOME OTHER PUNCTUATION AND USAGE EXAMPLES: 3 ounces 4-foot-long 4-foot fence "The president's speech lasted 28 1/2 minutes," she said. DC-10 but 747B the 1980s, the '80s the House voted 230-205 (fewer than 1,000 votes) Jimmy Carter outpolled Gerald Ford 40,827,292 to 39,146,157 (more than 1,000 votes) Carter outpolled Ford 10 votes to 2 votes in Little Junction (to avoid confusion with ratio) No. 3 choice, but Public School 3 a pay increase of 12-15 percent. Or: a pay increase of between 12 and 15 percent But: from $12 million to $14 million a ratio of 2-to-1, a 2-1 ratio 1 in 4 voters seven houses 7 miles apart He walked 4 miles. minus 10, zero, 60 degrees (spell out minus) OTHER USES: For uses not covered by these listings, spell out whole numbers below 10, and use figures for 10 and above: They had three sons and two daughters. They had a fleet of 10 station wagons and two buses. IN A SERIES: Apply the standard guidelines: They had 10 dogs, six cats and 97 hamsters. They had four four-room houses, 10 three-room houses and 12 10-room houses.
fewer, less
In general, use fewer for individual items, less for bulk or quantity. Wrong: The trend is toward more machines and less people. (People in this sense refers to individuals.) Wrong: She was fewer than 60 years old. (Years in this sense refers to a period of time, not individual years.) Right: Fewer than 10 applicants called. (Individuals.) Right: I had less than $50 in my pocket. (An amount.) But: I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket. (Individual items.)
names
In general, use only last names on second reference. When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, generally use the first and last name on subsequent references. Generally use the name a person prefers: Thomas or Tom, depending on preference; Martine McCarthy Chang may prefer McCarthy Chang or Chang on second reference. If an individual requests it, a public name rather than a real name may be used for a political dissident, or a nom de guerre for a rebel leader, if the person's safety is an issue. In general, call children 15 or younger by their first name on second reference. Use the last name, however, if the seriousness of the story calls for it, as in a murder case, for example. For ages 16 and 17, use judgment, but generally go with the surname unless it's a light story. Use the surname for those 18 and older.
in, into
In indicates location: He was in the room. Into indicates motion: She walked into the room.
they, them, their
In most cases, a plural pronoun should agree in number with the antecedent: The children love the books their uncle gave them. They/them/their is acceptable in limited cases as a singular and/or gender-neutral pronoun, when alternative wording is overly awkward or clumsy. However, rewording usually is possible and always is preferable. Clarity is a top priority; gender-neutral use of a singular they is unfamiliar to many readers. We do not use other gender-neutral pronouns such as xe or ze. Usage example: A singular they might be used when an anonymous source's gender must be shielded and other wording is overly awkward: The person feared for their own safety and spoke on condition of anonymity. Arguments for using they/them as a singular sometimes arise with an indefinite pronoun (anyone, everyone, someone) or unspecified/unknown gender (a person, the victim, the winner). Examples of rewording: All the class members raised their hands (instead of everyone raised their hands). The foundation gave grants to anyone who lost a job this year (instead of anyone who lost their job). Police said the victim would be identified after relatives are notified (instead of after their relatives are notified or after his or her relatives are notified). Lottery officials said the winner could claim the prize Tuesday (instead of their or his or her prize). In stories about people who identify as neither male nor female or ask not to be referred to as he/she/him/her: Use the person's name in place of a pronoun, or otherwise reword the sentence, whenever possible. If they/them/their use is essential, explain in the text that the person prefers a gender-neutral pronoun. Be sure that the phrasing does not imply more than one person. Examples of rewording: Hendricks said the new job is a thrill (instead of Hendricks said Hendricks is thrilled about the new job or Hendricks said they are thrilled about the new job). Lowry's partner is Dana Adams, an antiques dealer. They bought a house last year (instead of Lowry and Lowry's partner bought a house last year or Lowry and their partner bought a house last year). When they is used in the singular, it takes a plural verb: Taylor said they need a new car. (Again, be sure it's clear from the context that only one person is involved.)
post office
It may be used but it is no longer capitalized because the agency is now the U.S. Postal Service. Use lowercase in referring to an individual office: I went to the post office.
kudos
It means credit or praise for an achievement. The word is singular and takes singular verbs.
unprecedented
It means having no precedent, unheard of. Often misused.
unique
It means one of a kind. Do not describe something as rather unique, most unique or very unique.
rarely
It means seldom. Rarely ever is redundant, but rarely if ever often is the appropriate phrase.
politics
Usually it takes a plural verb: My politics are my own business. As a study or science, it takes a singular verb: Politics is a demanding profession.
incredible, incredulous
Incredible means unbelievable. Incredulous means skeptical.
minister
It is not a formal title in most religions, with exceptions such as the Nation of Islam, and is not capitalized. Where it is a formal title, it should be capitalized before the name: Minister John Jones. See religious titles and the entry for an individual's denomination.
half
It is not necessary to use the preposition of: half the time is correct, but half of the time is not wrong.
who's, whose
Who's is a contraction for who is, not a possessive: Who's there? Whose is the possessive: I do not know whose coat it is.
it's, its
It's is a contraction for it is or it has: It's up to you. It's been a long time. Its is the possessive form of the neuter pronoun: The company lost its assets.
juvenile delinquent
Juveniles may be declared delinquents in many states for anti-social behavior or for breaking the law. In some states, laws prohibit publishing or broadcasting the names of juvenile delinquents. Follow the local law unless there is a compelling reason to the contrary. Consult with regional editors if you believe such an exception is warranted.
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.
dean's list
Lowercase in all uses: He is on the dean's list. She is a dean's list student.
seasons
Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter and derivatives such as springtime unless part of a formal name: Dartmouth Winter Carnival, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics.
subcommittee
Lowercase when used with the name of a legislative body's full committee: a Ways and Means subcommittee. Capitalize when a subcommittee has a proper name of its own: the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
a.m., p.m.
Lowercase, with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.
administration
Lowercase: the administration, the president's administration, the governor's administration, the Trump administration.
mailman
Mail or letter carrier is preferable.
majority, plurality
Majority means more than half of an amount. Plurality means more than the next highest number. COMPUTING MAJORITY: To describe how large a majority is, take the figure that is more than half and subtract everything else from it: If 100,000 votes were cast in an election and one candidate received 60,000 while opponents received 40,000, the winner would have a majority of 20,000 votes. COMPUTING PLURALITY: To describe how large a plurality is, take the highest number and subtract from it the next highest number: If, in the election example above, the second-place finisher had 25,000 votes, the winner's plurality would be 35,000 votes. Suppose, however, that no candidate in this example had a majority. If the first-place finisher had 40,000 votes and the second-place finisher had 30,000, for example, the leader's plurality would be 10,000 votes. USAGE: When majority and plurality are used alone, they take singular verbs and pronouns: The majority has made its decision. If a plural word follows an of construction, the decision on whether to use a singular or plural verb depends on the sense of the sentence: A majority of two votes is not adequate to control the committee. The majority of the houses on the block were destroyed.
e.g.
Meaning for example, it is always followed by a comma.
bimonthly
Means every other month. Semimonthly means twice a month.
biweekly
Means every other week. Semiweekly means twice a week.
millennials
Members of the generation following Generation X, or two generations after the 1946 to 1964 baby-boom generation. Also known as Generation Y. Definitions vary for the years this generation spans; the time period should be specified when possible.
food
Most food names are lowercase: apples, cheese, peanut butter. Capitalize brand names and trademarks: Roquefort cheese, Tabasco sauce. Most proper nouns or adjectives are capitalized when they occur in a food name: Boston brown bread, Russian dressing, Swiss cheese, Waldorf salad. Lowercase is used, however, when the food does not depend on the proper noun or adjective for its meaning: french fries. If a question arises, check the separate section on Food Guidelines. If there is no entry, follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Use lowercase if the dictionary lists it as an acceptable form for the sense in which the word is used. The same principles apply to foreign names for foods: mousse de saumon (salmon mousse), pomme de terre (literally, "apple of the earth" — for potato), salade Russe (Russian salad).
tea party
Movement in the United States that opposes the Washington political establishment and espouses conservative and libertarian philosophy, including reduced government spending, lower taxes and reduction of the national debt and the federal budget deficit. Adherents are tea partyers. Formally named groups in the movement are capitalized: Tea Party Express.
professor
Never abbreviate. Lowercase before a name, but capitalize Professor Emeritus as a conferred title before a name: Professor Emeritus Susan Johnson. Do not continue in second reference unless part of a quotation.
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. Use sic, the Latin word meaning thus or so, to show that quoted material or person's words include a misspelling, incorrect grammar or peculiar usage. Place (sic) in the text directly after the problem to show that the passage is precisely reproduced. To call attention to (sic) in wire versions of the story, use an editor's note atop the story. If there is a question about a quote, either don't use it or ask the speaker to clarify. If a person is unavailable for comment, detail attempts to reach that person. (Smith was out of the country on business; Jones did not return phone messages left at the office.) Do not use substandard spellings such as gonna or wanna in attempts to convey regional dialects or informal pronunciations, except to help a desired touch or to convey an emphasis by the speaker. When quoting spoken words, use AP style: No. 1, St., Gov., Sen. and $3. When quoting written words, retain the style used by the writer; do not alter the written words even if they don't match AP style. Use quotations only if they are the best way to tell the story or convey meaning. Often, paraphrasing is preferable. FULL VS. PARTIAL QUOTES: In general, avoid fragmentary quotes. If a speaker's words are clear and concise, favor the full quote. If cumbersome language can be paraphrased fairly, use an indirect construction, reserving quotation marks for sensitive or controversial passages that must be identified specifically as coming from the speaker. CONTEXT: Remember that you can misquote someone by giving a startling remark without its modifying passage or qualifiers. The manner of delivery sometimes is part of the context. Reporting a smile or a deprecatory gesture may be as important as conveying the words themselves. OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE: See the obscenities, profanities, vulgarities entry. PUNCTUATION: See the quotation marks entry in the Punctuation chapter. PROBLEMATIC QUOTES: See the (sic) entry.
press conference
News conference is preferred.
-less
No hyphen before this suffix: childless waterless tailless
mid-
No hyphen unless a capitalized word follows: midair, mid-America, mid-Atlantic, midsemester and midterm. But use a hyphen when mid- precedes a figure: mid-30s.
-wise
No hyphen when it means in the direction of or with regard to. Some examples: clockwise otherwise lengthwise slantwise 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).
in-
No hyphen when it means not: inaccurate insufferable Other uses without a hyphen: inbound infighting indoor inpatient (n., adj.) infield A few combinations take a hyphen, however: in-depth in-house in-group in-law Follow Webster's New World College Dictionary when in doubt.
-wide
No hyphen. Some examples: citywide nationwide continentwide statewide countrywide worldwide industrywide
-fold
No hyphen: twofold, fourfold and hundredfold.
sport utility vehicle
No plural s in sport; no hyphen. SUV is acceptable on first reference.
NGO
Nongovernmental organization. Usually refers to a nonprofit, humanitarian organization. Use NGO sparingly and only on second reference.
owner
Not a formal title. Always lowercase: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
adviser
Not advisor.
minuscule
Not miniscule.
plow
Not plough.
recur, recurred, recurring
Not reoccur.
spill, spilled, spilling
Not spilt in the past tense.
gender
Not synonymous with sex. Gender refers to a person's social identity while sex refers to biological characteristics. Not all people fall under one of two categories for sex or gender, according to leading medical organizations, so avoid references to both, either or opposite sexes or genders as a way to encompass all people. When needed for clarity or in certain stories about scientific studies, alternatives include men and women, boys and girls, males and females. Language around gender is evolving. Newsrooms and organizations outside AP may need to make decisions, based on necessity and audience, on terms that differ from or are not covered by AP's specific recommendations. For instance, the AP recommends the terms sex reassignment or gender confirmation for the medical procedures used for gender transition, while some groups use other terms, such as gender affirmation or sex realignment. The AP allows for LGBT and LGBTQ to be used on first reference without spelling out the acronyms; some other organizations use LGBTQIA and other variations on first reference or without explanation. For guidance on pronouns, see they, them, their. Some frequently used terms and definitions: cisgender May be used if necessary to refer to people who are not transgender in stories about gender, as a means to distinguish people from one another. Use only with explanation. Do not use terms like normal to describe people who are not transgender. Cisgender refers to gender and is not synonymous with heterosexual, which refers to sexuality. gender nonconforming (n.), gender-nonconforming (adj.) Acceptable in broad references as a term for people who do not conform to the traditional view of two genders. The group is providing scholarships for gender-nonconforming students. When talking about individuals, be specific about how a person describes or expresses gender identity and behavior. Roberta identifies as both male and female. Not synonymous with transgender. Use other terms like bigender (a term for people who identify as a combination of two genders) only if used by subjects to describe themselves, and only with explanation. intersex Term for people born with genitalia, chromosomes or reproductive organs that don't fit typical definitions for males or females at birth. Gonzalez is an intersex person, Zimmerman is intersex. Do not use the outdated term hermaphrodite. sex reassignment or gender confirmation The treatments, surgeries and other medical procedures used by transgender people to match their sex to their gender. The preferred term over gender reassignment; do not use the outdated term sex change. Sex reassignment or gender confirmation surgery is not necessary for people to transition their gender. Balducci weighed whether to have sex reassignment surgery during his transition. transgender An adjective that describes people whose gender identity does not match the sex or gender they were identified as having at birth. Does not require what are often known as sex reassignment or gender confirmation procedures. Identify people as transgender only if pertinent, and use the name by which they live publicly. Generally, avoid references to a transgender person being born a boy or girl, since describing someone as transgender speaks for itself and doesn't take intersex babies into account. Bernard is a transgender man. Christina is transgender. The shorthand trans is acceptable on second reference and in headlines: Grammys add first man and first trans woman as trophy handlers. Do not use as a noun or refer to someone as a transgender, or use the term transgendered. Not synonymous with terms like cross-dresser or drag queen, which do not have to do with gender identity. See cross-dresser, drag performer. Do not use the outdated term transsexual. Do not use a derogatory term such as tranny except in extremely rare circumstances - only in a quote when it is crucial to the story or the understanding of a news event. Flag the contents in an editor's note. Use the name by which a transgender person now lives: Caitlyn Jenner. Refer to a previous name only if relevant to the story: Caitlyn Jenner, who won a 1976 Olympic gold medal in decathlon as Bruce Jenner. See name changes, LGBT, LGBTQ. transition, gender transition The process by which transgender people change the physical characteristics associated with the sex or gender they were identified as having at birth to those matching their own gender identity. May include sex reassignment or gender confirmation procedures, but not necessarily. Washington is transitioning while helping his daughter consider universities. Chamberlain's family offered support during her transition.
worldwide
Not to be used in reference to Pitbull, the hip-hop artist.
toward
Not towards.
travelogue
Not travelog.
upward
Not upwards.
Latino
Often the preferred term for a person from or whose ancestors were from a Spanish-speaking land or culture or from Latin America. Latina is the feminine form. Follow the person's preference. Use a more specific identification when possible, such as Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian or Mexican-American.
super-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some frequently used words: superagency superhighway supercarrier superpower supercharge supertanker As with all prefixes, however, use a hyphen if the word that follows is capitalized: super-Republican.
hang, hanged, hung
One hangs a picture, a criminal or oneself. For past tense or the passive, use hanged when referring to executions or suicides, hung for other actions.
till
Or until. But not 'til.
glamour
One of the few -our endings still used in American writing. But the adjective is glamorous.
definitely
Overused as a vague intensifier. Avoid it.
emigrate, immigrate
One who leaves a country emigrates from it. One who comes into a country immigrates. The same principle holds for emigrant and immigrant.
startup
One word (n. and adj.) to describe a new business venture. An exception to Webster's New World College Dictionary preference.
weeklong, weekslong
One word as an adjective.
yearlong, yearslong
One word as an adjective.
anybody, any body, anyone, any one
One word for an indefinite reference: Anyone can do that. Two words when the emphasis is on singling out one element of a group: Any one of them may speak up.
fundraising, fundraiser
One word in all cases.
backyard
One word in all uses.
underway
One word in all uses.
-goer
One word. Examples: concertgoer, moviegoer, partygoer, theatergoer.
percent
One word. It takes a singular verb when standing alone or when a singular word follows an of construction: The teacher said 60 percent was a failing grade. He said 50 percent of the membership was there. It takes a plural verb when a plural word follows an of construction: He said 50 percent of the members were there. Use figures for percent and percentages: 1 percent, 2.5 percent (use decimals, not fractions), 10 percent, 4 percentage points. For a range, 12 to 15 percent, or between 12 and 15 percent. For amounts less than 1 percent, precede the decimal with a zero: The cost of living rose 0.6 percent.
raised, reared
Only humans may be reared. All living things, including humans, may be raised.
opiate, opioid
Opiate refers to drugs derived directly from the poppy plant, such as morphine and codeine. Opioids are synthetic or partially synthetic manufactured drugs that mimic the properties of opiates. Heroin can be made different ways but is generally considered an opioid, as are more common prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin. When referring to just prescription medications, a general term like powerful prescription painkillers can be more accurate. But when referring to the overall class of drugs, opioid is the better choice. The brand name or generic name of a drug can be acceptable, depending on the context and how any given drug is most commonly known. In some cases, it is useful to use both names. Doctors were urged to limit prescriptions for hydrocodone, an ingredient in painkillers like Vicodin. He was prescribed Tramadol after he complained that over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen were not working.
populism
Political philosophy or ideas that promote the rights and power of ordinary people as opposed to political and intellectual elites. Avoid labeling politicians or political parties as populist, other than in a quote or paraphrase: He calls himself a populist. Using the term in a general context is acceptable: The panelists discussed the rise of populism in Europe. She appealed to populist fervor.
sneaked
Preferred as past tense of sneak. Do not use the colloquial snuck.
principal, principle
Principal is a noun and adjective meaning someone or something first in rank, authority, importance or degree: She is the school principal. He was the principal player in the trade. Money is the principal problem. Principle is a noun that means a fundamental truth, law, doctrine or motivating force: They fought for the principle of self-determination. In a business context, principal refers to the amount of money that is borrowed in a loan, as distinct from interest that is paid.
rebut, refute
Rebut means to argue to the contrary: He rebutted his opponent's statement. Refute connotes success in argument and almost always implies an editorial judgment. Instead, use deny, dispute, rebut or respond to.
tribe, tribal
Refers to a sovereign political entity, communities sharing a common ancestry, culture or language, and a social group of linked families who may be part of an ethnic group. Identify tribes by the political identity specified by the tribe, nation or community: the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation. Ethnic group is preferred when referring to ethnicity or ethnic violence.
husband, wife
Regardless of sexual orientation, husband for a man or wife for a woman is acceptable in all references to individuals in any legally recognized marriage. Spouse or partner may be used if requested or as a gender-neutral option.
reluctant, reticent
Reluctant means unwilling to act: He is reluctant to enter the primary. Reticent means unwilling to speak: The candidate's husband is reticent.
co-
Retain the hyphen when forming nouns, adjectives and verbs that indicate occupation or status: co-author co-pilot co-chairman co-respondent (in a divorce suit) co-defendant co-signer co-host co-sponsor co-owner co-star co-partner co-worker (Several are exceptions to Webster's New World College Dictionary in the interests of consistency.) Use no hyphen in other combinations: coed cooperate coeducation cooperative coequal coordinate coexist coordination coexistence copay Cooperate, coordinate and related words are exceptions to the rule that a hyphen is used if a prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel.
ride-hailing, ride-sharing
Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft let people use smartphone apps to book and pay for a private car service or, in some cases, a taxi. They may also be called ride-booking services. Ride-sharing refers to app-based services that let people book a shared shuttle. Zipcar and similar companies are short-term car rental services.
justify
Smith justified his actions means Smith demonstrated that his actions were right. If the actions are still controversial, say Smith sought to justify his actions.
species
Same in singular and plural. Use singular or plural verbs and pronouns depending on the sense: The species has been unable to maintain itself. Both species are extinct.
marijuana, cannabis, pot
See drugs.
mom
See family names.
transgender
See gender.
prefixes
See separate listings for commonly used prefixes. Generally do not hyphenate when using a prefix with a word starting with a consonant. Three rules are constant: -Except for cooperate and coordinate, use a hyphen if the prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel. -Use a hyphen if the word that follows is capitalized. -Use a hyphen to join doubled prefixes: sub-subparagraph.
press secretary
Seldom a formal title. For consistency, always use lowercase, even when used before an individual's name.
web
Short form of World Wide Web, it is a service that enables the distribution of image-rich content and information on the internet. 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.
privacy
Special care should be taken with regard to publishing the names of juveniles involved in crimes, or of people who may have been the victims of sexual assault or other abuse. Generally, we do not identify juveniles (under 18) who are accused of crimes or transmit images that would reveal their identity. However, regional editors or their designates may authorize exceptions to this practice. Considerations in granting exceptions may include the severity of the alleged crime; whether police have formally released the juvenile's name; and whether the juvenile has been formally charged as an adult. Other considerations might include public safety, such as when the youth is the subject of a manhunt; or widespread publication of the juvenile suspect's name, making the identity de facto public knowledge. In some situations, state or national laws may determine whether the person's name can be published. We normally do not identify, in text or through images, juveniles who are witnesses to crimes. We also do not identify, in text or through images, persons who may have been sexually assaulted (unless they have come forward and voluntarily identified themselves). We should also use discretion in naming victims of other extremely severe abuse. Sometimes a person may be identified by AP in an abduction or manhunt situation, and it develops later that - because of a sexual assault or other reason - the name should not be used. In such cases we have sometimes refrained from using the identification in future coverage.
versus
Spell it out in ordinary speech and writing: The proposal to revamp Medicare versus proposals to reform Medicare and Medicaid at the same time ... In short expressions, however, the abbreviation vs. is permitted: The issue of guns vs. butter has long been with us. For court cases, use v.: Marbury v. Madison.
mount
Spell out in all uses, including the names of communities and of mountains: Mount Clemens, Michigan; Mount Everest.
time sequences
Spell out: 50 hours, 23 minutes, 14 seconds. When using the abbreviated form, as in sports statistics or similar agate use, or subsequent references, the form is: 2:30:21.65 (hours, minutes, seconds, tenths, hundredths).
stanch, staunch
Stanch is a verb: He stanched the flow of blood. Staunch is an adjective: She is a staunch supporter of equality.
whereabouts
Takes a singular verb: His whereabouts is a mystery.
group
Takes singular verbs and pronouns: The group is reviewing its position.
different
Takes the preposition from, not than.
than, then
Than is a conjunction used to compare things; then is an adverb used to place events in time or things in order. He wrote a volume that was longer than the AP Stylebook, and then published it.
miles per gallon
The abbreviation mpg is acceptable in all references.
miles per hour
The abbreviation mph is acceptable in all references. No hyphen when used with a figure: 60 mph.
verbs
The abbreviation v. is used in this book to identify the spelling of the verb forms of words frequently misspelled. SPLIT FORMS: In general, avoid awkward constructions that split infinitive forms of a verb (to leave, to help, etc.) or compound forms (had left, are found out, etc.) Awkward: She was ordered to immediately leave on an assignment. Preferred: She was ordered to leave immediately on an assignment. Awkward: There stood the wagon that we had early last autumn left by the barn. Preferred: There stood the wagon that we had left by the barn early last autumn. Occasionally, however, a split is not awkward and is necessary to convey the meaning: He wanted to really help his mother. Those who lie are often found out. How has your health been? The budget was tentatively approved.
lay, lie
The action word is lay. It takes a direct object. Laid is the form for its past tense and its past participle. Its present participle is laying. Lie also has various other meanings, including to recline, to be situated or to exist. It does not take a direct object. Its past tense is lay. Its past participle is lain. Its present participle is lying. When lie means to make an untrue statement, the verb forms are lie, lied, lying. Some examples: PRESENT OR FUTURE TENSES: Right: I will lay the book on the table. The prosecutor tried to lay the blame on him. Wrong: He lays on the beach all day. I will lay down. Right: He lies on the beach all day. I will lie down. The village lies beyond the hills. The answer lies in the stars. IN THE PAST TENSE: Right: I laid the book on the table. The prosecutor has laid the blame on him. Right: He lay on the beach all day. He has lain on the beach all day. I lay down. I have lain down. The secret lay in the fermentation process. WITH THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE: Right: I am laying the book on the table. The prosecutor is laying the blame on him. Right: He is lying on the beach. I am lying down.
religious references
The basic guidelines: DEITIES: Capitalize the proper names of monotheistic deities: God, Allah, the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Redeemer, the Holy Spirit, etc. Lowercase pronouns referring to the deity: he, him, his, thee, thou, who, whose, thy, etc. Lowercase gods in referring to the deities of polytheistic religions. Capitalize the proper names of pagan and mythological gods and goddesses: Neptune, Thor, Venus, etc. Lowercase such words as god-awful, godd*mn, godlike, godliness, godsend. LIFE OF CHRIST: Capitalize the names of major events in the life of Jesus Christ in references that do not use his name: The doctrines of the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Ascension are central to Christian belief. But use lowercase when the words are used with his name: The ascension of Jesus into heaven took place 40 days after his resurrection from the dead. Apply the principle also to events in the life of his mother: He cited the doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. But: She referred to the assumption of Mary into heaven. RITES: Capitalize proper names for rites that commemorate the Last Supper or signify a belief in Christ's presence: the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, Holy Eucharist. Lowercase the names of other sacraments. See sacraments. Capitalize Benediction and Mass. But: a high Mass, a low Mass, a requiem Mass. HOLY DAYS: Capitalize the names of holy days. See holidays and holy days and separate entries for major Christian, Jewish and Muslim feasts. OTHER WORDS: Lowercase heaven, hell, devil, angel, cherub, an apostle, a priest, etc. Capitalize Hades and Satan. For additional details, see Bible, entries for frequently used religious terms, the entries for major denominations, religious movements and religious titles.
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. Memory aid: Noah Webster developed the following rule of thumb for the frequently vexing question of whether to double a final consonant in forming the present participle and past tense of a verb: If the stress in pronunciation is on the first syllable, do not double the consonant: combat, combating, combated; cancel, canceling, canceled. If the stress in pronunciation is on the second syllable, double the consonant unless confusion would result: incur, incurred, incurring. An exception, to avoid confusion with buss, is bus, bused, busing. Avoid spelling simplifications such as lite. Exception: thru allowed in some compounds: drive-thru, writethru. British spellings, when they differ from American, are acceptable only in particular cases such as formal or composition titles: Jane's Defence Weekly, Labour Party, Excel Centre, London Palladium Theatre, Wimbledon's Centre Court.
television station
The call letters alone are frequently adequate, but when this phrase is needed, use lowercase: television station WTEV.
Jesus
The central figure of Christianity, he also may be called Jesus Christ or Christ. Personal pronouns referring to him are lowercase as is savior.
Muhammad
The chief prophet and central figure of the Islamic religion, the Prophet Muhammad. Use other spellings only if preferred by a specific person for his own name or in a title or the name of an organization.
capital
The city where a seat of government is located. Do not capitalize. When used in a financial sense, capital describes money, equipment or property used in a business by a person or corporation.
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? DECIDING ON CLOCK TIME: When giving a clock reading, use the time in the datelined community. If the story has no dateline, use the clock time in force where the event happened or will take place. The only exception is a nationwide story or tabular listing that involves television or radio programs. Always use Eastern time, followed by EDT or EST, and specify whether the program will be broadcast simultaneously nationwide or whether times will vary because of separate transmissions for different time zones. If practical, specify those times in a separate paragraph. ZONE ABBREVIATIONS: Use EST, CDT, PST, etc., after a clock time only if: The story involves travel or other activities, such as the closing hour for polling places or the time of a televised speech, likely to affect people or developments in more than one time zone. The item involves television or radio programs. (See above.) The item has no dateline. The item is an advisory to editors. CONVERT TO EASTERN TIME? Do not convert clock times from other time zones in the continental United States to Eastern time. If there is high interest in the precise time, add CDT, PST, etc., to the local reading to help readers determine their equivalent local time. If the time is critical in a story from outside the continental United States, provide a conversion to Eastern time using this form: The kidnappers set a 9 a.m. (3 a.m. EDT) deadline.
religious titles
The first reference to a clergyman or clergywoman normally should include a capitalized title before the individual's name. In many cases, the Rev. is the designation that applies before a name on first reference. Use the Rev. Dr. only if the individual has an earned doctoral degree (doctor of divinity degrees frequently are honorary) and reference to the degree is relevant. On second reference to members of the clergy, use only a last name: the Rev. Billy Graham on first reference, Graham on second. If known only by a religious name, repeat the title: Pope John XXIII on first reference, John, the pope or the pontiff on second; Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI or Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus. Benedict alone on second reference. Metropolitan Herman on first reference, Metropolitan Herman or the metropolitan on second. Detailed guidance on specific titles and descriptive words such as priest and minister is provided in the entries for major denominations in the Religion chapter. In general, however: CARDINALS, ARCHBISHOPS, BISHOPS: The preferred form for first reference is to use Cardinal, Archbishop or Bishop before the individual's name: Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston. On second reference: DiNardo or the cardinal. Substitute the Most Rev. if applicable and appropriate in the context: He spoke to the Most Rev. Jose Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles. On second reference: Gomez or the archbishop. Entries for individual denominations tell when the Most Rev., the Very Rev., etc., are applicable. See Religion chapter. MINISTERS AND PRIESTS: Use the Rev. before a name on first reference. Substitute Monsignor before the name of a Roman Catholic priest who has received this honor. Do not routinely use curate, father, pastor and similar words before an individual's name. If they appear before a name in a quotation, capitalize them. RABBIS: Use Rabbi before a name on first reference. On second reference, use only the last name. NUNS: Always use Sister, or Mother if applicable, before a name: Sister Agnes Rita in all references if the nun uses only a religious name; Sister Mary Ann Walsh on first reference if she uses a surname. Walsh on subsequent references. OFFICEHOLDERS: The preferred first-reference form for those who hold church office but are not ordained clergy in the usual sense is to use a construction that sets the title apart from the name by commas. Capitalize the formal title of an office, however, if it is used directly before an individual's name.
ocean
The five, from the largest to the smallest: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Antarctic Ocean, Arctic Ocean. Lowercase ocean standing alone or in plural uses: the ocean, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
department
The following are the U.S. Cabinet departments: Department of Agriculture (USDA acceptable on second reference); Department of Commerce; Department of Defense (DOD or Pentagon acceptable on second reference); Department of Education; Department of Energy (DOE acceptable on second reference); Department of Health and Human Services (HHS acceptable on second reference); Department of Homeland Security (DHS acceptable on second reference); Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD acceptable on second reference); Department of the Interior; Department of Justice (DOJ acceptable on second reference); Department of Labor; Department of State; Department of Transportation (DOT acceptable on second reference); Department of the Treasury, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA acceptable on second reference). It is preferable to list the subject first in stories, such as the Agriculture Department and Commerce Department. Exceptions are Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs. Avoid acronyms when possible. A phrase such as the department is preferable on second reference because it is more readable and avoids alphabet soup. Lowercase department in plural uses, but capitalize the proper name element: the departments of Labor and Justice. A shorthand reference to the proper name element also is capitalized: Kissinger said, "State and Justice must resolve their differences." But: Henry Kissinger, the secretary of state. Lowercase the department whenever it stands alone. Do not abbreviate department in any usage. TITLES: In stories with U.S. datelines, do not include U.S. before the titles of Secretary of State or other government officials, except where necessary for clarity. Examples: Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Eric Holder. In stories with international datelines, include U.S. before the titles: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Exceptions: President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence.
ranges
The form: $12 million to $14 million. Not: $12 to $14 million. Also: A pay increase of 12-15 percent. Or: A pay increase of between 12 and 15 percent. For full calendar years, hyphenated 2015-16 is acceptable.
complementary, complimentary
The husband and wife have complementary careers. They received complimentary tickets to the show.
reign, rein
The leather strap for controlling a horse is a rein, hence figuratively: seize the reins, give free rein to. Reign is the period a ruler is on the throne: The king began his reign.
among, between
The maxim that between introduces two items and among introduces more than two covers most questions about how to use these words: The funds were divided among Ford, Carter and McCarthy. The games between the Yankees, Phillies and Mets have been rollicking ones. As with all prepositions, any pronouns that follow these words must be in the objective case: among us, between him and her, between you and me.
sub-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: subbasement submachine gun subcommittee suborbital subculture subtotal subdivision subzero
ultra-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: ultramodern ultrasonic ultranationalism ultraviolet
either ... or, neither ... nor
The nouns that follow these words do not constitute a compound subject; they are alternate subjects and require a verb that agrees with the nearer subject: Neither they nor he is going. Neither he nor they are going.
couple of
The of is necessary. Never use a couple tomatoes or a similar phrase. The phrase takes a plural verb in constructions such as: A couple of tomatoes were stolen.
off of
The of is unnecessary: He fell off the bed. Not: He fell off of the bed.
total, totaled, totaling
The phrase a total of often is redundant. It may be used, however, to avoid a figure at the start of a sentence: A total of 650 people were killed in holiday traffic accidents.
Ph.D, Ph.D.s
The preferred form is to say a person holds a doctorate and name the individual's area of specialty.
Quran
The preferred spelling for the Muslim holy book. Use the spelling Koran only if preferred by a specific organization or in a specific title or name.
same-sex marriage
The preferred term over gay marriage. In places where it's legal, same-sex marriage is no different than other marriages, so the term should be used only when germane and needed to distinguish from marriages between heterosexual couples. Gertrude Boxer and Savannah Boxer dated for several years before their marriage in 2014. The Boxers petitioned for same-sex marriage before it was legalized in Hawaii in 2013. Sex is not synonymous with gender.
firefighter, fireman
The preferred term to describe a person who fights fire is firefighter. One meaning of fireman is a person who tends fires in a furnace. Fireman is also an acceptable synonym for firefighter.
mentally disabled, intellectually disabled, developmentally disabled
The preferred terms, not mentally retarded.
un-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: un-American unnecessary unarmed unshaven
under-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: underdog undersheriff underground undersold
up-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: upend upstate upgrade uptown
Walmart, Wal-Mart
The retailer's legal name is Wal-Mart Stores Inc. but it brands itself as Walmart. Use Walmart when writing generally about the company, including Walmart stores. Also include the legal name lower in the story in reports specific to its corporate results or corporate structure. Headquarters is in Bentonville, Arkansas.
trans-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: transcontinental transship transmigrate trans-Siberian transoceanic Also: trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific. These are exceptions to Webster's New World College Dictionary in keeping with the general rule that a hyphen is needed when a prefix precedes a capitalized word.
hyper-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: hyperactive hypercritical
inter-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: inter-American interstate interracial
mini-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: miniseries miniskirt minivan
multi-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: multicolored multimillion multilateral multimillionaire
semi-
The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: semifinal semiofficial semi-invalid semitropical But semi-automatic, semi-autonomous.
pre-
The rules in prefixes apply. The following examples of exceptions to first-listed spellings in Webster's New World College Dictionary are based on the general rule that a hyphen is used if a prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel: pre-election pre-establish pre-eminent pre-exist pre-empt Otherwise, follow Webster's New World College Dictionary, hyphenating if not listed there. Some examples: prearrange prehistoric precondition preignition precook prejudge predate premarital predecease prenatal predispose prenuptial preflight pretax pregame pretest preheat prewar Some hyphenated coinage, not listed in the dictionary: pre-convention pre-noon
re-
The rules in prefixes apply. The following examples of exceptions to first-listed spellings in Webster's New World College Dictionary are based on the general rule that a hyphen is used if a prefix ends in a vowel and the word that follows begins with the same vowel: re-elect re-enlist re-election re-enter re-emerge re-entry re-emphasize re-equip re-employ re-establish re-enact re-examine re-engage For many other words, the sense is the governing factor: recover (regain) re-cover (cover again) reform (improve) re-form (form again) resign (quit) re-sign (sign again) Otherwise, follow Webster's New World College Dictionary. Use a hyphen for words not listed there unless the hyphen would distort the sense.
non-
The rules of prefixes apply, but in general no hyphen when forming a compound that does not have special meaning and can be understood if not is used before the base word. Use a hyphen, however, before proper nouns.
Sept. 11
The term for describing the attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Use 2001 if needed for clarity. Also acceptable is 9/11.
global warming
The terms global warming and climate change can be used interchangeably. Climate change is more accurate scientifically to describe the various effects of greenhouse gases on the world because it includes extreme weather, storms and changes in rainfall patterns, ocean acidification and sea level. But global warming as a term is more common and understandable to the public. The world is warming, mainly due to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Most of the increase in temperature comes from man-made sources. These sources include the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, deforestation and livestock raising. This is based on the vast majority of peer-reviewed studies, science organizations and climate scientists. Identify the source for specific climate change data, and for any detailed predictions of how climate change will affect the earth. In a joint publication in 2014, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society of the United Kingdom stated: "Human activities - especially the burning of fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution - have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations by about 40 percent, with more than half the increase occurring since 1970. Since 1900, the global average surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit). This has been accompanied by warming of the ocean, a rise in sea level, a strong decline in Arctic sea ice, and many other associated climate effects. Much of this warming has occurred in the last four decades." To describe those who don't accept climate science or dispute that the world is warming from man-made forces, use climate change doubters or those who reject mainstream climate science. Avoid use of skeptics or deniers.
pardon, parole, probation
The terms often are confused, but each has a specific meaning. Do not use them interchangeably. A pardon forgives and releases a person from further punishment. It is granted by a chief of state or a governor. By itself, it does not expunge a record of conviction, if one exists, and it does not by itself restore civil rights. A general pardon, usually for political offenses, is called amnesty. Parole is the release of a prisoner before the sentence has expired, on condition of good behavior. It is granted by a parole board, part of the executive branch of government, and can be revoked only by the board. Probation is the suspension of sentence for a person convicted, but not yet imprisoned, on condition of good behavior. It is imposed and revoked only by a judge.
pore, pour
The verb pore means to gaze intently or steadily: She pored over her books. The verb pour means to flow in a continuous stream: It poured rain. He poured the coffee.
jury
The word takes singular verbs and pronouns: The jury has been sequestered until it reaches a verdict. Include racial and gender breakdown only if relevant. Do not capitalize: a U.S. District Court jury, a federal jury, a Massachusetts Superior Court jury, a Los Angeles County grand jury.
following
The word usually is a noun, verb or adjective: He has a large following. He is following his conscience. The following statement was made. Although Webster's New World College Dictionary records its use as a preposition, the preferred word is after: He spoke after dinner. Not: He spoke following dinner.
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.
essential clauses, nonessential clauses
These terms are used in this book instead of restrictive clause and nonrestrictive clause to convey the distinction between the two in a more easily remembered manner. Both types of clauses provide additional information about a word or phrase in the sentence. The difference between them is that the essential clause cannot be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence it so restricts the meaning of the word or phrase that its absence would lead to a substantially different interpretation of what the author meant. The nonessential clause, however, can be eliminated without altering the basic meaning of the sentence it does not restrict the meaning so significantly that its absence would radically alter the author's thought. PUNCTUATION: An essential clause must not be set off from the rest of a sentence by commas. A nonessential clause must be set off by commas. The presence or absence of commas provides the reader with critical information about the writer's intended meaning. Note the following examples: Reporters who do not read the Stylebook should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that only one class of reporters, those who do not read the Stylebook, should not criticize their editors. If the who ... Stylebook phrase were deleted, the meaning of the sentence would be changed substantially.) Reporters, who do not read the Stylebook, should not criticize their editors. (The writer is saying that all reporters should not criticize their editors. If the who ... Stylebook phrase were deleted, this meaning would not be changed.) USE OF WHO, WHOM, THAT, WHICH. See separate entries on that (conjunction); that, which (pronouns); who, whom. That is the preferred pronoun to introduce essential clauses that refer to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. Which is the only acceptable pronoun to introduce a nonessential clause that refers to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. The pronoun which occasionally may be substituted for that in the introduction of an essential clause that refers to an inanimate object or an animal without a name. In general, this use of which should appear only when that is used as a conjunction to introduce another clause in the same sentence: He said Monday that the part of the army which suffered severe casualties needs reinforcement.
admit, admitted
These words may in some contexts give the erroneous connotation of wrongdoing. People who say they are recovering from alcoholism, for example, are not admitting it. Said is usually sufficient.
long time, longtime
They have known each other a long time. They are longtime partners.
out of court, out-of-court
They settled out of court. He accepted an out-of-court settlement.
sports writer
This is an exception to Webster's New World College Dictionary.
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.
spree
This term is usually applied to shopping or revelry. Do not use in other circumstances: killing spree.
claim
This verb implies doubt, and its use in stories - Smith claimed - can imply the reporter does not believe something. Generally, said is a better term. Claim is most appropriate when an assertion is open to question and the story presents an alternative point of view: Pro-government forces claimed they seized the town, but rebels denied it.
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.
spokesman, spokeswoman, spokesperson
Use spokesperson if it is the preference of an individual or an organization.
arrest
To avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as arrested for killing. Instead, use arrested on a charge of killing. If a charge hasn't been filed, arrested on suspicion of, or a similar phrase, should be used.
differ from, differ with
To differ from means to be unlike. To differ with means to disagree.
forego, forgo
To forego means to go before, as in foregone conclusion. To forgo means to abstain from, as in: He decided to forgo his senior year of eligibility.
gibe, jibe
To gibe means to taunt or sneer: They gibed him about his mistakes. Jibe means to shift direction or, colloquially, to agree: They jibed their ship across the wind. Their stories didn't jibe.
Taser
Trademark for stun gun. Use the generic form if the brand is uncertain. Don't use verbs like tasered. Exception: When verb forms appear in direct quotations, use lowercase.
wide-
Usually hyphenated. Some examples: wide-angle wide-eyed wide-awake wide-open wide-brimmed Exception: widespread.
collide, collision
Two objects must be in motion before they can collide. A moving train cannot collide with a stopped train.
each other, one another
Two people look at each other. More than two look at one another. Either phrase may be used when the number is indefinite: We help each other. We help one another.
video game
Two words in all uses.
every one, everyone
Two words when it means each individual item: Every one of the clues was worthless. One word when used as a pronoun meaning all persons: Everyone wants their life to be happy. (Don't use his with everyone; it presumes maleness. They/them/their may be used as singular in such constructions if essential, but rewriting is preferred: All people want their lives to be happy.)
child care
Two words, no hyphen, in all cases.
day care
Two words, no hyphen, in all uses.
seat belt
Two words.
decades
Use Arabic figures to indicate decades of history. Use an apostrophe to indicate numerals that are left out; show plural by adding the letter s: the 1890s, the '90s, the Gay '90s, the 1920s, the mid-1930s.
company, companies
Use Co. or Cos. when a business uses either word at the end of its proper name: Ford Motor Co., American Broadcasting Cos. If company or companies appears alone in second reference, spell the word out. The forms for possessives: Ford Motor Co.'s profits, American Broadcasting Cos.' profits.
doctor
Use Dr. in first reference as a formal title before the name of an individual who holds a doctor of dental surgery, doctor of medicine, doctor of optometry, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of podiatric medicine, or doctor of veterinary medicine: Dr. Jonas Salk. The form Dr., or Drs., in a plural construction, applies to all first-reference uses before a name, including direct quotations. If appropriate in the context, Dr. also may be used on first reference before the names of individuals who hold other types of doctoral degrees. However, because the public frequently identifies Dr. only with physicians, care should be taken to ensure that the individual's specialty is stated in first or second reference. The only exception would be a story in which the context left no doubt that the person was a dentist, psychologist, chemist, historian, etc. In some instances it also is necessary to specify that an individual identified as Dr. is a physician. One frequent case is a story reporting on joint research by physicians, biologists, etc. Do not use Dr. before the names of individuals who hold only honorary doctorates. Do not continue the use of Dr. in subsequent references.
U.S. Postal Service
Use U.S. Postal Service or the Postal Service on first reference. Retain capitalization of Postal Service in subsequent references to the agency. Lowercase the service when it stands alone. Lowercase post office in generic references to the agency and to an individual office: I went to the post office.
West, Western, west, western
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.
federal
Use a capital letter for the architectural style and for corporate or governmental bodies that use the word as part of their formal names: the Federal Trade Commission. (See separate entries for governmental agencies.) Lowercase when used as an adjective to distinguish something from state, county, city, town or private entities: federal assistance, federal court, the federal government, a federal judge. Also: federal court (but U.S. District Court is preferred) and federal Judge Ann Aldrich (but U.S. District Judge Ann Aldrich is preferred).
hometown
Use a comma to set off an individual's hometown (both the city and, when needed, the state) when it is placed in apposition to a name, whether of is used or not: Tim Johnson, of Vermillion, South Dakota; Mary Richards, Minneapolis.
pro-
Use a hyphen when coining words that denote support for something. Some examples: pro-labor pro-business pro-peace pro-war No hyphen when pro is used in other senses: produce, profile, pronoun, proactive, etc.
decimal units
Use a period and numerals to indicate decimal amounts. Decimalization should not exceed two places in textual material unless there are special circumstances. For amounts less than 1, use the numeral zero before the decimal point: 0.03.
middle initials
Use according to a person's preference. Include middle initials in stories where they help identify a specific individual. Examples include casualty lists and stories naming the accused in a crime. A middle initial may be dropped if a person does not use one or is publicly known without it: Mickey Mantle (not Mickey C.), the Rev. Billy Graham (not Billy F.).
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.
No.
Use as the abbreviation for number in conjunction with a figure to indicate position or rank: No. 1 man, No. 3 choice. Do not use in street addresses, with this exception: No. 10 Downing St., the residence of Britain's prime minister. Do not use in the names of schools: Public School 19.
ensure, insure, assure
Use ensure to mean guarantee: Steps were taken to ensure accuracy. Use insure for references to insurance: The policy insures his life. Use assure to mean to make sure or give confidence: She assured us the statement was accurate.
female
Use female as an adjective, not woman. She is the first female governor of North Carolina.
woman, 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.
page numbers
Use figures and capitalize page when used with a figure. When a letter is appended to the figure, capitalize it but do not use a hyphen: Page 1, Page 10, Page 20A.
room numbers
Use figures and capitalize room when used with a figure: Room 2, Room 211.
ratios
Use figures and hyphens: the ratio was 2-to-1, a ratio of 2-to-1, a 2-1 ratio, 1 in 4 voters. As illustrated, the word to should be omitted when the numbers precede the word ratio. Always use the word ratio or a phrase such as a 2-1 majority to avoid confusion with actual figures.
dimensions
Use figures and spell out inches, feet, yards, etc., to indicate depth, height, length and width. Hyphenate adjectival forms before nouns. EXAMPLES: He is 5 feet 6 inches tall, the 5-foot-6-inch man, the 5-foot man, the basketball team signed a 7-footer. The car is 17 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5 feet high. The rug is 9 feet by 12 feet, the 9-by-12 rug. The storm left 5 inches of snow. The building has 6,000 square feet of floor space. Use an apostrophe to indicate feet and quote marks to indicate inches (5'6") only in very technical contexts.
times
Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 9-11 a.m., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Avoid such redundancies as 10 a.m. this morning, 10 p.m. tonight or 10 p.m. Monday night. Use 10 a.m. or 10 p.m. Monday, etc., as required by the norms in time element. The construction 4 o'clock is acceptable, but time listings with a.m. or p.m. are preferred.
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 warmer or cooler. Wrong: Temperatures are expected to warm up in the area Friday. Right: Temperatures are expected to rise in the area Friday.
millions, billions, trillions
Use figures with million, billion or trillion in all except casual uses: I'd like to make a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion. The government ran a deficit of more than $1 trillion. Do not go beyond two decimal places. 7.51 million people, $256 billion, 7,542,500 people, $2,565,750,000. Decimals are preferred where practical: 1.5 million. Not: 1 1/2 million. Do not mix millions and billions in the same figure: 2.6 billion. Not: 2 billion 600 million. Do not drop the word million or billion in the first figure of a range: He is worth from $2 million to $4 million. Not: $2 to $4 million, unless you really mean $2. Note that a hyphen is not used to join the figures and the word million or billion, even in this type of phrase: The president submitted a $300 billion budget. In headlines, abbreviate only millions, billions: $5M lawsuit, $17.4B trade deficit
years
Use figures, without commas: 2017. When a phrase refers to a month, day and year, set off the year with a comma: 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 the lone exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure is not used to start a sentence: 2013 was a very good year.
speeds
Use figures. The car slowed to 7 mph, winds of 5 to 10 mph, winds of 7 to 9 knots, 10-knot wind. Avoid extensively hyphenated constructions such as 5-mile-per-hour winds.
telephone numbers
Use figures. The form: 212-621-1500. For international numbers use 011 (from the United States), the country code, the city code and the telephone number: 011-44-20-7535-1515. Use hyphens, not periods. The form for toll-free numbers: 800-111-1000. If extension numbers are needed, use a comma to separate the main number from the extension: 212-621-1500, ext. 2.
weights
Use figures: The baby weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. She had a 9-pound, 7-ounce boy.
sizes
Use figures: a size 8 dress, size 40 long, 10 1/2B shoes, a 34 1/2 sleeve.
include
Use include to introduce a series when the items that follow are only part of the total: The price includes breakfast. The zoo includes lions and tigers. Use comprise when the full list of individual elements is given: The zoo comprises 100 types of animals, including lions and tigers.
indict
Use indict only in connection with the legal process of bringing charges against an individual or corporation. To avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use phrases such as indicted for killing or indicted for bribery. Instead, use indicted on a charge of killing or indicted on a bribery charge.
entitled
Use it to mean a right to do or have something. Do not use it to mean titled. Right: She was entitled to the promotion. Right: The book was titled "Gone With the Wind."
presently
Use it to mean in a little while or shortly, but not to mean now.
either
Use it to mean one or the other, not both. Right: She said to use either door. Wrong: There were lions on either side of the door. Right: There were lions on each side of the door. There were lions on both sides of the door.
like, as
Use like as a preposition to compare nouns and pronouns. It requires an object: Jim blocks like a pro. The conjunction as is the correct word to introduce clauses: Jim blocks the linebacker as he should.
radio station
Use lowercase: radio station WHEC.
today, tonight
Use only in direct quotations and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: Customs today are different from those of a century ago. Use the day of the week in copy, not today or tonight.
tomorrow
Use only in direct quotations and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: The world of tomorrow will need additional energy resources. Use the day of the week in other cases.
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.
oral, verbal, written
Use oral to refer to spoken words: He gave an oral promise. Use written to refer to words committed to paper: We had a written agreement. Use verbal to compare words with some other form of communication: His tears revealed the sentiments that his poor verbal skills could not express.
initials
Use periods and no space when an individual uses initials instead of a first name: H.L. Mencken. Do not give a name with a single initial (J. Jones) unless it is the individual's preference or a first name cannot be learned.
United States
Use periods in the abbreviation, U.S. within texts. In headlines, it's US (no periods).
people, persons
Use person when speaking of an individual: One person waited for the bus. The word people is preferred to persons in all plural uses. For example: Thousands of people attended the fair. What will people say? There were 17 people in the room. Persons should be used only when it is in a direct quote or part of a title as in Bureau of Missing Persons. People also is a collective noun that takes a plural verb when used to refer to a single race or nation: The American people are united.
prove, proved, proving
Use proven only as an adjective: a proven remedy.
that, which
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 that clauses.)
a, an
Use the article a before consonant sounds: a historic event, a one-year term (sounds as if it begins with a w), a united stand (sounds like you). Use the article an before vowel sounds: an energy crisis, an honorable man (the h is silent), an homage (the h is silent), an NBA record (sounds like it begins with the letter e), an 1890s celebration.
that
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 print copy. 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.
senior citizen
Use the term sparingly.
middle names
Use them only with people who are publicly known that way (James Earl Jones), or to prevent confusion with people of the same name.
people's
Use this possessive form when the word occurs in the formal name of a nation: the People's Republic of China. Use this form also in such phrases as the people's desire for freedom.
theater
Use this spelling unless the proper name is Theatre: Shubert Theatre.
elderly
Use this word carefully and sparingly. Do not refer to a person as elderly unless it is clearly relevant to the story. Apply the same principle to terms such as senior citizen. It is appropriate in generic phrases that do not refer to specific individuals: concern for elderly people, a home for senior citizens, etc. If the intent is to show that an individual's faculties have deteriorated, cite a graphic example and give attribution for it. Use age when available and appropriate.
transsexual
Use transgender to describe individuals who have acquired the physical characteristics of the opposite sex or present themselves in a way that does not correspond with their sex at birth.
gay
Used to describe people attracted to the same sex, though lesbian is the more common term for women. Preferred over homosexual except in clinical contexts or references to sexual activity. Include sexual orientation only when it is pertinent to a story, and avoid references to sexual preference or to a gay or alternative lifestyle.
second reference
When used in this book, the term applies to all subsequent references to an organization or individual within a story. Acceptable abbreviations and acronyms for organizations frequently in the news are listed under the organization's full name. A few prominent acronyms acceptable on first reference also are listed alphabetically according to the letters of the acronym. 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.
none
When used to mean no one, not one or no amount of it, none takes singular verbs and pronouns: None of us is perfect. None of the seats was in its right place. None of the coffee was poured. When the sense is none of them, use plural verbs and pronouns: None of the consultants agree on the same approach. None of the horses were in their stalls. None of the taxes have been paid.
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?
secretary-treasurer
With a hyphen. Capitalize as a formal title before a name.
imply, infer
Writers or speakers imply in the words they use. A listener or reader infers something from the words.
suit, suite
You may have a suit of clothes, a suit of cards, or be faced with a lawsuit. There are suites of music, rooms and furniture.
break-in, break in
break-in (n. and adj.) break in (v.)
breakup, break up
breakup (n. and adj.) break up (v.)
buildup, build up
buildup (n. and adj.) build up (v.)
checkout, check out
checkout (n. and adj.) check out (v.)
cleanup, clean up
cleanup (n. and adj.) clean up (v.)
cover-up, cover up
cover-up (n. and adj.) cover up (v.)
cutback, cut back
cutback (n. and adj.) cut back (v.)
cutoff, cut off
cutoff (n. and adj.) cut off (v.)
dead end, dead-end
dead end (n.) dead-end (adj.)
dropout, drop out
dropout (n.) drop out (v.)
loan, lend
loan (n.) lend (v.) The preferred usage.
every day, everyday
every day (adv.) everyday (adj.)
makeup, make up
makeup (n. and adj.) make up (v.)
hang-up, hang up
hang-up (n.) hang up (v.)
hard line, hard-liner, hard-line
hard line (n.) hard-liner (n.) hard-line (adj.)
high-five, high-fived
high-five (n.) high-fived (v.)
middle class, middle-class
middle class (n.) middle-class (adj.)
so called, so-called
so called (adv.) so-called (adj.) Use sparingly. Do not follow with quotation marks. Example: He is accused of trading so-called blood diamonds to finance the war.
stand-in, stand in
stand-in (n. and adj.) stand in (v.)
standoff, stand off
standoff (n. and adj.) stand off (v.)
standout, stand out
standout (n. and adj.) stand out (v.)
layoff, lay off
layoff (n.) lay off (v.)
left hand, left-hander, left-handed
left hand (n.) left-hander (n.) left-handed (adj.)
left wing, left-winger, left-wing
left wing (n.) left-winger (n.) left-wing (adj.) Generally try to avoid in describing political leanings.
letup, let up
letup (n. and adj.) let up (v.)
mix-up, mix up
mix-up (n. and adj.) mix up (v.)
pickup, pick up
pickup (n. and adj.) pick up (v.)
pileup, pile up
pileup (n. and adj.) pile up (v.)
prime time, prime-time
prime time (n.), prime-time (adj.)
right hand, right-hander, right-handed
right hand (n.) right-hander (n.) right-handed (adj.)
right wing, right-winger, right-wing
right wing (n.) right-winger (n.) right-wing (adj.) Generally try to avoid in describing political leanings.
rip-off, rip off
rip-off (n. and adj.) rip off (v.)
roll call, roll-call
roll call (n.) roll-call (adj.)
roundup, round up
roundup (n.) round up (v.)
rush hour, rush-hour
rush hour (n.) rush-hour (adj.)
second hand, secondhand
second hand (n.) secondhand (adj. and adv.)
sellout, sell out
sellout (n.) sell out (v.)
setup, set up
setup (n. and adj.) set up (v.)
shake-up, shake up
shake-up (n. and adj.) shake up (v.)
shoutout, shout out
shoutout (n.) shout out (v.)
showoff, show off
showoff (n.) show off (v.)
shut-off, shut off
shut-off (n.) shut off (v.)
shutdown, shut down
shutdown (n.) shut down (v.)
shutout, shut out
shutout (n.) shut out (v.)
sign-up, sign up
sign-up (n. and adj.) sign up (v.)
sit-down, sit down
sit-down (n. and adj.) sit down (v.)
sit-in, sit in
sit-in (n. and adj.) sit in (v.)
slowdown, slow down
slowdown (n.) slow down (v.)
smashup, smash up
smashup (n. and adj.) smash up (v.)
takeoff, take off
takeoff (n. and adj.) take off (v.)
takeout, take out
takeout (n. and adj.) take out (v.)
takeover, take over
takeover (n. and adj.) take over (v.)
teen, teenager, teenage
teen, teenager (n.) teenage (adj.) Do not use teen-aged.
tie-in, tie in
tie-in (n. and adj.) tie in (v.)
touch screen, touch-screen
touch screen (n.) touch-screen (adj.)
trade-in, trade in
trade-in (n. and adj.) trade in (v.)
trade-off, trade off
trade-off (n. and adj.) trade off (v.)
tryout, try out
tryout (n.) try out (v.)
tuneup, tune up
tuneup (n. and adj.) tune up (v.)
upside down, upside-down
upside down (adv.) upside-down (adj.) The car turned upside down. The book is upside-down.
veto, vetoes
veto, vetoes (n.) The verb forms: vetoed, vetoing.
working class, working-class
working class (n.) working-class (adj.)
write-in, write in
write-in (n. and adj.) write in (v.)
polls and surveys
you just gotta look this one up, it's a novel-length entry
citizen, resident, subject, national, native
A citizen is a person who has acquired the full civil rights of a nation either by birth or naturalization. Cities and states in the United States do not confer citizenship. To avoid confusion, use resident, not citizen, in referring to inhabitants of states and cities. Citizen is also acceptable for those in the United Kingdom, or other monarchies where the term subject is often used. National is applied to a person residing away from the nation of which he or she is a citizen, or to a person under the protection of a specified nation. Native is the term denoting that an individual was born in a given location.
civil cases, criminal cases
A civil case is one in which an individual, business or agency of government seeks damages or relief from another individual, business or agency of government. Civil actions generally involve a charge that a contract has been breached or that someone has been wronged or injured. A criminal case is one that the state or the federal government brings against an individual charged with committing a crime.
attribution
AP news reports must attribute facts not gathered or confirmed on our own, whether the pickup is from a newspaper, website, broadcaster or blog, U.S. or international, AP member or subscriber. AP reports must also credit other organizations when they break a story and AP matches or further develops it. News from a government, agency, organization, company or other recognized group may be attributed to that entity on first reference in the story: the White House announced. In a follow-up attribution, specify whether the information came from a spokesman or other named official or in a news release.
African-American
Acceptable for an American black person of African descent. Also acceptable is black. The terms are not necessarily interchangeable. People from Caribbean nations, for example, generally refer to themselves as Caribbean-American. Follow a person's preference.
anniversary
Avoid first anniversary, the redundant one-year anniversary and terms such as six-month anniversary (or other time spans less than a year). Similarly, avoid first annual.
addiction
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is considered a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior. It can cause changes in brain circuits and chemistry that lead to inability to control use, despite resulting harmful behavior including damage to health and relationships. Genetics, mental illness and other risk factors make certain people susceptible to addiction. Addiction is the preferred term for the disease. The term substance use disorder is preferred by some clinicians and is acceptable in some uses, such as in quotations or scientific contexts. Alcoholism is acceptable for an addiction to alcohol. Avoid words like abuse or problem in favor of the word use with an appropriate modifier such as risky, unhealthy, excessive or heavy. Misuse is also acceptable. Don't assume all people who engage in risky use of drugs or alcohol have an addiction. Avoid words like alcoholic, addict, user and abuser unless they are in quotations or names of organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Many researchers and organizations, including the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the International Society of Addiction Journal Editors, agree that stigmatizing or punitive-sounding language can be inaccurate by emphasizing the person, not the disease; can be a barrier to seeking treatment; and can prejudice even clinicians. Instead, choose phrasing like he was addicted, people with heroin addiction or he used drugs. Examples: Keene had trouble keeping his job because of alcoholism, not Keene had trouble keeping his job because he was an alcoholic. Yang joined other people with heroin addictions at the conference, not Yang joined other heroin addicts at the conference. As of early 2018, leading clinicians said disorders with tobacco and gambling can also meet the criteria for addiction. Other compulsive behaviors such as eating, video gaming, sex and shopping did not meet the clinical criteria for addiction. When practical, try to confirm that individuals described as having addictions have received such a diagnosis by letting them talk about it themselves, or get confirmation from a doctor or relative in the position to know. Do not use the terms addiction and dependence interchangeably. Addiction usually refers to a disease or disorder; dependence may not involve one, such as some babies born to mothers who use drugs or cancer patients who take prescribed painkillers. The term misuse can be helpful in cases of legally prescribed medications, such as if a person with a painkiller prescription purposely takes too many to get high, or excessively uses medical marijuana. Such actions do not necessarily entail a disorder but can progress into one. Note the subtle difference between prescribed and prescription drugs. Prescribe usually is used to describe specific drugs a doctor has authorized for a patient; prescription refers to classes of drugs meant for that purpose. The cancer patient took prescribed painkillers. Health officials observed wide misuse of prescription painkillers.
affect, effect
Affect, as a verb, means to influence: The game will affect the standings. Affect, as a noun, is best avoided. It occasionally is used in psychology to describe an emotion, but there is no need for it in everyday language. Effect, as a verb, means to cause: He will effect many changes in the company. Effect, as a noun, means result: The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions. It was a law of little effect.
annual
An event cannot be described as annual until it has been held in at least two successive years. Do not use the term first annual. Instead, note that sponsors plan to hold an event annually.
controversial
An overused word. Most issues that are described as controversial are obviously so, and the word is not necessary.
another
Another is not a synonym for additional; it refers to an element that somehow duplicates a previously stated quantity. Right: Ten people took the test; another 10 refused. Wrong: Ten people took the test; another 20 refused. Right: Ten people took the test; 20 others refused.
composition titles
Apply the guidelines listed here to book titles, computer and video game titles, movie titles, opera titles, play titles, poem titles, album and song titles, radio and television program titles, and the titles of lectures, speeches and works of art. The guidelines, followed by a block of examples: —Capitalize the principal words, including prepositions and conjunctions of four or more letters. —Capitalize an article — the, a, an — or words of fewer than four letters if it is the first or last word in a title. —Put quotation marks around the names of all such works except the Bible, the Quran and other holy books, and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material. In addition to catalogs, this category includes almanacs, directories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, gazetteers, handbooks and similar publications. Do not use quotation marks around such software titles as WordPerfect or Windows. —Translate a foreign title into English unless a work is generally known by its foreign name. An exception to this is reviews of musical performances. In those instances, generally refer to the work in the language it was sung in, so as to differentiate for the reader. However, musical compositions in Slavic languages are always referred to in their English translations. EXAMPLES: "The Star-Spangled Banner," "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich," "Gone With the Wind," "Of Mice and Men," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Time After Time," the NBC-TV "Today" program, the "CBS Evening News," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Star Wars," "Game of Thrones." See television program names for further guidelines and examples. REFERENCE WORKS: IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft; Encyclopaedia Britannica; Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, Second Edition. Names of most websites and apps are capitalized without quotes: Facebook, Foursquare. EXCEPTION: "FarmVille" and similar computer game apps are in quotes. Foreign works: Rousseau's "War," not Rousseau's "La Guerre." But: Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa." Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" if sung in English but "Le Nozze di Figaro" if sung in Italian. Mozart's "The Magic Flute" if sung in English but "Die Zauberfloete" if sung in German. "Die Walkuere" and "Goetterdaemmerung" from Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" if sung in German but "The Valkyrie" and "The Twilight of the Gods" from "The Ring of the Nibelung" if sung in English. Janacek's "From the House of the Dead," not Janacek's "Z Mrtveho Domu." —For other classical music titles, use quotation marks around the composition's nicknames but not compositions identified by its sequence. EXAMPLES: Dvorak's "New World Symphony." Dvorak's Symphony No. 9.
bad, badly
Bad should not be used as an adverb. It does not lose its status as an adjective, however, in a sentence such as I feel bad. Such a statement is the idiomatic equivalent of I am in bad health. An alternative, I feel badly, could be interpreted as meaning that your sense of touch was bad.
CIA
CIA is acceptable in all references. The formal title for the individual who heads the agency is director of central intelligence. On first reference: Director Richard Helms of the CIA or CIA Director Richard Helms.
Capitol
Capitalize U.S. Capitol and the Capitol when referring to the building in Washington: The meeting was held on Capitol Hill in the west wing of the Capitol. Follow the same practice when referring to state capitols: The Virginia Capitol is in Richmond. Thomas Jefferson designed the Capitol of Virginia. Use capital for a city or town that is the seat of government.
Congress
Capitalize U.S. Congress and Congress when referring to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Although Congress sometimes is used as a substitute for the House, it properly is reserved for reference to both the Senate and House. Capitalize Congress also if referring to a foreign body that uses the term, or its equivalent in a foreign language, as part of its formal name: the Argentine Congress, the Congress. Lowercase when used as a synonym for convention or in second reference to an organization that uses the word as part of its formal name: the Congress of Racial Equality, the congress.
academic titles
Capitalize and spell out formal titles such as chancellor, chairman, etc., when they precede a name. Lowercase elsewhere. Lowercase modifiers such as department in department Chairman Jerome Wiesner.
chief
Capitalize as a formal title before a name: She spoke to police Chief Michael Codd. He spoke to Chief Michael Codd of the New York police. Lowercase when it is not a formal title: union chief Walter Reuther.
chairman, chairwoman
Capitalize as a formal title before a name: company Chairman Henry Ford, committee Chairwoman Margaret Chase Smith. Do not capitalize as a casual, temporary position: meeting chairman Robert Jones. Use chairperson, chair or co-chair if preferred by an organization. Chair is acceptable as a verb: She chaired the meeting; he chairs the committee.
church
Capitalize as part of the formal name of a building, a congregation or a denomination; lowercase in other uses: St. Mary's Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic and Episcopal churches, a Roman Catholic church, a church. Lowercase in phrases where the church is used in an institutional sense: She believes in the separation of church and state. The pope said the church opposes abortion.
city
Capitalize city if part of a proper name, an integral part of an official name, or a regularly used nickname: Kansas City, New York City, Windy City, City of Light, Fun City. Lowercase elsewhere: a Texas city; the city government; the city Board of Education; and all city of phrases: the city of Boston. Capitalize when part of a formal title before a name: City Manager Francis McGrath. Lowercase when not part of the formal title: city Health Commissioner Frank Smith.
cabinet
Capitalize references to a specific body of advisers heading executive departments for a president, king, governor, etc.: The president-elect said he has not made his Cabinet selections.
constitution
Capitalize references to the U.S. Constitution, with or without the U.S. modifier: The president said he supports the Constitution. When referring to constitutions of other nations or of states, capitalize only with the name of a nation or a state: the French Constitution, the Massachusetts Constitution, the nation's constitution, the state constitution, the constitution. Lowercase in other uses: the organization's constitution. Lowercase constitutional in all uses.
college
Capitalize when part of a proper name: Dartmouth College.
city council
Capitalize when part of a proper name: the Boston City Council. Retain capitalization if the reference is to a specific council but the context does not require the city name: BOSTON (AP) - The City Council ... Lowercase in other uses: the council, the Boston and New York city councils, a city council. Use the proper name if the body is not known as a city council: the Miami City Commission, the City Commission, the commission; the Louisville Board of Aldermen, the Board of Aldermen, the board. Use city council in a generic sense for plural references: the Boston, Louisville and Miami city councils.
complement, compliment
Complement is a noun and a verb denoting completeness or the process of supplementing something: The ship has a complement of 200 sailors and 20 officers. The tie complements his suit. Compliment is a noun or a verb that denotes praise or the expression of courtesy: The captain complimented the sailors. She was flattered by the compliments on her project.
compose, comprise, constitute
Compose means to create or put together. It commonly is used in both the active and passive voices: She composed a song. The United States is composed of 50 states. The zoo is composed of many animals. Comprise means to contain, to include all or embrace. It is best used only in the active voice, followed by a direct object: The United States comprises 50 states. The jury comprises five men and seven women. The zoo comprises many animals. Constitute, in the sense of form or make up, may be the best word if neither compose nor comprise seems to fit: Fifty states constitute the United States. Five men and seven women constitute the jury. A collection of animals can constitute a zoo. Use include when what follows is only part of the total: The price includes breakfast. The zoo includes lions and tigers.
company names
For a company's formal name, consult the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Do not use a comma before Inc. or Ltd., even if it is included in the formal name. You must include the full company name somewhere in the story. This ensures the story will be among the search results on major websites. The formal name need not be used on first reference - for example, Costco is acceptable for Costco Wholesale Corp. - but it should be contained in the body of any story in which the subject matter could affect a company's business. For example, include the corporate name in a story on an earnings report, or in a story on a plane crash that could affect the airline's stock price. However, the corporate name might be irrelevant in a story about a political candidate's appearance at a local retail store. If "The" is part of the formal company name it should be included. For example: The Walt Disney Co. Generally, follow the spelling preferred by the company, but capitalize the first letter of company names in all uses: e.g., Adidas, Lululemon. Exceptions include company names such as eBay, which have a capital letter elsewhere in the name. However, company names should always be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence. For corporate news, AP may use the legal name from the Securities and Exchange Commission filing rather than a company's preference. Do not use all-capital-letter names unless the letters are individually pronounced: BMW. Others should be uppercase and lowercase. Ikea, not IKEA; USA Today, not USA TODAY. Do not use symbols such as exclamation points, plus signs or asterisks that form contrived spellings that might distract or confuse a reader. Use Yahoo, not Yahoo!; Toys R Us, not Toys "R" Us; E-Trade, not E*Trade. Use an ampersand only if it is part of the company's formal name, but not otherwise in place of and. Use the lowercase unless it is part of the company's formal name. (it then goes on to list some major U.S. companies, which I'm not going to do in this quizlet, sorry. The list in my stylebook takes up a full three pages. If Justice expects us to have all those memorized for the final he can go f*ck himself.)
accident, crash
Generally acceptable for automobile and other collisions and wrecks. However, when negligence is claimed or proven, avoid accident, which can be read by some as a term exonerating the person responsible. In such cases, use crash, collision or other terms.
academic degrees
If mention of degrees is necessary to establish someone's credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use instead a phrase such as: John Jones, who has a doctorate in psychology. Use an apostrophe in bachelor's degree, a master's, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. Also: an associate degree (no possessive). Use such abbreviations as B.A., M.A., LL.D. and Ph.D. only when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. Use these abbreviations only after a full name — never after just a last name. When used after a name, an academic abbreviation is set off by commas: John Snow, Ph.D., spoke. Do not precede a name with a courtesy title for an academic degree and follow it with the abbreviation for the degree in the same reference.
century
Lowercase (unless part of a proper name). Spell out numbers under 10: the first century, the 21st century.
agent
Lowercase unless it is a formal title used before a name. In the FBI, the formal title is special agent. In most cases, make it agent William Smith or FBI agent William Smith.
congressional
Lowercase unless part of a proper name: congressional salaries, the Congressional Quarterly, the Congressional Record.
associate
Never abbreviate. Apply the same capitalization norms listed under assistant.
building
Never abbreviate. Capitalize the proper names of buildings, including the word building if it is an integral part of the proper name: the Empire State Building.
all right
Never alright. Hyphenate only if used colloquially as a compound modifier: He is an all-right guy.
after-
No hyphen after this prefix when it is used to form a noun: aftereffect afterthought Follow after with a hyphen when it is used to form compound modifiers: after-dinner drink after-theater snack
amid
Not amidst.
backward
Not backwards.
collective nouns
Nouns that denote a unit take singular verbs and pronouns: class, committee, crowd, family, group, herd, jury, orchestra, team. Some usage examples: The committee is meeting to set its agenda. The jury reached its verdict. A herd of cattle was sold. Team names and musical group names that are plural take plural verbs. The Yankees are in first place. The Jonas Brothers are popular. Team or group names with no plural forms also take plural verbs: The Miami Heat are battling for third place. Other examples: Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Alabama Crimson Tide. Most singular names take singular verbs, including places and university names in sports: Coldplay is on tour. Boston is favored in the playoffs. Stanford is in the NCAA Tournament. Some proper names that are plural in form take a singular verb: Brooks Brothers is holding a sale. PLURAL IN FORM: Some words that are plural in form become collective nouns and take singular verbs when the group or quantity is regarded as a unit. Right: A thousand bushels is a good yield. (A unit.) Right: A thousand bushels were created. (Individual items.) Right: The data is sound. (A unit.) Right: The data have been carefully collected. (Individual items.)
baby boom, baby boomer
Reference to those born between 1946 and 1964, a span defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Hyphenated as an adjective: baby-boom generation.
congressional districts
Use figures and capitalize district when joined with a figure: the 1st Congressional District, the 1st District. Lowercase district whenever it stands alone.
allege
The word must be used with great care. Some guidelines: Avoid any suggestion that the writer is making an allegation. Specify the source of an allegation. In a criminal case, it should be an arrest record, an indictment or the statement of a public official connected with the case. Use alleged bribe or similar phrase when necessary to make it clear that an unproved action is not being treated as fact. Be sure that the source of the charge is specified elsewhere in the story. Avoid, where possible, alleged victim. It is too easily construed as skepticism of a victim's account. Avoid redundant uses of alleged. It is proper to say: The district attorney alleged that she took a bribe. Or: The district attorney accused her of taking a bribe. But not: The district attorney accused her of allegedly taking a bribe. Do not use alleged to describe an event that is known to have occurred, when the dispute is over who participated in it. Do not say: He attended the alleged meeting when what you mean is: He allegedly attended the meeting. Do not use alleged as a routine qualifier. Instead, use a word such as apparent, ostensible or reputed.
alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae
Use alumnus (alumni in the plural) when referring to a man who has attended a school. Use alumna (alumnae in the plural) for similar references to a woman. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women.
because, since
Use because to denote a specific cause-effect relationship: He went because he was told. Since is acceptable in a causal sense when the first event in a sequence led logically to the second but was not its direct cause: They went to the game, since they had been given the tickets.
blond, blonde
Use blond as a noun for males and as an adjective for all applications: She has blond hair. Use blonde as a noun for females.
compared to, compared with
Use compared to when the intent is to assert, without the need for elaboration, that two or more items are similar: She compared her work for women's rights to Susan B. Anthony's campaign for women's suffrage. Use compared with when juxtaposing two or more items to illustrate similarities and/or differences: His time was 2:11:10, compared with 2:14 for his closest competitor.
academic departments
Use lowercase except for words that are proper nouns or adjectives: the department of history, the history department, the department of English, the English department, or when department is part of the official and formal name: University of Connecticut Department of Economics.
congressman, congresswoman
Use only in reference to members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. and U.S. Rep. are the preferred first-reference forms when a formal title is used before the name of a U.S. House member. The words congressman or congresswoman, in lowercase, may be used in subsequent references that do not use an individual's name, just as senator is used in references to members of the Senate. Congressman and congresswoman should appear as capitalized formal titles before a name only in direct quotation.
addresses
Use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues. All similar words (alley, drive, road, terrace, etc.) always are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number; lowercase when used alone or with two or more names. Always use figures for an address number: 9 Morningside Circle. Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures for 10th and above: 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St. Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 562 W. 43rd St., 600 K St. NW. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: East 42nd Street, West 43rd Street, K Street Northwest. No periods in quadrant abbreviations NW, SE unless customary locally. Use periods in the abbreviation P.O. for P.O. Box numbers.
ages
Use when deemed relevant to the situation. If someone is quoted as saying, I'm too old to get another job, the age is relevant. Generally, use ages for profiles, obituaries, significant career milestones and achievements unusual for the age. Use ages for people commenting or providing information only if their age is relevant to their comments (e.g., a teenager's comment on video games aimed at that age group). Appropriate background, such as a parent of two young children or a World War II veteran, may suffice instead of the actual age. Always use figures. The girl is 15 years old; the law is 8 years old; the 101-year-old house. When the context does not require years or years old, the figure is presumed to be years. Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun. Examples: A 5-year-old boy, but the boy is 5 years old. The boy, 7, has a sister, 10. The woman, 26, has a daughter 2 months old. The race is for 3-year-olds. The woman is in her 30s (no apostrophe).
brand names
When they are used, capitalize them. Brand names normally should be used only if they are essential to a story. Sometimes, however, the use of a brand name may not be essential but is acceptable because it lends an air of reality to a story: He fished a Camel from his shirt pocket may be preferable to the less specific cigarette. When a company sponsors a sports or other event identified only by the company's name, use the name on first reference: Example: Buick Open. However, when an event is clearly identifiable without the company's name, drop the name on first reference and include the sponsor name elsewhere in the story or at the bottom as an Editor's Note. Example: FedEx Orange Bowl would be identified in the story only as Orange Bowl. Also use a separate paragraph to provide the name of a sponsor when the brand name is not part of the formal title.
