Associated Press (AP)

The Associated Press (AP) style is used in newsrooms around America as well as several other countries. Although the only way to know every style detail is to look up words in an up-todate copy of the AP Stylebook, you can learn the basics of AP style to write the basics of any article. Writing accurately and remembering AP style takes some practice, but once you learn it, the rules will become second nature to you.

Associated Press (AP)

Writing accurately and remembering AP style takes some practice, but once you learn it, the rules will become second nature to you.

The Serial Comma

Although modern American English is moving to including the serial comma (the final comma in a series of words or phrases), AP style rarely includes the serial comma.

The Serial Comma

Never use the serial comma for short, simple lists: He bought bread, milk, eggs and cheese. Use the comma for long, complicated lists: He left her because of her insipid tendency to hover around him needlessly, her complete conceited nature and refusal to think about anybody but herself, and most of all because of her insane mother.

Numbers
Spell out numbers under 10. Use numerals for numbers 10 and above. Always use numerals for the following: ages, sums of money, time of day, percentages, house numerals, years, days of month, degrees of temperature, proportions, votes, scores, speeds, time of races, dimensions and serial numbers. One exception to the above rules: always spell out a number that begins a sentence, except if it is a year.

Numbers
Use Roman numerals (IV, III) for popes, royalty and wars. For large numbers (millions, billions, trillions, etc) do not write out the zeros but instead use numerals followed by the word: Tuesday's gathering brought together an astonishing 3.5 million protesters from across the nation.

Percentages
Percentages are always expressed as numerals, followed by the word percent. Example: The price of gas rose 5 percent.

Ages
Ages are always expressed as numerals.
Example: He is 5 years old.

Cities
When writing a city that is not well-known, write the state with it for the first mention. Certain well-known cities never require a state listed.

Dates
Spell out months when used alone or with either a date or year but abbreviate them to the following when used with a date and year. Never abbreviate days of the week. January -- Jan. February -- Feb. March March April -- April May May June -- June July July August -- Aug. September -- Sept. October -- Oct. November -- Nov. December -- Dec.

Quotes
Each quoted person should have its own paragraph. No exceptions. When the same speaker begins a new paragraph or changes topics, either change paragraphs or use an interrupting line. Remember that accuracy in quotes is essential to avoid libel. "It's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!" Then, after a moment of silence, "But there's nothing we can do about it, is there?"

Dollar Amounts Dollar amounts are always expressed as numerals, and the $ sign is used. Example: $5, $15, $150, $150,000, $15 million, $15 billion, $15.5 billion

Street Addresses Numerals are used for numbered addresses. Street, Avenue and Boulevard are abbreviated when used with a numbered address, but otherwise are spelled out. Route and Road are never abbreviated. Example: He lives at 123 Main St. His house is on Main Street. Her house in on 234 Elm Road.

Dates Dates are expressed as numerals. The months August through February are abbreviated when used with numbered dates. March through July are never abbreviated. Months without dates are not abbreviated. Th is not used. Example: The meeting is on Oct. 15. She was born on July 12. I love the weather in November.

Job Titles Job titles are generally capitalized when they appear before a persons name, but lowercase after the name. Example: President George Bush. George Bush is the president.

Film, Book & Song Titles Generally these are capitalized and placed in quotation marks. Do not use quote marks with reference books or the names of newspapers or magazines. Example: He rented Star Wars on DVD. She read War and Peace.