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Welcome! Today is Thursday, September 02, 2010
Ask the Editor provides answers, clarification and guidance on style issues that go beyond the pages of the AP Stylebook. Before posing a question to AP editor David Minthorn, search the accompanying style archives for your topic. With thousands of questions and answers on file, your topic has very likely been covered. For typical style questions and responses, visit Ask the Editor FAQ.
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"Ask the Editor" questions from the past week:
| Q. We support this conference as a Silver sponsor, a silver sponsor or a Silver Sponsor? – from Kansas City, MO on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 A. Assuming it's a generic category term, spell lowercase. |
| Q. I searched the archive about five ways, but couldn't find any answer to this question: How would AP handle the slang expression "I wanna give a shout-out to .... (whomever)"? Hyphenate shout-out? One word shoutout? I like the looks of the hyphenated version, and two words just don't cut it, since the slang term is always both words together, linked, conjoined, indivisible. – from Middletown, N.Y. on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 A. Correctly hyphenated as shout-out. |
| Q. Is this the correct hyphenation? "This is the first time that 16-to-24-year-olds are..." – from Washington, DC on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 A. ... 16- to 24-year-olds ... |
| Q. What is AP style's position on the use in business jargon of nouns like "leverage," "reference" "decision,"
and architect" as verbs? – from Matthews, NC on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 A. The first two have Webster's approval for verb forms and are widely used in AP stories. The other two should remain nouns, as defined by the dictionary. |
| Q. Is the word "of" necessary in this sentence? He
lost both (of) his parents when he was young, and
he lived in foster care for several years.
Thank you. – from Buffalo, NY on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 A. Of is not essential but it is acceptable. |
| Q. Is it "cold, hard cash" or "cold hard cash"? Thanks! – from Cleveland, OH on Wed, Sep 01, 2010 A. This expression doesn't require a comma. |
| Q. Should entertainment award categories by capitalized, such as CMA song of the year? – from Fargo, ND on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. AP stories lowercase the categories of the annual CMA Awards. |
| Q. Is it OK to use the term "wife beater" when you're referring to a sleeveless undershirt? – from Fredericksburg, VA on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. The term is used occasionally in fashion or fad contexts with an explanation. |
| Q. One of our staff members asked me a question I haven't thought about: "At what point will it be necessary (or do you think it already is) to write a nut graf in all 9/11 stories explaining what 9/11 is? My opinion: after Sept. 11, 2011. After 10 years, I think a nut graf is due." Any thoughts? – from Camarillo, Calif., on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. A few words background will be in order if readers need reminders. In cities/areas that experienced the attacks, 9/11 will no doubt be understood for some years to come. |
| Q. Is the steak sauce A.1, A-1 or A1? – from , on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. A1 Steak Sauce, per the product label. |
| Q. Typically time zones are expressed as PST, EST, DST, etc., but is it acceptable to abbreviate the zone when it's expressed without "daylight" or "standard" (i.e., Pacific Time as PT)? For example, Service Hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. PT. Thanks. – from Cypress, CA on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. For clarity, better use the customary abbreviations: PST or PDT, or spell out Pacific time. |
| Q. Is book signing one or two words? Hyphenated? – from La Crosse, WI on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. Standing alone, a book signing. As a modifier, usually hyphenated: book-signing tour. |
| Q. Web site addresses. If I'm understanding the entry correctly, capitalization and spelling for a Web site address are up to the owner of the address. In other words, if a company wants to capitalize their business (i.e. www.SeaWorldSanDiego.com), they can set that style. Am I correct? – from San Diego, CA on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. As the address owner, you should be able to spell it as you wish. |
| Q. Is wideout an acceptable spelling for the position in football? – from Indianapolis, IN on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. Wideout is correct. |
| Q. I have a question about the use of the M and B abbreviations for millions and billions in headlines. A previous answer said that we preferably don't use
these abbreviations in reference to people, but
does that mean that it's fine to use them with
inanimate objects but not animate ones? Also, is it always preferable to write out the word rather than abbreviate it in a headline? Thanks. – from Saint Louis, Mo on Tue, Aug 31, 2010 A. In headlines, the M and B abbreviations with a currency type and amount are easily understood: $2.2B contract, $1M jackpot. For other headline uses, best to spell out for clarity: 1 billion people, 12 million autos. |
| Q. Is the word(s) timestamp, when used as a noun, a single word, two words or hyphenated? According to wikipedia (don't laugh!), "a timestamp is a sequence of characters, denoting the date and/or time at which a certain event occurred."
Thanks,
Kevin – from Fort Collins, CO on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. In AP stories, time stamp (n.), time-stamped (adj.). |
| Q. Accompanied by or accompanied with? Is there a time and place for both phrases? – from Newtown Square, PA on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. No doubt accompanied by predominates. Accompanied with may be used in passive constructions involving objects. |
| Q. One more about mid-Atlantic, if you please -- what's the distinction being drawn between mid-Atlantic and Midwest? It seems to me that Mid-Atlantic is as much a region deserving of uppercase treatment as is any other region. Why are they not treated the same way? – from Washington, D.C. on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. Middle Atlantic States in the stylebook to formally describe New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and sometimes Delaware. Webster's lists mid-Atlantic (adj.) for speech patterns, but usage has spread to geography. Midwest is acceptable for all references to the 12 states of the Middle West region. |
| Q. What is the AP style role when writing Corporation, Incorporated and Company after the intuitions name? – from Tallahassee, FL on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. Corp., Inc. and Co. are abbreviated and capped in the proper names of businesses. |
| Q. Can you please explain the differences between non-complete and incomplete and tell me in which instances each should be used?
Thank you! – from St. Albans, VT on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. Incomplete means not whole, unfinished, not perfect. Webster's spells noncompletion (one word), without defining but it surely has the same meaning. |
| Q. For the paragraph below, would it be pop corn, as stated, or popping corn?
So do the stalks of pop corn look different than regular corn? Hobson says just a bit, but you wouldn't necessarily recognize pop corn if you were driving by the Zastrows' 110 acres. – from west Bloom Field, MI on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. Make it popcorn (n.), the Webster's spelling. |
| Q. Do you capitalize battleship in a reference such as "Battleship North Carolina"? – from Hillsborough, NC on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 A. Properly on first reference, the battleship USS North Carolina, often shortened to the battleship North Carolina. |
| Q. Is it acceptable in the same article to use first names for sources using pen names and last names (on second references) for sources using real names? Seems strange to use first names for some and last names for others. Do pen names need first and last names? – from Atlanta, GA on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 A. For pen names, if the individual is well-known by a pseudonym, use that with explanation on first reference. AP doesn't confer fake names to mask identity, though. Others are fully identified on first references, with surname used on followups. |
| Q. Is either Scot or Scotsman preferred (when referring to a man), or are both equally acceptable? – on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 A. AP stories use both nouns. |
| Q. In a headline, should the word "is" be capitalized. Following Stylebook guidance, I think is falls under the "prinicpal words" clause and is therefore captalized. Why don't you include an example of thsi important verb? – from Blue Bell, PA on Sun, Aug 29, 2010 A. In AP news headlines, verbs are capped only as the first word. In composition titles, however, all verbs are capped under the principle words guidance. |
| Q. Is it guardrail or guide rail? _ Kevin, The Post-Standard – from Syracuse, N.Y. on Sat, Aug 28, 2010 A. Deferring to Webster's, which has guardrail (n.). |
| Q. Which is correct?
Quarterback Jim Smith was 4 for 6 in passing attempts
Quarterback Jim Smith was four for six in passing attempts
Quarterback Jim Smith was 4-for-6 in passing attempts – from Waukesha, WI on Sat, Aug 28, 2010 A. AP sports prefers unhyphenated figures such as 4 for 6 for such refererences. Admittedly, the linked versions sometimes slip into stories. |
| Q. Why the change from Web site to website? The prior style made perfect sense with Web as a proper noun. I hope the change is for a legitimate reason, and not that you are just caving in to the masses who mostly got it wrong. – from San Antonio , TX on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 A. Website is Webster's first choice and that spelling is widely used, so the AP Stylebook adopted it. The Web and certain two-word forms remain unchanged in the stylebook. |
| Q. AP Stylebook Editor
I have seen both these references to military ranks at the beginning of a sentence and am unclear as to this single rule. Are you saying that you only spell out the first word of a rank when it is a numeral? How would you then treat Lt. Gen. Bob Cone at the beginning of a sentence? Lt. Gen. or Lieutenant Gen. or Lieutenant General Bob Cone?
Christopher J. Haug Sr.
Chief, Media Relations
III Corps and Fort Hood – from Fort Hood, TX on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 A. AP style spells out the rank's numeral at start of sentence: First Sgt. Bob Smith on first reference. But within the text on first reference, 1st Sgt. Bob Smith. The general ranks are abbreviated in both instances on first reference preceding a name: Lt. Gen. Bob Cone. |
| Q. Why is video recording two words when Webster's
lists videorecorder (n) and videotape (n and v)?
Does it have to do with a word originating as a
verb instead of originating as a noun and being
used as a verb? – from Roseville, MN on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 A. AP technology editors settled on the two-word spelling, which is an "also" listing in Webster's. Video recording is a little easier on the eye. |
| Q. Should it be 2200 people, or 2,200 people when saying twenty-two hundred people? – from Texas on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 A. 2,200 people. |
| Q. Do you simply capitalize website titles, such as
Huffington Post, or should they also be
italicized? – from New York City on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 A. Capitalize website titles, just like newspaper names, and without italics. |
| Q. Would "Collection Due Process Appeals" be capitalized? – from Eagan, MN on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 A. Not in an AP story. |
| Q. Orthopedist or orthopaedist? It always looks awkward if I use orthopedist in the article if the name of the practice is ABC Orthopaedics. – from Stamford, CT on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 A. Orthopedist, except when the other spelling is used in name of a practice. |
| Q. Bank-owned life insurance (with hyphen) or bank owned life insurance. We see it both ways in the field. – from Austin, TX on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 A. Correctly hyphenated. |
| Q. Capitalization conundrum. From reviewing other AP entries, I'm gleaning that it's "e-book" when inside a sentence; i.e., "NASA just released a new e-book about its contributions to aeronautics." Yes? But when used in a headline or title or any other kind of header, is it "e-Book" or "E-Book"; i.e., "Guide to E-Book Formats" or "Guide to e-Book Formats"? Thanks! – from Alexandria, VA on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 A. In an AP headline, E-book capped as the first word, but e-book elsewhere, lowercase along with all words that aren't proper nouns. |
| Q. The latest edition of the stylebook has an entry for "workout" with no indication of the word's use as a part of speech, although you provide such clues with other entries.
Should journalists conclude that the Associated Press prefers "to workout" as a verb, contradicting the dictionary, which would have us say "to work out"? – on Thu, Aug 26, 2010 A. Workout was added to the stylebook in 2008. Just like the listing in Webster's, it's a noun. Verb forms logically are two words: She worked out in the gym. He works out on the pommel horse. |
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