Your hyphenation entry says, "Hyphenate well- combinations before a noun, but not after: a well-known judge, but the judge is well known."

Yet in a question from Latham, NY on Nov. 18, 2017, someone poses the question, "Hyphens OK in all well- words following a to-be verb? He was well-respected, well-known, well-heeled and well-rounded." The reply is "Yes and yes. Sounds like quite a guy."

An editor also uses this construction in response to a 2011 question, saying, "If the individual is well-known by a pseudonym . . ."

I'm abiding by the rule as stated, but wanted to point out the inconsistency. Thanks!

Hi there! I know that Facebook group is correct, but what about the an event name group such as Walk Where You Are Facebook Group - or Walk Where You Are Facebook group? 

When referring to catfishing activity online or a person as a catfish, should those terms be capitalized or lowercase? Should they be in quotation marks? Thank you. 

How would AP punctuate the new word circulating, shoulding. We're using it in copy and a slug, "New book gives readers tools to stop ‘shoulding’ and start doing." Should it be hyphenated and/or in quotes if the author is coining the phrase?

Within the last few days I've seen the following tweet posted twice on Facebook: "Apparently AP style now says you can use 'less' even when 'fewer' is correct." Has AP style on "fewer, less" changed? As far as I can tell it hasn't, but some people are wringing their hands anyway. Would you be kind enough set me straight? Thanks very much.

In a Class Notes entry, an alum makes reference to his “pandemic journal”... should that be in regular quotes as is, single quotes, or no quotes? In other words, it is something one would refer to with “air quotes” while speaking as opposed to an actual title or quote of something ....  are single quotes used ONLY within double quotes, or for this purpose? Thank you for your help. 

A 2017 editor response about the plural of spokesperson advised spokespeople in general but spokespersons  if spokesperson was the organization's preferred term.

Now that AP prefers spokesperson unless spokesman/woman is preferred by the organization, has the guidance on the plural form changed as well? Thanks.

The following from my local daily newspaper is a) wrong and b) easily corrected as indicated in brackets, right? "A business typically cannot refuse service to someone [people] with a legitimate medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask." 

"Ballgown" is listed as one word in the AP Stylebook online (added in 2012), but looking at Webster's online today, it's listed as two words. Are you holding steady or will you change it to two words?

Given AP's recent change to capitalize "Black," when spelling out HBCU, is it correct to now capitalize that term as follows: historically Black colleges and universities? There are eight style entries from 2018 and prior, and lowercasing all words made sense at that time.

I know "multimillion" is one word as an adjective: "multimillion-dollar acquisition." But how about "multi thousand"? Is is correct as one word: "multithousand-dollar acquisition"? That looks very odd to me.

Hello --

There seems to be two schools of thought re: the adjectival form of "education," e.g., education institution vs. educational institution; education expenses vs. educational expenses. I instinctively want to use "educational" as an adjective, and that works smoothly in a sentence such as, Her talk was very educational. But what should we use with words such as institution, building and expense?

I'm writing about car engines, specifically inline six cylinder, as in "This car is powered by an inline six cylinder engine." Wondering if the "inline" should be "in-line"? Thanks!

This is an awkward phrase, to be sure. And it SHOULD be rewritten. But could you tell me if this sentence takes the subject or the object: "We're happy things worked so well, particularly you allowing us to select him, us being retired and having the time ; us finding a very talented and experienced trainer ..." This sounds harsh to me. Shouldn't it be "we being retired" and "we finding a trainer" etc.?

Under "Sports statistics," the stylebook says, "In narrative, spell out nine and under except for yard lines in football and individual and team statistical performances." But what, exactly, qualifies as an "individual statistical performance"? When a quarterback throws two touchdowns, should it not be "2 touchdowns" in the story? Or "6 rebounds" instead of "six rebounds"?

Is there a plural for "frame of mind"? Looked online and throughout style guide and can't find anything definitive.  

Is there a difference between vice-presidential nominee and vice-presidential candidate? Or are they interchangeable? Orysia McCabe

Does the term mainstream media take a singular or plural verb? When referring to it as a pronoun, do we write —It attempts ... or They attempt ...? Orysia McCabe

Why, in articles describing rape, is the passive always used (e.g., the woman was raped)? Should't it be active (e.g., a man raped the woman)?

Does AP style allow adverbs to modify entire clauses/sentences? Is it okay to do with some adverbs (hopefully, for example) but not others (importantly)? Would you allow this sentence? 

Importantly, the researchers balanced the need for quick results with the need to protect the participants' data. 

Does AP Style have a view on whether the term "anti-masker" is acceptable? Here's an example: "A group of anti-maskers took their masks off at a Florida Target store,  blasting and singing the Twisted Sister hit song "We're Not Gonna Take It" from 1984.

When condensing quotations in the news, is a comma ever needed before an ellipsis? Is it dependent on whether or not the comma is needed to keep the condensed sentence grammatically correct? For example, if we were to condense the following sentence from the stylebook page on ellipses:

"In general, treat an ellipsis as a three-letter word, constructed with three periods and two spaces, as shown here."

Which of the two would be correct?
1. In general, treat an ellipsis as a three-letter word, … as shown here.
2. In general, treat an ellipsis as a three-letter word … as shown here.

Recently came across an article mentioning George Floyd which used the phrase "George Floyd's murder." I was wondering if this would be the correct characterization here, since it's more referring to manner of death versus charges filed. Does AP prefer just using "killing," "death," etc.? Since if we were to go with the ME's ruling, "George Floyd's homicide" wouldn't really make sense grammatically.

Hello!

Is there a proper way to write the "From W to X and from Y to Z" type construction, including the use of commas and prepositions?

For example (though this isn't the best example): Our analysts can answer questions about everything from sick leave to vacation policies and from required workplace notices to termination policies.