Ask the Editor
Last Seven DaysQuestion from Henrico, Virginia, on Sept. 21, 2021
What is the AP Stylebook's stance on starting a sentence with Because?
Answer
We don't have a stance. Because you asked, I will give my thoughts. That certainly works. Or in conversational contexts (which can work in writing as well): Why can't I eat ants? Because your mother says so. But be careful; conversational approaches don't always work. This one is borderline, for example: I want to be an editor. Because I want to sit at a desk.
Question from New York, New York, on Sept. 17, 2021
Would “easy money” get a hyphen in something like the following?
The Fed is expected to continue its easy money policy.
The Fed is expected to continue its easy money policy.
Answer
Mostly, we say hyphenate to avoid confusion. In this case, it is not immediately apparent to the reader that "easy money" is a compound modifier for policy, so we would hyphenate.
Answer
You're right -- there is no explicit policy on "U.S." in front of Cabinet departments. But there is a style for 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." The same advice would pertain to the names of departments.
Answer
I think it's OK to say more critically here, since it's used as an adverbial phrase modifying the following clause. It essentially means It is more critical to note that they learn to reflect on the world around them.
Question from on Sept. 17, 2021
It seems like AP has changed the style it prefers for "veterans benefits." Some entries show no apostrophe, and now it looks like AP is recommending the apostrophe: veterans' benefits. Could you clarify? Thanks.
Answer
Thanks for asking. It should be veterans benefits, following this guidance:
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.
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.
Question from Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 17, 2021
Hi, Paula! I have a colon in a sentence, used properly to introduce a statistic. I'll edit the sentence lightly, but keep its structure, to "Our 2021 profile of members who swim shows a constant: 42% really should not wear a Speedo but do, the same percentage as in 2020."
(Apologies for any mental images.)
Since a complete sentence follows the colon, should we be spelling out "Forty-two percent"?
(Apologies for any mental images.)
Since a complete sentence follows the colon, should we be spelling out "Forty-two percent"?
Answer
I'd keep the figure in this case. It's a gray area. But since it comes in the middle of a stream of words, I think the figure is easier to read. (And, well, those mental images ... )
Question from Philadelphia, on Sept. 16, 2021
When quoting dialogue, how should "improv" be treated when said in past tense, "improv'd"? Editor wants to avoid "[improvised]"
Answer
I would go with improv'd. Improved would present obvious problems.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Sept. 16, 2021
Hi - Could you clarify a phrase in your "Parliament, parliament" entry: "the legislative body in Great Britain or other countries." Is "other countries" limited to those that formally use the name "Parliament"? (For ex: the Dutch House of Representatives self-identifies as "Parliament" on their English website, but AP appears to have lowercased.) Thanks
Answer
In countries that call their legislative body Parliament, it should be capitalized.
Answer
In some cases, we say it's OK to use the acronym on first reference. This is one of them.
Question from on Sept. 16, 2021
When writing captions and stories do we put the word "on" before a date?
The wedding happened Sept. 9, 2021.
or
The wedding happened on Sept. 9, 2021.
Thank you.
The wedding happened Sept. 9, 2021.
or
The wedding happened on Sept. 9, 2021.
Thank you.
Answer
No need for on in this instance, since its absence does not lead to confusion. See details in the on entry.
Question from Mc Lean, Virginia, on Sept. 16, 2021
Hello! When inserting "of course" into a sentence, would we offset with commas before and after? What if "of course" appears after "and"? Here is a generic example (my workplace observes the Oxford comma):
To improve his health, he gave up drugs, alcohol, and, of course, smoking.
Thank you!
To improve his health, he gave up drugs, alcohol, and, of course, smoking.
Thank you!
Answer
When of course is used as an interjection, as it is in your example, it should be offset by commas.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Sept. 16, 2021
Because "historically Black colleges and universities" is lowercase except for "Black," should "Hispanic-serving institution" also capitalize just "Hispanic"?
Answer
I would capitalize just Hispanic because it's a proper adjective, not because of any parallels with the phrase "historically Black colleges and universities."
Question from on Sept. 16, 2021
Is it appropriate to use an ellipsis in a headline? Not to shorten a quote but a style choice, like, "Flying is awful now...we are the worst."
Answer
The use of an ellipsis could indicate to readers that material was excised from the quote, which is not the case, so I'd use a dash or just a period for the effect you're trying to achieve: Flying is awful now — we are the worst. Flying is awful now. We are the worst.
Question from Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 16, 2021
When writing a news story, one doesn't begin a direct quote with the attribution. So, in that context the below rule makes sense:
INTRODUCING DIRECT QUOTES: Use a comma to introduce a complete one-sentence quotation within a paragraph: Wallace said, "She spent six months in Argentina and came back speaking English with a Spanish accent." But use a colon to introduce quotations of more than one sentence. See colon.
INTRODUCING DIRECT QUOTES: Use a comma to introduce a complete one-sentence quotation within a paragraph: Wallace said, "She spent six months in Argentina and came back speaking English with a Spanish accent." But use a colon to introduce quotations of more than one sentence. See colon.
However, in business press releases, it is common practice for quotes to started out with the attribution: Smith said, ""We are excited to enter into this LOI to acquire ABC Corp. We are confident this will greatly expand our production capacity and help us break into international markets."
By the above ruling, in a business press release that quote would be incorrect. But nobody would use a colon rather than the comma.
Smith said: "We are excited to enter into this LOI to acquire ABC Corp. We are confident this will greatly expand our production capacity and help us break into international markets."
Can you weigh in on this? For the record, if AP came out with a style guide specifically for corporate press releases (which have different unofficial "rules" and common practices than news story writing), I would be first in line to buy it. [That is a passively phrased request. :)]
Answer
We'd say our guidance applies to corporate press releases as well. But as always, anyone is free to modify (or ignore) as needed or appropriate for their own situations.
Answer
I wouldn't put it that way. It's hard to precisely define, because companies vary widely in what they consider to be a formal title vs. a job description. See this section of the titles entry:
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.
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.
Answer
The province is Balkh, and the preferred spelling is Mazar-e-Sharif.
Question from on Sept. 15, 2021
when writing a headline, do you abbreviate or spell out military titles?
Answer
Chances are, we wouldn't use a military title before a name in a headline. And if it is not before a name -- say, Panel questions top general on air strike -- we would not capitalize it.
Question from Bangalore, on Sept. 15, 2021
shelf-life settings/shelf life settings
Which is correct here?
Which is correct here?
Answer
Most likely, we would hyphenate in this case for clarity.
Question from Lakeland, Florida, on Sept. 15, 2021
As a copy editor at a large company, I use the online AP Stylebook multiple times each day. I often find what I need in the Ask the Editor section. Thank you; I'm a big fan.
Would I keep the quotation marks in the following sentence or would you use different punctuation? To be environmentally friendly across our company, “don’t waste product” will be added to the list of requirements for our associates beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
Would I keep the quotation marks in the following sentence or would you use different punctuation? To be environmentally friendly across our company, “don’t waste product” will be added to the list of requirements for our associates beginning Jan. 1, 2022.
Answer
That would work -- no other punctuation would seem appropriate.
Question from OMaha, Nebraska, on Sept. 15, 2021
I have a question about the use of hyphenated adjectives in a capitalized header. Which one of the following is correct: High-risk specialists or High-Risk Specialists? Thanks
Answer
If your publication's style is to capitalize all words in a header, it would be High-Risk Specialists. But AP would make it High-risk specialists.
Question from Appleton, Wisconsin, on Sept. 15, 2021
How would you handle Railroad Retirement Tax in terms of capitalization?
Answer
It appears that unlike the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, railroad retirement tax is not a proper name. So we would not capitalize it.
Question from Austin, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2021
When listing a month and year only (no day), is "of" acceptable, or should "of" be omitted?
In August 2021 ...
In August of 2021 ...
Thanks!
In August 2021 ...
In August of 2021 ...
Thanks!
Answer
Either is acceptable; in the interest of brevity, we might come down on the side of omitting of.
Question from Doha, on Sept. 15, 2021
Hi guys, I'm looking for guidance please on 'bail out' vs 'bale out' when written as two words. Many thanks.
Answer
Bail out is the correct phrase, as per Webster's New World College Dictionary.
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