Ask the Editor
Last Seven DaysQuestion from Denver, CO on July 01, 2020
I saw you have entries from 2012 and 2015 stating that "general fund" is lowercased in most instances except when quoting from a source. Is that still the case when "general fund" is a proper noun? Or is it that it's such a generic term, it's lowercased regardless?
Ex: "The General Fund is the largest of the City and County of Denver’s operating funds."
Ex: "The General Fund is the largest of the City and County of Denver’s operating funds."
Answer
We lowercase it in all uses; same with the words city and county. But you can have a house style that uses uppercase for all of those, if that works better for you.
Question from Bangalore on July 01, 2020
The system applies a black color highlight to the tasks.
Should we hyphenate black color here?
Should we hyphenate black color here?
Answer
Do you need the word color at all? I don't think so. If you do need it, use the hyphen.
Question from Denver, CO on June 30, 2020
Would "badge holder" be hyphenated, one word, or two words?
Ex: They sought to identify the individual badge holders.
Ex: They sought to identify the individual badge holders.
Answer
We don't have a specific style. I'd either hyphenate or make it one word. We do use cardholder and bondholder, so following that style it's badgeholder. But ... in this case I think it's clearer and easier to read as badge-holder.
Answer
Sharp eye! We will take a look at rewording parts of entry. Certainly the intent and the actual practice is Bushes, not Bushs. But you are correct that, upon a close read, that part of the entry is confusing at best.
Question from Mercer Island, WA on June 30, 2020
Which is correct: "Didn't use to" or "Didn't used to?"
Answer
I used to go to Mercer Island.
I didn't use to go boating there, though.
I didn't use to go boating there, though.
Question from Lincoln , NE on June 30, 2020
Does AP have a style for "sign in to" vs. "sign into?"
Answer
We don't have a style. Arguments can be made for both.
Question from Belmont, MA on June 30, 2020
A few questions related to addressing racist and offensive terms:
1. Are there suggested replacement terms for slave and master?
2. Are there plans to discuss the term master when used in other contexts, such as mastery of a subject area?
3. Are there plans to create a canonical or more exhaustive list of terms to avoid or eliminate?
Thanks!
1. Are there suggested replacement terms for slave and master?
2. Are there plans to discuss the term master when used in other contexts, such as mastery of a subject area?
3. Are there plans to create a canonical or more exhaustive list of terms to avoid or eliminate?
Thanks!
Answer
We plan to discuss those questions. We haven't, yet. Everyone involved in these issues is also intensely involved in covering all the news of the world. Time is limited, and these questions are complicated. There are, of course, arguments that avoiding those words, as well as others such as niggardly, is overreacting.
Question from Cincinnati, Ohio on June 30, 2020
So under the ne guideline on Black, would it now be “historically Black colleges and universities”?
Answer
Yes, that's correct.
Question from Charlotte, NC on June 30, 2020
When writing about academic programs that students may be attending in the next academic year, please clarify the usage for the following:
Are the popular programs nationwide referred to as STEM or spelled out for first reference?
After the first reference is an international baccalaureate program, an IB program or I.B. program?
Are the popular programs nationwide referred to as STEM or spelled out for first reference?
After the first reference is an international baccalaureate program, an IB program or I.B. program?
Answer
Here's the STEM entry:
STEM
Acceptable on first reference for science, technology, engineering and math, but spell out the full phrase shortly thereafter.
And here is the academic degrees entry. This doesn't address the international baccalaureate question, and we wouldn't abbreviate it. But if you want to, use the periods as in the B.A. and M.A. examples.
And here is the academic degrees entry. This doesn't address the international baccalaureate question, and we wouldn't abbreviate it. But if you want to, use the periods as in the B.A. and M.A. examples.
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: Fatima Kader, 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.
Question from RALEIGH, NC on June 29, 2020
Just want to confirm, based on the stated rule, that it should be nonenrolling patients, not non-enrolling patients. Auto correct changes it to non-enrolling, so I just want to be sure.
Answer
Our style is nonenrolling. Other styles may vary.
Question from Brookline, MA on June 29, 2020
Our junior editors invariably begin sentences with "Additionally, ...?" Back in the day, I was taught that we should write "In addition to, ...?" instead . Which is correct? Or, should avoid "addition" altogether by using "Moreover, ..." or "Further, ...?" (Had trouble finding answer in Stylebook.) Thank you.
Answer
Really, any of those are fine as far as this editor is concerned. I would say that moreover sounds rather pompous, and further just a bit less pompous.
Question from SCOTTSDALE, AZ on June 29, 2020
In a recent preposition conversation, several journalists and I came to an agreement that additional information should not be found "at WebsiteName.com," but "on WebsiteName.com."
Our conclusion was that "at" implies a physical location (I'll meet you at the store), whereas "on" works with a screen (Look what's on the screen).
Is this correct?
Our conclusion was that "at" implies a physical location (I'll meet you at the store), whereas "on" works with a screen (Look what's on the screen).
Is this correct?
Answer
We don't have a preference.
Question from Juno Beach, FL on June 29, 2020
Should you use myth busters, mythbusters or myth-busters? For example when talking about common myths about coronations.
Answer
Myth-busters.
Question from Madison, WI on June 29, 2020
We have a conference that occurs every year but with a different theme.
I understand the name of the recurring event is title case (e.g., Taxation Summit). How would you treat capitalization for the changing part of the name?
Taxation Summit: Accounting in the time of pencils
OR
Taxation Summit: Accounting in the Time of Pencils
Thanks!
I understand the name of the recurring event is title case (e.g., Taxation Summit). How would you treat capitalization for the changing part of the name?
Taxation Summit: Accounting in the time of pencils
OR
Taxation Summit: Accounting in the Time of Pencils
Thanks!
Answer
I'd capitalize the changing part, too:
Taxation Summit: Accounting in the Time of Pencils
Taxation Summit: Accounting in the Time of Pencils
Answer
We wouldn't capitalize them in the text. But if it makes more sense in your organization to do so, then that's fine. It's a purely stylistic choice; there's no right or wrong.
Question from Westerville, OH on June 29, 2020
What are you thoughts on insight versus insights:
She has provided the company with valuable insight. Or She has provided the company with valuable insights.
The plural is often used, but can insight be countable?
Thank you for your time!
She has provided the company with valuable insight. Or She has provided the company with valuable insights.
The plural is often used, but can insight be countable?
Thank you for your time!
Answer
I think either is fine. Someone could have one insight on Situation A, another insight on Situation and another on Situation C, and thus would have plural insights. But the singular word could also cover all three. Your choice!
Question from on June 29, 2020
I know that AP does not use italics in news stories. Can you tell me the proper treatment for legal decisions -- for example, Obergefell v. Hodges? Would we put the name of the decision in quotes? Thanks!
Answer
No quote marks. Just Roe v. Wade or Obergefell v. Hodges.
Question from Chicago, IL on June 29, 2020
Did the "crime and the accused" section disappear from the Stylebook? I can't find it?
Answer
I've never seen such a section in the Stylebook. Perhaps it was a custom entry in your organization? We have a number of entries covering various elements. but not one all-encompassing entry.
Question from Bowie, MD on June 28, 2020
Do you capitalize bible in "his favorite book was the bible?"
Answer
Yes.
Question from Somerville, MA on June 27, 2020
Something I'm working on includes a list of sources in "AP style" (also used throughout the piece). How would you format an article on a website with an author? Or any source list in AP style?
Answer
We don't have a style for listing sources.
Question from Arlington, VA on June 26, 2020
Is it correct to say "30-40-minute delay" or "30 to 40-minute delay?"
Answer
It's a 30-to-40-minute delay. Here's the section of the hyphen entry:
SUSPENSIVE HYPHENATION: Use these forms to shorten a compound modifier or a noun phrase that shares a common word:
SUSPENSIVE HYPHENATION: Use these forms to shorten a compound modifier or a noun phrase that shares a common word:
When the elements are joined by and or or, expressing more than one element: 10-, 15- or 20-minute intervals; 5- and 6-year-olds. But: The intervals are 10, 15 or 20 minutes; the children are 5 to 6 years old.
When the elements are joined by to or by, expressing a single element: a 10-to-15-year prison term; an 8-by-12-inch pan. But: The prison term is 10 to 15 years; the pan is 8 by 12 inches.
Question from Seattle, WA on June 26, 2020
I cannot find clear guidelines on whether anti-racism or antiracism is correct. Will you add the answer to your updated race-related coverage guide? Thanks.
Answer
anti-
Hyphenate all except the following words, which have specific meanings of their own (and this is followed by a list that does not include the one in question):
Question from Washington, D.C. on June 26, 2020
Hey, just a heads up: There's a lot of conflicting information about how to style course names in the archives. Might want to fix. (I'm assuming this is the current advice: https://www.apstylebook.com/ask_the_editors/38082.)
Answer
Thanks for pointing this out. It's part of a broader issue that we have wrestled with, and haven't reached a conclusion. Like many issues of style, it's not nearly as easy as it may look.
Question from Cincinnati, OH on June 26, 2020
full-time enrollment = 12 or more credit hours
three-quarter-time enrollment = 9-11 credit hours
half-time enrollment = 6-8 credit hours
less-than-half-time enrollment = 1-5 credit hours
Are my hyphens correct? Or should it be less than half-time enrollment?
Are my hyphens correct? Or should it be less than half-time enrollment?
Answer
The hyphens are correct.
Question from on June 25, 2020
I have people in my newsroom asking me this. The first time you reference West Virginia University, should you write it out or can you write WVU? Thanks!
Answer
AP style calls for writing it out on first reference. But you can make exceptions based on your specific audience and preferences. I see you are at West Virginia University. If you're writing for a WVU audience only, and you'd prefer to use the shorthand on first reference, that's your call.
If your audience includes people outside the university, I'd recommend writing it out on first reference.
If your audience includes people outside the university, I'd recommend writing it out on first reference.
Featured Tip
From the Pronunciation Guide
From the Topical Guides
Coronavirus Topical Guide
To help with coverage of the coronavirus and COVID-19, The Associated Press has prepared a guide based on the AP Stylebook and common usage in AP stories. For more details, follow AP coverage of...
View all