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Last Seven DaysQuestion from California, on Sept. 22, 2022
What's the correct usage of "of" and "for" in the following:
Who's at risk of COVID? The unvaccinated are at highest risk for COVID.
Who's at risk of COVID? The unvaccinated are at highest risk for COVID.
Answer
Either is fine.
Question from New York, New York, on Sept. 22, 2022
Is it correct to say the East Bronx or East Bronx?
For example, "We are building housing in East Bronx?"
For example, "We are building housing in East Bronx?"
Answer
We would go by local usage, and I think that's your domain in this case!
Question from Boise, Idaho, on Sept. 22, 2022
Do you use an apostrophe when referring to an age class of/for competition? For instance, She won her first major national titles at the National Junior Hard Court Championships in the 18’s singles and 18’s doubles. Or, he won the U18s title as a junior soccer player.
Answer
Here's the guidance for the plurals of numbers. And yes, I'd use the plural form as a descriptor in this sense. So: 18s singles.
FIGURES: Add s: The custom began in the 1920s. The airline has two 727s. Temperatures will be in the low 20s. There were five size 7s.
FIGURES: Add s: The custom began in the 1920s. The airline has two 727s. Temperatures will be in the low 20s. There were five size 7s.
(No apostrophes, an exception to Webster's New World College Dictionary guideline under "apostrophe.")
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Sept. 22, 2022
How would you refer to Queen Rania of Jordan? I saw some AP articles call her simply "Queen Rania" and others call her "Queen Rania Al Abdullah." Is there a preference? And what should she be on second reference?
Answer
We generally refer to her as Queen Rania. On second reference: Rania.
Question from Rising Sun, Maryland, on Sept. 22, 2022
I see nation-state is hyphenated. Should I hyphenate nation-state-grade when describing the pedigree of something?
Answer
Yes.
Question from Washington DC, on Sept. 22, 2022
Would you capitalize the word "Cadet" when referring to a group, i.e. West Point Cadets participated in..... ?
Answer
No. Lowercase in that use. Uppercase only before a name.
Question from Yellowknife, NT, on Sept. 21, 2022
Has AP updated its guidance on "medevac'd"? I see the word in at least one AP story: https://apnews.com/article/health-injuries-6706536eef4b45acb93a8719ecd2d878
Your online stylebook only gives me "medevaced" for the verb form (such an unsightly word).
Walter
Your online stylebook only gives me "medevaced" for the verb form (such an unsightly word).
Walter
Answer
No change in style. AP staffers don't always get every point right.
Question from Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 21, 2022
Which font/font family/typeface is used in the print edition of the AP Stylebook?
Answer
Serif: Freight Text Pro
Sans-serif: Good OT
Question from Boston, Massachusetts, on Sept. 21, 2022
Hello.
Can you clarify the chief warrant officer title usage in the military titles section? When using an abbreviation before a name, would it be CW5 Joe Smith or Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joe Smith? I see a note that the warrant officer titles for the Marines follow the format of the Navy, instead of the Army like the other titles. Can you confirm that's correct?
Thank you.
Can you clarify the chief warrant officer title usage in the military titles section? When using an abbreviation before a name, would it be CW5 Joe Smith or Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joe Smith? I see a note that the warrant officer titles for the Marines follow the format of the Navy, instead of the Army like the other titles. Can you confirm that's correct?
Thank you.
Answer
It's Chief Warrant Officer 5 before a name. (See the top of the list; the second column is labeled Usage before a name.)
Question from Burlington, New Jersey, on Sept. 21, 2022
Do we include the ' when we refer to a program titled "Indigenous Peoples' Weekend"?
Answer
No. Use the same style as for Indigenous Peoples Day:
Indigenous Peoples Day
A holiday celebrating the original inhabitants of North America, observed instead of Columbus Day in some U.S. localities. Usually held on the second Monday of October, coinciding with the federal Columbus Day holiday. See Columbus Day.
Question from Hyphen Hell, on Sept. 21, 2022
In the phrase a group of mid- to late 20th century artists, how should I hyphenate?
Answer
a group of mid-to-late-20th century artists
From the hyphen entry:
SUSPENSIVE HYPHENATION: Use these forms to shorten a compound modifier or a noun phrase that shares a common word:
From the hyphen entry:
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.
Wow! I love your location!!
Wow! I love your location!!
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Sept. 21, 2022
You've advised hyphenating anti-malarial previously, but there's a dictionary listing for antimalarial. Can you clarify?
Answer
We follow our style for anti- and in that style, anti-malarial is hyphenated. Webster's New World College Dictionary chooses not to use the hyphen. Either can be correct. It's a matter of which style you prefer. (I'd say that the hyphen-free version is hard to read ...)
Question from Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 21, 2022
When describing medical complications or deaths involving fentanyl, are the proper forms "accidental fentanyl poisoning" when fentanyl is an undisclosed component of another drug and "fentanyl overdose" when fentanyl is knowingly ingested?
Answer
That's fine.
Question from DETROIT, Michigan, on Sept. 21, 2022
Is it tenant rights, tenants rights or tenants’ rights?
Answer
It's tenants rights in our style, following this guidance in the possessives entry:
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.
Some would argue for tenants' rights. That is a viable option.
Some would argue for tenants' rights. That is a viable option.
Answer
We don't have strong feelings about this one. In general we prefer lowercase to uppercase. But I could see arguments for using uppercase in this case. You're OK either way!
Answer
Distracting and overbearing, indeed. We feel your pain. And, the whole question of when to use uppercase or lowercase for departments and divisions is more than a bit unsettled. So yes, we'll all need to live with the ambiguity. Much like we do with hyphens ...
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Sept. 20, 2022
Hyphen or no hyphen for:
private-sector pension plans
private sector pension plans
private-sector pension plans
private sector pension plans
Answer
I wouldn't use the hyphen. I think private sector is recognizable as a concept, like real estate or emergency room. But if you prefer, using the hyphen is fine too.
Question from Austin, Texas, on Sept. 20, 2022
Which of these should we say:
- 15,000-plus-seat arena
- 15,000-plus seat arena
Answer
The first one.
Question from MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, on Sept. 20, 2022
Does AP Style use citations? If yes, how is it formatted? If not, how do I give credit to my resources in my work?
Answer
We don't use citations and thus don't have a style for it.
Answer
That's a hard one. I, too, worked on it for awhile. I tried to think like a consumer (or busy driver) who needs to absorb these details.
Would it work to use some more words and a bit of redundancy? And, significantly, a bulleted list. To me, that makes it more readable. And it could help the user keep track of what's going on.
This also means that you can easily add dates. You'd be repeating the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. part, but I think it's worth it in this case. (Again, trying to think like a user ...)
The work will be from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the first week of October. Here is the schedule:
Would it work to use some more words and a bit of redundancy? And, significantly, a bulleted list. To me, that makes it more readable. And it could help the user keep track of what's going on.
This also means that you can easily add dates. You'd be repeating the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. part, but I think it's worth it in this case. (Again, trying to think like a user ...)
The work will be from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in the first week of October. Here is the schedule:
- 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, to 7 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6.
- 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, to 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7.
Question from Medford, New Jersey, on Sept. 20, 2022
I am copy editing an article about disinformation and the author uses the term "counter-disinformation" when referencing current law suits trying to expose people who are purposely spreading disinformation. Would you keep the hyphen or close it up so it's counterdisinformation, which is a mouthful. Thanks.
Answer
Use the hyphen. You nailed the reason.
Question from New York, New York, on Sept. 20, 2022
Hi. Does “early stage” get a hyphen when modifying something such as “early stage company”? There seems to be some conflicting answers about it.
Answer
I'd use the hyphen.
Question from San Francisco, California, on Sept. 20, 2022
Can you provide links in a quote to back up and fact check what someone said? Like if they said "African American students owe more student debt than white students" we'd add in a link to something that backs them up?
Answer
We'd prefer to see the attribution written in. Then you can add the link.
Question from on Sept. 20, 2022
Hi. Is it question No. 1 or question number one? Thanks!
Answer
The former is our style.
Question from Petaluma, California, on Sept. 20, 2022
Hello. In a double tagline at the end of a story, I believe the comma after the first "xyznewspaper" is correct. What do you say?
By Jane Doe, janedoe@xyznewspaper, and John Doe, johndoe@xyznewspaper
Thank you ...
By Jane Doe, janedoe@xyznewspaper, and John Doe, johndoe@xyznewspaper
Thank you ...
Answer
Yes, that's correct.
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