Ask the Editor
Last Seven DaysQuestion from London, on July 01, 2022
Good morning!
Your current (2014) guidance for Indonesia’s president says “On first reference, Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. On second reference, Jokowi.” — but all recent AP stories I've seen use Widodo instead and I seldom see him called Jokowi in Western media. Is it time to update this advice?
Thank you!
Your current (2014) guidance for Indonesia’s president says “On first reference, Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. On second reference, Jokowi.” — but all recent AP stories I've seen use Widodo instead and I seldom see him called Jokowi in Western media. Is it time to update this advice?
Thank you!
Answer
Thanks. I've deleted the previous answer. We use Joko Widodo on first reference; Widodo on later references.
Question from San Diego, California, on July 01, 2022
Should it be White House press corps, or White House Press Corps?
Answer
White House press corps.
Question from Austin, Texas, on June 30, 2022
Should "states" be capitalized when someone is referring to the United States as "the states?"
Answer
Yes.
Question from Fitchburg, Wisconsin, on June 30, 2022
Would you use the abbreviated "No. 2" within a quote attributed to someone or would you spell it out as "number two"?
Example: "The campaign was built to revitalize the No. 2 brand in the market," said Jentz.
Example: "The campaign was built to revitalize the No. 2 brand in the market," said Jentz.
Answer
It depends on whether the quote was spoken or written. If spoken, use No. 2, our style. If written, and the person writes number two, retain the style used by the person.
Here's the guidance from the quotations in the news entry:
When quoting spoken words, present them in the format that reflects AP style: No. 1, St., Gov., $3. But quotes should not be changed otherwise for reasons of style. If the speaker says towards, do not change it to toward.
Here's the guidance from the quotations in the news entry:
When quoting spoken words, present them in the format that reflects AP style: No. 1, St., Gov., $3. But quotes should not be changed otherwise for reasons of style. If the speaker says towards, do not change it to toward.
When quoting written words, retain the style used by the writer; do not alter the written words even if they don’t match AP style.
Question from USA TODAY, McLean, Virginia, on June 30, 2022
For decades we have referred to "the right to abortion," presumably because of the establishment of the right in the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that there is no constitutional right to abortion, overturning Roe, is there an argument for continuing to use "the right to abortion." For example, should we say "President Joe Biden favors codifying the right to abortion" or "Biden favors codifying a right to abortion" and why?
Answer
We will put this on our list of questions to discuss.
Question from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, on June 30, 2022
Dear editors, is it "coal mine" or "coalmine" (one word)? I'm seeing both in the news on the AP website. Thank you!
Answer
Two words: coal mine.
Question from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, on June 30, 2022
Dear editors, I 'm aware that you do not routinely use the MSc abbreviation for Master of Science, but perhaps you could still offer some advice regarding the indefinite article before the abbreviation:
I tend to write:
I tend to write:
- He holds a PhD in something (i.e., doctor of philosophy).
But:
- She has an ScD in whatever (i.e., doctor of science).
It seems, by the same token, I should use "an," not "a" here:
- Each of the two earned an MSc from university so-and-so.
Would that make sense?
Answer
Yes, that makes sense.
Question from Hackettstown, New Jersey, on June 29, 2022
Hi! Should it be cash-offer solution or cash offer solution. Thanks!
Answer
A cash-offer solution.
Answer
I'm sorry, but this is beyond the scope of what we address. Our style bears no resemblance to much of what you have there. That doesn't mean yours is wrong; it just means that your style is different from AP style. Style for general newswriting (which is what ours is) isn't well suited to machine specifications details.
I'd suggest that internally, you adopt your own style and then make sure you're consistent in using it. Good luck!
I'd suggest that internally, you adopt your own style and then make sure you're consistent in using it. Good luck!
Question from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 28, 2022
Hi there,
I have the same essential question regarding subject-verb agreement as this question asked. You sidestepped it by pointing out its poor wording, but I still need to know if the "decades of experience" or "years of work" etc. should take a singular or plural verb. For what it's worth, I feel like the plural verb here seems more grammatical but sounds wrong.
https://www.apstylebook.com/ask_the_editors/44153
I have the same essential question regarding subject-verb agreement as this question asked. You sidestepped it by pointing out its poor wording, but I still need to know if the "decades of experience" or "years of work" etc. should take a singular or plural verb. For what it's worth, I feel like the plural verb here seems more grammatical but sounds wrong.
https://www.apstylebook.com/ask_the_editors/44153
Answer
I wouldn't call that sidestepping. I'd call it addressing the big problem with the sentence structure. It's simply not possible to answer the question with the example given.
But in theory: Since decades is the subject, it would need a singular verb: Decades ... come from ... which, again, doesn't make sense. But it's grammatically correct.
But in theory: Since decades is the subject, it would need a singular verb: Decades ... come from ... which, again, doesn't make sense. But it's grammatically correct.
Question from New York, New York, on June 28, 2022
Hi. Windpower or wind power? The former is in line with hydropower, while the latter seems like the far-more-common usage. What about the projects themselves? If two words, is it a "wind-power project."
Thanks,
Richard
Thanks,
Richard
Answer
We'll stick with two words, as the more common usage: It relies on wind power. And hyphenate as the modifier: the wind-power project.
Question from on June 28, 2022
Should I use chocolate-covered or chocolate covered? Example: chocolate-covered potato chips.
Answer
Use the hyphen.
Answer
You know I wouldn't sanction that use, right?! And even if I were feeling generous, I'm not sure that many readers would understand there's an implied noun there. Many would likely think you meant every day but left out the space, a logical conclusion. I wouldn't do it. Why not just add the noun?
And now I can't get this thought out of my head. Likely understandable only to those who, like me, are of a certain age: Such is the life of the everyday ... who gave up the good life for me ...
And now I can't get this thought out of my head. Likely understandable only to those who, like me, are of a certain age: Such is the life of the everyday ... who gave up the good life for me ...
Question from Smithfield, Virginia, on June 28, 2022
Do we spell out state names when used with a city in our news stories?
Answer
We spell out state names with cities (but we use no state names with cities that stand alone, as listed in the datelines entry).
Up to you on whether you want to follow our style.
Up to you on whether you want to follow our style.
Question from Austin, on June 28, 2022
Am I using Day One correctly in this sentence? Thank you in advance. "Today is Day One for our new CEO."
Answer
I'd use the caps as you have them, even though it doesn't really follow our style. (Style can be flexible!)
Day One Capitalize and spell out as a chronological device for summarizing multiday events such as Day One, Day Two. Lowercase in casual or conversational references.
Day One Capitalize and spell out as a chronological device for summarizing multiday events such as Day One, Day Two. Lowercase in casual or conversational references.
Question from Denver, Colorado, on June 28, 2022
Does AP have a stance on using "homeless encampments" versus something like "encampments of people experiencing homelessness" (which HUD has used)?
Answer
Here's our guidance. For now we haven't adopted the "people experiencing" construction. (We also prefer "people with cancer" to "people living with cancer," since the latter seems overly wordy and redundant.)
homeless, homelessness
Homeless is generally acceptable as an adjective to describe people without a fixed residence. Avoid the dehumanizing collective noun the homeless, instead using constructions like homeless people, people without housing or people without homes.
Mention that a person is homeless only when relevant. Do not stereotype homeless people as dirty, mentally ill, addicted to drugs or alcohol, reliant on charity, or criminals. Those conditions can often contribute to or be byproducts of homelessness, but many homeless people also hold jobs and are self-sufficient.
Homeless shelter is an acceptable term for a building that provides free or very inexpensive but temporary indoor refuge for people without homes, generally run by a government or charity. Do not use flophouse.
Government agencies do not always agree on what legally constitutes homelessness, but the term generally refers to people staying in shelters or on the street.
Avoid disparaging terminology such as derelict, bum, beggar, tramp and hobo. Terms like couch surfing (staying temporarily in various households) or transient (someone who moves from city to city but is not necessarily homeless) can be useful to describe specific situations. Avoid vagrant.
A migrant is someone who moves from place to place for temporary work or economic advantage and is usually not considered homeless.
Indigent describes someone who is very poor and is not synonymous with homeless.
Question from Detroit, on June 28, 2022
What's the guideline for referring to pet owners as moms and dads? Is owner preferable?
Answer
Yes, we use pet owner.
Answer
Really, rephrase it. There simply is not a good way to punctuate it in that construction. Our "rule" in this case is simply: Rephrase.
Question from Chula Vista, California, on June 28, 2022
I'm a longtime lover of the semicolon, but this is the first I'm seeing it used to connect more than two independent clauses. Does this hold up as a use for "literary effect" in the following sentence, or does it need to be broken down into multiple sentences?
Various sources say he came from Bristol, England; or perhaps he was the son of a local man with connections to the provincial governor; alternatively, he was raised in Jamaica by respectable English parents and trained as a mariner.
Thank you!
Various sources say he came from Bristol, England; or perhaps he was the son of a local man with connections to the provincial governor; alternatively, he was raised in Jamaica by respectable English parents and trained as a mariner.
Thank you!
Answer
I suppose it could hold up as a literary device. I don't think there's anything really wrong with it.
But I think breaking it into three sentences would be equally effective in a literary sort of way. That would have the added benefit of being easier for busy and easily distracted readers to read. I may be feeling particularly busy and easily distracted today.
Note: When began trying to break it into three sentences, I realized that it's not clear what the "various sources" are saying. The way it reads (either with the semicolons or as three sentences), the various sources are talking about Bristol, England. Then the next two possibilities have no attribution.
Here's another version:
His background is a bit unclear. Some say he came from Bristol, England. Others think he was the son of a local man with connections to the provincial governor. Or maybe he was raised in Jamaica by respectable English parents and trained as a mariner.
Another note: I hesitate about "respectable" in the last segment.
But I think breaking it into three sentences would be equally effective in a literary sort of way. That would have the added benefit of being easier for busy and easily distracted readers to read. I may be feeling particularly busy and easily distracted today.
Note: When began trying to break it into three sentences, I realized that it's not clear what the "various sources" are saying. The way it reads (either with the semicolons or as three sentences), the various sources are talking about Bristol, England. Then the next two possibilities have no attribution.
Here's another version:
His background is a bit unclear. Some say he came from Bristol, England. Others think he was the son of a local man with connections to the provincial governor. Or maybe he was raised in Jamaica by respectable English parents and trained as a mariner.
Another note: I hesitate about "respectable" in the last segment.
Question from on June 28, 2022
Can "talents" refer to many talented people? Or the plural form just refer to many kinds of skills, please?
Answer
The plural talents refers to many kinds of skill. The singular talent or collective noun talent can refer to a person or a group of people. But we don't like that use much.
Question from Hackettstown, New Jersey, on June 27, 2022
Hi! Should it be page sharing features or page-sharing features? Thanks!
Answer
With the hyphen.
Question from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on June 27, 2022
There are different entries on bolding punctuation following bolded text. One entry says to not bold punctuation following bolded text; another says to bold the punctuation following bold text. Which is the prevailing?
Answer
I'm not sure what you're looking at, since we don't use boldface at all for publication. Perhaps it's your organization's internal, custom notes in your Stylebook Online?
Answer
It should be is, for the reason you surmise.
Or make it easier on yourself:
"I wanted to ask if there are additional documents, resources or other information you have access to." (Because this is a very simple series, we don't use the Oxford comma.)
And by the way, I have a Little Free Library here in Philly. Thank you for all you do!
Or make it easier on yourself:
"I wanted to ask if there are additional documents, resources or other information you have access to." (Because this is a very simple series, we don't use the Oxford comma.)
And by the way, I have a Little Free Library here in Philly. Thank you for all you do!
Answer
For those interested in the "neck of the woods" question, here's another subscriber's thought (at the end of the above).
Question from Plano, Texas, on June 27, 2022
Has AP considered dropping the periods in the format of time to be more accessible content? Instead of writing 10 a.m., it would be formatted as 10 am. Many websites already drop the periods to function better with text-to-speech software.
Answer
We don't plan to do that.
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