Introduction to AP Style

AP Style is… A standardized way of referencing

people, places, dates and things. Conformity, Clarity… All news organizations recognize AP

style. There is a copy of the AP Stylebook

on my desk.

The Most Important AP Style References

Referencing people

On first reference, list the person’s full name.

On second reference, just list their last name. Do not include Mr., Ms. or titles, like Dr.

For instance: Jane Griffith said she enjoys skating…Griffith also stated that skating could be dangerous.

Referencing people

Always put the person’s name before the word “said.” It is more important to identify the person’s name first.

Only put “said” first if the person’s job title is long.

For instance: “This place is incredible,” said John Jackson, president of the National Association of Postal Workers.

Referencing times

Always make sure the time is listed with a single number, followed by a.m. or p.m.

No: At 9:00 a.m. the store will open. Yes: At 9 a.m. the store will open.

Referencing dates

Abbreviate the following months in dates:– Jan.– Feb.– Aug.– Sept.– Oct.– Nov.– Dec.

For example…

No: “A burglar robbed the store on September 22, 2008.”

Yes: “A burglar robbed the store on Sept. 22, 2008.”

When not part of a date…

Use the whole month name when it is not part of a date:– “In November 2012, Barack Obama was

re-elected President of the United States.”

TIME OUT!

dates

Pre and Post

Generally, type the work as is appears in the dictionary.

If the word is not in the dictionary, check the AP Style book.

Pre- words usually have a hyphen is the next letter is a vowel (pre-election, pre-exist).

Other notes:

No first person in a hard news story! No editorializing. Use inverted pyramid structure.

Addresses

If you have a full, numbered address to print, then abbreviate the street.

i.e. He robbed the house at 314 E. 22nd St.

If you only have the street name though, spell out the street.

i.e. The robbery was at East 33rd Street and Greenmount Avenue.

States Do not use postal codes, except w/

full address with zip code. Spell the state out when it appears alone.

STATE WRONG (postal code)RIGHT

Illinois IL Ill.

Michigan MI Mich.North

DakotaND N.D.

California CA Calif.Arkansas AR Ark.

Ohio OH Ohio

TIME OUT!

address

Titles that are always abbreviated

In the first reference, and onward, you may abbreviate titles.– Gov. (Governor)– Lt. Gov. (Lieutenant Governor)– Rep. (Representative)– The Rev. (Reverend)– Sen. (The Senator)– Lt. (Lieutenant )

You also need to note political affiliations

If you are writing about a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives, note their political affiliation.

You can note it using party and state abbreviations.

Or you can note it within the sentence.

i.e. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said she hates Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska.

TIME OUT!

names

Abbreviations

Titles, dates, states = YES Common words = NO

– Elem. School– Chgo.

Unless the abbreviation has become common– Prep– Gym

Acronyms

Acronyms can be used if you give the full name of the organization on the first reference:– The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)

announced…– … This is the fourth time the NYSE has…

If it is commonly known, you can use the acronym the first time without the full name:– NFL, NAACP, LMSA

TIME OUT!

logo

TIME OUT: Name the logo

NIKE

TIME OUT: Name the logo

NBC

TIME OUT: Name the logo

Toyota

TIME OUT: Name the logo

AT&T

TIME OUT: Name the logo

BP

TIME OUT: Name the logo

Bank of America

TIME OUT: Name the logo

UNICEF

TIME IN

Numbers

Spell out all numbers less than ten. Use Arabic numerals for values greater than or equal to 10.

Exceptions include sports scores, measurements, building addresses

For larger numbers, spell out the word. (i.e., 20 million)

$500 million

TIME OUT!

number

Many of these notes, and others not covered in class

are linked at mrdudek.pbworks.com

at AP Stylebook Essentials

LMSA Style

Referencing people

Teachers and staff have the title Mr. or Ms.

Students are mentioned by full name on first reference and first name only for every subsequent reference

What title should students get? junior Robin Williams eighth-grader Joe Biden

Other Style Rules

LMSA can be abbreviated, even on the first reference in a story.

Departments and classes are capitalized– Science Department– AP Environmental Science

General subjects are not:– math– history– English. (but… but… you just said…)

Other Style Rules

alumnus, alumna, alumni Thomas’s or Thomas’? boys’ soccer, girls’ gym football, baseball

See the Lindblom Talon Style Guide!

GAME OVER:

Identify AP Style In groups of 1-4, highlight or circle

examples of AP style in an article.

AP errors STYLE GUIDE SHEET