AP Style for Writing the news

AP Style for Writing the news

Top 10 Rules and Beyond!

Multiple Choice

What is AP style anyways?!

• It stands for Advanced Placement, and tells you how to write in AP classes.

• It stands for Associated Press, and provides guidelines for writing the news.

• It stands for Auto Prevent, and helps writers to not make grammar mistakes, before they ever happen!

• It stands for All People, and is a rule journalists live by, telling them to always write for "All People".

Mentioning a person:

The first mention of a person, their full name and title should be given. After the first mention, only the last name of the person should be used.

*1st mention = Assistant Manager, Jessica Leonard

*Other mentions = Leonard

Abbreviations and Acronyms

On the first mention, all acronyms and abbreviations should be spelled out. On following mentions, the acronym and abbreviation can be used.

First Mention = Pikes Peak Community College

Other Mentions = PPCC

Dates

Abbreviate Months, when used with days, and use numerals.

Today is Jan. 21, 2021.

Numbers

*Spell out 0-9: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

*Use numerals for 10 and up: 10,11,12,13,14,15, etc.

EXCEPTIONS:

*If you begin a sentence with a number, spell it out: Three hundred and fifty people showed up.

EXCEPTIONs TO THE EXCEPTION:

* ALWAYS use a numeral when talking

about age - 8 years old.

*ALWAYS use numerals when stating

the year - 2021.

Time

Use numerals and lower case letters to state the time: 4 p.m., 7:30 a.m.

EXCEPTIONS: Noon and Midnight!!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is written correctly, according to AP style, assuming this is the first sentence of the article:

• Doctor Rudolpho Reindeer spoke to the students on February twenty seventh, 2020 at 12 O'clock in the afternoon.

• Doc Rudolpho, as his friends like to call him, spoke to the students on Feb. 20, Twenty Twenty at noon.

• Reindeer spoke to the students 2/27/2020 at 12:00 P.M.

• Doctor Rudolph Reindeer spoke to the students on Feb. 27, 2020, at noon.

• All of the above are acceptable ways to write the information when reporting the news.

Formal Titles

*When the title is given before the name, capitalize it. When it is given after the name, don't!

Example: Vice President Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, vice president of the United

States.

NOTE: General titles are not capitalized, like:

My teacher, Mrs. Jungling. (Teacher is not capitalized!)

Capitalize PROPER Nouns

If you are naming a person, place or thing, CAPITALIZE it!!

Cami Jungling

Bermuda

Mesa Ridge High School

But you do not capitalize general nouns like:

girl

vacation spot

school

Courtesy titles

Leave out all courtesy titles, unless in a direct quote:

Mr. , Mrs. , Miss, Ms. ????

CUT THEM!!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is written correctly, according to AP Style?

• Miss Alison is a Teacher at Moutain ridge high school.

• Ms. Alison Thompson is a teacher at Mountain Ridge High School.

• Alison Thompson is a teacher at Mountain Ridge high school.

• Alison Thompson is a teacher at Mountain Ridge High School.