Learn state abbreviations ap style with free interactive flashcards. It isnt necessary to spell out the most common abbreviations on first reference, like nba, nfl, mlb allamerica, allamerican. Ap style does use periods in most twoletter abbreviations. Proper unit names some unit names include information behind the element name, in parenthesis. In ap headline style, only the first word and proper nouns are capped. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only jan. Ap editor david minthorn fields questions of widest interest posed by subscribers to the online ap stylebook. Sep 19, 2012 professional journalists and business communicators in the united states commonly write in associated press ap style. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free. Mar 14, 2015 below is a list of ap style state abbreviations. The 2015 ap stylebook makes the distinction between state names in running text body of the story and state names in datelines. Check entry in the associated press stylebook for more details.
Note that ap style omits state names for a specified list of cities. Heres a refresher course what the ap stylebook says for datelines and cities that stand alone in datelines the domestic list of cities that stand alone is on page 79 of the 2010 ap stylebook, and it is a good idea to mark this page with a sticky note of some sort so it is easy to find and you never list the state, country or territory unnecessarily. Ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. Over and more than became interchangeable and we have to spell out state names. Generally, omit periods in acronyms unless the result would spell an unrelated word. To subscribe to the associated press stylebook online, or to find out about purchasing hard copies of. Other newspapers do consider the a part of their formal names, causing it to be capitalized. This resource, revised according to the associated press stylebook 2012, offers examples for the general format of ap style. The only way to determine this for newspapers not specifically mentioned in the ap stylebook is to check a media directory or look at the nameplate of the paper itself. Since 1894, the gpo style manual has served as a guide to the style and form of federal government printing and publishing. Keep in mind that ap changed the rules for using state abbreviations in the body of a story, and you now spell out the names of all 50 u. Spell out the names of the 50 states when they stand alone in.
Use year as often as possible to avoid confusion for the reader. Of course, use state abbreviations in conjunction with the name. If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and refer to it when in doubt. In general, spell out numbers one through nine, and use figures for. The associated press stylebook, first published in 1977, clarified the news organizations rules on grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage. You can find abbreviations discussed in the publication manual in section 4. For mailing addresses, ap and chicago both default to the twoletter postal abbreviations. Writing center quick reference associate press style guide.
In apa, abbreviations should be limited to instances when a the abbreviation is standard and will not interfere with the readers understanding and b if space and repetition can be greatly avoided through abbreviation. In general, newspaper style guides in the united states in particular, the associated press stylebook ap and the new york times manual of style and usage recommend u. In conjunction with the name of a city, town, village or military base in text. Its mobile optimized so you can use it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding us postal service abbreviations, are in parentheses. However, the chicago manual of style now recommends use of the uppercase twoletter abbreviations, with the traditional forms as an option. In this post, we will summarize all of the ap stylebook state abbreviations rules. Ap stylebook rules for datelines, cities that stand alone. The good news the positive here is that the grammar gods dont care either way, so if these rules arent in line with your house style or your clients way of writing, then scrap the. There are quite a few rules in the ap stylebook for state names and ap style state abbreviations. State abbreviations cities not requiring state names ala. Books and magazines often italicize newspaper names as well as book titles and magazine names as part of their inhouse style. When the formal titles directly precede a name, capitalize and spell out the title. These resources provide an overview of journalistic writing with explanations of the most important and most often used elements of journalism and the associated press style.
In ap style, the names of newspapers and magazines are not italicized or set off in quotation marks. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different. A few universally recognized abbreviations are required in some circumstances. States spell out the names of the states in text when they appear alone. The ap stylebook says the percentage sign is now acceptable when paired with a numeral in most cases.
The first part of the state names entry says they should be spelled out when used in the body of a story, whether standing alone or in conjunction with a city, town, village or military base. Associated press website faq this faq webpage from the ap is a great source of information on current issues of grammar, style, punctuation, abbreviations, and other style questions. Jun 19, 2019 their holy book, the quran was revealed by allah god to the prophet muhammad in the seventh century in mecca and medina, according to islamic belief. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook was released this month. Follow these associated press guidelines for the u.
The highway patrol chased the robbery suspect on route 27 at speeds of 110 mph before he was stopped three miles from the state line. The equivalent resource for the older apa 6 style can be found here. Effective may 1, the ap will spell out state names in the body of stories. If you have a hyphen in a headline, is the word after the hyphen capitalized. In football, only walter camps selections through 1924, and the ap selections after that, are recognized. Associated press ap citation and style guides libguides. May 21, 2009 abbreviations and acronyms the notation abbrev. For slide presentations of ap style basics, go here.
In running text, ap and chicago both spell out state names. Choose from 100 different sets of ap stylebook flashcards on quizlet. When abbreviating the state names, dont make the mistake of using the postal code abbreviations. There are situations, however, in which its correct to spell out state names. Mecca pictured below, medina, and jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in islam. In ap style you should capitalize the names of months in all of their uses. Associated press stylebook abbreviations and acronyms academic titles.
You will still use abbreviations in datelines, photo captions, lists, etc. The associated press stylebook, the usage guide for most united states newspapers, counsels the use of abbreviations for most state names, when appended to a city name for example, santa ana, calif. The 2016 edition of the gpo style manual is the first revision to be issued under gpos new name, u. Use the aps state abbreviations with place names only in lists and tabular material, or shortform listings of party affiliation. Mastering the ap style rules for abbreviations bka content. Jul 21, 2016 im a huge fan of abbreviations because they make communication easier and spare me from unnecessary typing. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. Ap is not done rocking the journalism world with style changes.
Spell out the names of the states whether standing alone or with a place name. Which cities dont need a state abbreviation in ap style. Select the sentence that is free of errors in ap style for capitalization, addresses and abbreviations in broadcast copy. An interactive geography lesson about abbreviations of states. Louis, springfield and kansas city but include the state name with kansas. A refreshing ap stylebook refresher on datelines and. Abbreviations for states and provinces traditional abbreviations for states and provinces begin with a capital letter and end with a period. Mar 24, 2016 keep in mind that ap changed the rules for using state abbreviations in the body of a story, and you now spell out the names of all 50 u. A good way to remember these eight is to always spell out the names of the two states outside the contiguous united states hawaii and alaska and the states inside the contiguous united states with five letters or less. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction. Stylebook key this updated and revised version of the associated press stylebook has been organized like a dictionary. Spell out the names of the two states that are not part of the contiguous united states and of the continental states that are five letters or fewer. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook.
Click a question below to jump straight to its answer. Ap says the percentage sign now ok when used with a. Associated press style quick reference guide to subscribe to the associated press stylebook online, or to find out about purchasing hard copies of the book, start here. Aug 15, 2019 if youd like a more visually appealing way to reference ap style state name abbreviations, save this map weve created with all the names you need. What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules. The associated press recognizes only one allamerica football and basketball team each year.
So weve done the work for you, rounding up a few of the recent significant and just plain interesting updates to the ap stylebook. Those states are alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas, and utah. Effective may 1, the ap will spell out state names in the body of. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style. Before we begin to enlist the abbreviations, it is mandatory for one to learn and garner information about what ap is, with a brief, supplementary note on the history of the same. For all other abbreviations, ap uses its own state abbreviations and chicago prefers postal abbreviations but has its own state abbreviations should that style be more appropriate for your. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free download. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only the following months. In a news story, can you start a sentence with an acronym. Before we begin to enlist the abbreviations, it is mandatory for one to learn and garner information about what ap is, with. The associated press stylebook ap style recommends lowercasing any roadrelated term in combined names if the term is the same for both names. Currently, most state names are abbreviated in stories.
Alaska, hawaii, idaho, iowa, maine, ohio, texas and utah. The american psychological association apa publication manual, which is used for writing academic papers, agrees about using the periods. Choose from 196 different sets of state abbreviations ap style flashcards on quizlet. If you want to know all about the ap style state abbreviations, you have been a wise soul to click on this article. Styleguard offers recommendations on datelines, abbreviations and acronyms, among many other common style needs, along with items you might not have realized are covered by ap style. Ap suggests spelling out the names of alaska, hawaii, and all states with five or fewer letters.
Aug 05, 2015 heres a refresher course what the ap stylebook says for datelines and cities that stand alone in datelines the domestic list of cities that stand alone is on page 79 of the 2010 ap stylebook, and it is a good idea to mark this page with a sticky note of some sort so it is easy to find and you never list the state, country or territory unnecessarily. Spell out the names of all months when using alone or with a year only. Now in its sixth edition, the stylebook is the standard style. Over and state names may 05, 2014 admin the associated press has shaken the world of journalism by amending two distinct style entries, igniting uproar from writers, reporters and communications professionals. The names of eight states are never abbreviated in datelines or text. If a state s name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire state s name. The ap therefore strives to keep its writing style easy to read, concise and free of bias. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style guide of the. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style guide of the associated press, a notforprofit news agency thats been around since 1846. Abbreviations united states as a noun, united states. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals and many other questions of language usage.
The writers of most content creation companies usually write using a popular style guide ap, apa, chicago, mla mixed with a house style. Its updated throughout the year and valuable onlineonly resources, including ask the editor, topical guides and pronunciation guide, expand on the print book s guidance. Use abbreviations for degrees only when you need to include a list. Ap stylebook, also known by its full name the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, is an english grammar style and usage guide created by american journalists working for or connected with the associated press to standardize mass communication. Here is how each state is abbreviated in ap style with the postal code. If necessary, follow it with the state abbreviation not the u.
Postal and traditional state abbreviations reference guide. At bka, we prefer ap style, which is a standard in journalism. Jan 24, 2020 there are three different ways to write state names. A refreshing ap stylebook refresher on datelines and places. Coast guard stylebook 2009 3 a abbreviations except where noted otherwise in the associated press stylebook and libel manual and the coast guard stylebook example. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. Ap stylebook says state abbreviations are used in both datelines and in text. So, i am providing a reference for those who may be interested. Aps automated stylechecking tools speed up the editing process by reducing the need to manually refer to the ap stylebook. The ap style abbreviations arbitrarily range in length from two to six letters, and all twoword names are abbreviated with the initials, such as n.
Emt, aids, cpr are acceptable on first reference spell out all abbreviations and acronyms on first reference and then abbreviate in subsequent references. Learn ap stylebook with free interactive flashcards. Remember that, in datelines, the city name is in all capital letters. Ap itself along with gi and eu are exceptions to this rule. Use the state abbreviations listed at the end of this section. Welcome to ask the editor, a forum on writing, style and phrasing issues that go beyond the pages of the ap stylebook. When the formal title comes after the name, use lowercase. How to write names of highways, streets, and other roadways. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as. For ordinal numbers, spell out first through ninth and use figures for 10th and above when.
Apr 23, 2014 ap is not done rocking the journalism world with style changes. The associated press stylebook states that in contexts other than mailing addresses, the traditional state abbreviations should be used. Do not use periods in abbreviations that are in headlines, unless they are needed for clarity. For all other abbreviations, ap uses its own state abbreviations and chicago prefers postal abbreviations but has its own state abbreviations should that style be more appropriate for your publication. No state name is necessary if its the same as the dateline. State abbreviations according to ap style gatehouse newsroom. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire states name. The following guidance went out on the ap wire wednesday. Ap headlines cap only first word and proper names or proper abbreviations. In most cases, postal abbreviations are appropriate and well understood. Any state name may be condensed, however, to fit typographical requirements for tabular material. Its often used by news organizations, magazines, and web publications, but brands often use it to form the basis of their own style guides, too.
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