We follow the World Health Organization's use of the term mpox for the virus that originates in wild animals and occasionally jumps to people, who can spread it to others.
The virus was previously known as monkeypox, because it was first seen in research monkeys.
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Generally, we recommend using a hyphen in modifiers of three or more words: a know-it-all attitude, black-and-white photography, a sink-or-swim moment, a win-at-all-costs approach. Consider carefully, though, before deciding to use more than three modifiers.
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To gibe means to taunt or sneer: They gibed him about his mistakes.
Jibe means to shift direction or, colloquially, to agree: They jibed their ship across the wind. Their stories didn't jibe.
Jive means to speak (to) in a way that is exaggerated, insincere, flippant, etc.
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Happy National Grammar Day!
Does that mean it's a day for national celebrations of grammar or a day to celebrate the grammar of our nation?
Either way, what's your favorite grammar rule?
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Our style for court decisions and legislative votes: The Supreme Court ruled 5-4, a 5-4 decision. The House voted 103-100, a 103-100 vote. The word "to" isn't needed.
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We prefer the word people to persons: Thousands of people attended.
Persons should be used only when it is in a direct quotation or part of a title.
When relevant, use a more precise alternative to people. For example: U.S. adults; likely voters in Ghana’s presidential election.
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Lent began last week. It is the period from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.
The 40-day Lenten period for penance, suggested by Christ's 40 days in the desert, does not include the six Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
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Avoid the vague jargon "officer-involved" for shootings and other cases involving police. Give specifics. If police use the term, ask for detail. How was the officer or officers involved? Who did the shooting? If the information is not available or not provided, say so.
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The word equal is an adjective without comparative forms. When people speak of a more equal distribution of wealth, what is meant is more equitable.
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Use straight-laced for someone strict or severe in behavior or moral views.
Reserve strait-laced for the notion of confinement, as in a corset.
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How did you learn AP style?
Did a college instructor quiz you every week? Did an editor mark up your copy? Did you read the Stylebook like a novel?
In our AP Stylebook Workshop, you can learn directly from the editors who make AP style. Register now:
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Our new section explains that inclusive storytelling seeks to truly represent all people around the globe. It gives voice and visibility to those who have been missing or misrepresented in traditional narratives of both history and daily journalism.
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Our style: STEM is acceptable on first reference for science, technology, engineering and math, but spell out the full phrase shortly thereafter.
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We're offering an early-bird rate of $199 per person for our first AP Stylebook Workshop.
Sign up by March 1 for the best price.
The course starts April 4 with a live session: Inside the Stylebook, with Stylebook editor Paula Froke.
apne.ws/4jif3OI
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Use a slash, not a hyphen, for constructions such as and/or, over/under, etc. No space on either side. To break up lines of a verse, use a slash with a space on each side:
Row, row, row your boat / Gently down the stream / Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily / Life is but a dream.
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Have you ever wished you could ask the Stylebook's editors why AP style guidance is what it is?
Sign up now for our AP Stylebook Workshop, and you'll have the chance to ask our team of editors about your AP style questions.
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Use hyphens as joiners, such as for compound modifiers: small-business owner. AP also uses hyphens for ranges, such as Jan. 1-4, while some other styles use en dashes. There should be no spaces surrounding a hyphen.
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A recession is a falling-off of economic activity that may be a temporary phenomenon or could continue into a depression. A common definition is two straight quarters of economic contraction. A more official determination is made by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
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Today is Valentine’s Day, with the apostrophe. It honors a saint martyred in third-century Rome. Sweethearts mark it by exchanging valentines (lowercase and please, no apostrophe).
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How did you learn AP style?
Did a college instructor quiz you every week? Did an editor mark up your copy? Did you read the Stylebook like a novel?
In our AP Stylebook Workshop, you can learn directly from the editors who make AP style.
Register now: apne.ws/ZhgROcM
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We use these forms, as appropriate in the context, for highways identified by number: U.S. Highway 1, U.S. Route 1, U.S. 1, state Route 34, Route 34, Interstate Highway 495, Interstate 495. On second reference only for interstates: I-495.
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Character refers to moral qualities.
Reputation refers to the way a person is regarded by others.
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Whether you just started using the Stylebook or you have decades of experience, the AP Stylebook Workshop is for you.
Our editors will help you hone your skills on the mechanics of writing and editing, as well as your approach to storytelling and content.
apne.ws/sBPwyKW
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Our style is generally to use the name a person prefers: Thomas or Tom, depending on preference; Martine McCarthy Chang may prefer McCarthy Chang or she may prefer Chang on second reference.
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When preferences of an individual or group can’t be determined, try to use a mix of person-first and identity-first language.
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From our disabilities entry:
Some people use person-first language in describing themselves, such as "a woman with schizophrenia."
Others view their disability as central to their identity and use identity-first language, such as "an autistic woman."
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Time flies when you're having fun!
If you subscribe to AP Stylebook Online, our automated annual renewal feature makes it easy to keep up with the latest guidance. And you'll save 20% when you opt in to autorenewal.
You can spend your savings on a retirement party for that book.
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We capitalize words such as professor, doctor, coach, etc., when they sub for a person’s name: What’s my grade, Professor? Put me in, Coach! Capitalize words denoting family relationships in such uses: I asked Mom. But: She asked her doctor for a diagnosis. He called his mother.
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We're offering an early-bird rate of $199 per person for our AP Stylebook Workshop. Sign up by March 1 for the best price.
The course starts April 4 with a live session: Inside the Stylebook, with Stylebook editor Paula Froke.
Sign up now and save.
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We don't use hyphens when the word magnitude is used as a modifier for an earthquake: a magnitude 7.8 quake, a 7.8 magnitude quake (either is acceptable wording). Also: The word temblor (not tremblor) is a synonym for earthquake.
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Our style is one word in all uses for livestream and livestreaming: The event will be livestreamed. Watch the livestream. We want to do more livestreaming. The livestreamed program.
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Mark your calendar: On four Tuesdays in April, you have the chance to learn about AP style directly from the editors who create our guidance.
This is a chance to learn not just the "what" of AP style, but also the "why."
Register now:
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We lowercase the common noun elements of names in plural uses: the Democratic and Republican parties, Main and State streets, lakes Erie and Ontario. Exception: plurals of formal titles with full names are capitalized: former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald R. Ford.
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For years, you have asked us for a training course to help you learn AP style.
We listened.
We are offering our first AP Stylebook Workshop, with live and on-demand video instruction from the editors who make AP style.
apne.ws/n0a6Xtq
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Faze means to embarrass or disturb: The snub did not faze her.
Phase denotes an aspect or stage: They will phase in a new system.
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Use decimals, not fractions, in percentages: Her mortgage rate is 4.5%.
Be careful not to confuse percent with percentage point. A change from 10% to 13% is a rise of 3 percentage points. This is not equal to a 3% change; rather, it’s a 30% increase.
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The Stylebook also recommends using a mix of identity-first language (homeless people) and person-first language (people who are homeless) if the preference of an individual or group can't be determined.
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Instead, use wording such as people with mental illnesses or wealthy people.
Use these descriptions only when clearly relevant and that relevance is made clear in the story.
Be specific when possible and relevant, such as people with incomes below the poverty line.
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That is why we recommend avoiding general “the” labels such as the poor, the mentally ill, the wealthy, the disabled, the college-educated.
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We deleted an earlier tweet because of an inappropriate reference to French people. We did not intend to offend.
Writing French people, French citizens, etc., is good. But "the" terms for any people can sound dehumanizing and imply a monolith rather than diverse individuals.
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