Q. Is it multilingual or multi-lingual? – from New York on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. The first, multilingual.
Q. In the sentence -- Country music superstar Brad Paisley guest-stars as himself -- is the verb hyphenated, as it is written, or not? – from chicago on Fri, May 17, 2013
Q. The entry for Google shows "Googling" uppercase, while in at least one answer to "Ask the Editor," examples were given with the word lowercase. Does AP have a preference? – from Chicago on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. It's capitalized Googling, per the Stylebook entry. The 2007 response was before it was formalized.
Q. For clarification regarding state abbreviations on a resume and cover letter, are all states abbreviated where you list your address and the editor's address on the cover letter? And on a resume, are they abbreviated where you list your address and the mailing addresses of your references? The mailing address is the main question. I don't want to lose a job opportunity by incorrectly interpreting AP style guidelines. – from Nebraska on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. See "state names" for postal code abbreviations of each
state. Use a Zip code in a mailing address. If you're
correspondng by mail, use those forms.
Q. How do you format elementary school grades? For example: K through five school. Kindergarten through fifth grade school. K through 5 school? – from Corvallis, Ore. on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. The elementary school has kindergarten through fifth grade.
Q. What is the correct abbreviation for electronic pedigree - epedigree, ePedigree, e-Pedigree or e-pedigree? – from Atlanta, Ga. on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. It's e-pedigree within text. E-pedigree to start a
sentence.
Q. Is the hyphen use correct in this sentence? "Blacked-out, students tie all knots using only their sense of touch." – from HARRISONBURG, Va. on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. No hyphen in blacked out.
Q. I am editing text that refers to someone who "architected the degree program." What is the AP style for use of "architect" as a verb? (Please say you wouldn't allow it.) – from Rochester, N.Y. on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. Someone designed or planned the degree program. Let's stay away from that verb form you mention.
Q. If you are using color to highlight words in a sentance, does the punctuation following it also get highlighted or does it stay black? – from St. Louis on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. Probably same color for comma, period, semicolon, etc. A dash might be the hue of regular body type.
Q. Please - which is correct - "A rhyming salute to the many ways that people enjoy music." or "A rhyming salute to the many ways people enjoy music."
Thank you. – from Jacksonville, Fla. on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. It's a little clearer with that. See "that (conjunction)" entry for elaboration.
Q. I continue to be flummoxed by some company names. While I try to treat them as proper nouns, odd cases keep cropping up. For instance:
1) What's the rule on a company like comScore? Is it ComScore or Comscore?
Shoud prAna be Prana or PrAna?
2) FYI, I called L.L.Bean and they tell me their perferred style is no spaces. What's AP rule on that one?
3) Finally, (I wish) many online companies include the .com in their name in press releases? Should we hunt down their legal name including form of incorporation for first reference?
Flummoxed Charlie – from Charlotte, N.C. on Fri, May 17, 2013
A. In AP stories, comScore Inc.; PrAna; L.L. Bean. Use ".com" only if it's part of the legal name, as in Amazon.com Inc. See "Internet" entry for details.
Q. Do the name of sports team have quotation marks around them? – from Kailua, Hawaii on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. Team names aren't enclosed in quotes.
Q. Should it be Druse, or Druze, for the religious sect in the Middle East? – from New York on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. AP's preferred spelling is Druse.
Q. What is the proper usage for a 300 year celebration? Bicentennial for 200; is it tricentennial or tri-centennial? – from Natchitoches, La. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. It's tricentennial (no hyphen).
Q. In the phrase: He's a numbers man -- should any portion be in quotations?
He's a "numbers" man?
He's a "numbers man"? – from Chagrin Falls, Ohio on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. If you define it, or it's clear in context, no need
to enclose the reference.
Q. When writing about miscarriage, is it due to "chromosome" error? or "chromosomal" error? – from Phoenix on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. Use the second, which is the adjective form.
Q. In a booklet, is it acceptable to leave heads and sub-heads in all caps? – from League City, Texas on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. That's your call. Depends on the publication's headline
and subhead style. AP headlines capitalize only the the first word and proper nouns. Subheads may be all-caps.
Q. Should I change "consistent" to "consistently" in this sentence? Technically I think it modifies the verb "conduct," but "consistently" doesn't sound right to me. Thank you!
The goal is to assert Acme's leadership in service to customers who are ambitious, unique, and authentic and who otherwise conduct business consistent with Acme%uFFFDs philosophy. – from Kansas City, Mo. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. Stick with consistent. No comma after unique in the simple
series.
Q. The acronym STEM commonly is used to refer to the subjects science, technology, engineering and math. Is STEM appropriate to use as an acronym on second reference? If so, should it be capitalized? – from Warner Robins, Ga. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. The acronym doesn't seem to be widely used in AP stories. If
so it would be all-caps.
Q. I came across an AP article and it has, then CIA-Director Petraeus. Should it not be then-Director of the CIA David Petraeus? Why would a reporter hyphenate CIA and director? – from Orysia, Burlington, Ontario Canada on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. Normally, then-CIA Director David Petraeus.
Q. Does AP have a policy for the names of internet navigation buttons, as in "She hit Save before moving to the next screen"? – from Indianapolis on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. She hit save before moving to the next screen. Then she hit enter.
Q. Is this bulleted item punctuated correctly? %uFFFD Bar memberships: California; Nevada; Washington, D.C. Also, should we list the names of the applicable state bar associations instead of saying "bar memberships"? Please advise. Thank you much. – from Kansas City, Mo. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. -Bar association memberships: California, Nevada, Washington, D.C.
Q. What is the guidance for comma usage in a stand-alone series of items that does not have a coordinating conjunction? For example... %uFFFDGrocery list: meat, apples, and carrots.%uFFFD In this case, is a comma after each item in the list appropriate to improve clarity? If not, what is the proper punctuation? – from Philadelphia on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. It's a simple series, so no comma needed after apples.
Q. Should the following sentence end in "sleep" or "sleeps"?
The city - and our team - never sleep(s).
Thank you so much! – from Merrick, N.Y. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. Use sleep in agreement with the dual subjects.
Q. There are double and single quotes in this sentence. Where would the period lie?
"We're worried dogs are gaining influence around the term 'LOL.'" – from Ardmore , Pa. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. The period is correctly placed inside the single and double quotes.
Q. In a sentence such as "The project was completed in two and a half years." would two and a half be spelled out or written in numerals (2.5)? – from Camp Hill, Pa. on Thu, May 16, 2013
A. The number wouldn't be wrong written out, but we generally use figures for mixed numbers: "The project was completed in 2 1/2 years." See "quotations in the news" for elaboration.
Q. is chairman capped in "... under former Communist Chairman Mao Zedong ... "? – from Edmonton, XX on Wed, May 15, 2013
Q. rebrand or re-brand? – from New York on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. One word, no hyphen for rebrand.
Q. Is it guest rooms or guestrooms? – from New York on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. Make that guest rooms (two words), as in AP stories.
Q. Regarding the apostrophe in Mother's Day: Even without the growing numbers and visibility of two-mom families (two out of 25 in my daughter's kindergarten class, for example!!) it's not like anybody still thinks of just their own mom. There's the mothers-in-law, the grandmothers, the sisters with kids, the moms you know, etc. Could you consider going a little more modern-day on this and Fathers' Day as well? – from , San Francisco on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. You'll have to take it up with Congress. Federal laws creating those events and annual proclamations use Mother's Day and Father's Day. We also follow dictionary spellings for both.
Q. I have come across a story by AP and the dateline is BELIZE CITY%uFFFD. I don't see in the style book that is in the list of stand-alone cities. Is it an exception? – from Orysia, Burlington, Ontario, Canada on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. BELIZE CITY echoes the country name and thus stands alone in a dateline along with others, including GUATEMALA CITY, KUWAIT CITY and MEXICO CITY.
Q. Hello,
I was searching for the use of videoconferencing versus video conferencing versus video-conferencing and came across two references. One is from May 19, 2010 and one is from March 14, 2013. They have conflicting references. Can you please confirm what is the correct way. Thank you. – from St. Paul , Minn. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. Dictionaries use videoconference, videoconferencing (one word). Earlier this year, I was swayed by a majority of two-word spellings in AP stories. Now I think the dictionaries must have it.
Q. Is it reuse or re-use? – from St. Paul , Minn. on Wed, May 15, 2013
Q. Today's argument -- ah, er -- discussion: In a two-line headline, it is improper to end the first line with a preposition (i.e., Registration open for/summer reading program). What say you? (Thanks for being the Impartial Decider of All Things Arguable.) – from Eatonton, Ga. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. I would refer you to the Wall Street Journal guidance on writing headlines: Don't put a preposition on one line and its object on another.
Q. In covering international sporting events, it's common that Mongolians refer to only their first name. What is the proper attribution for Mongolians who have first and last names given on results and brackets, but commonly just go by one name? Do we stick with the American name?
Example: Turtogtokh Luvsandorj wrestles for The Citadel. But he's known as simply Turtogtokh in Mongolia. Another is Battsetseg Sornzonbold, a women's wrestling world champion. Is she listed as full name or the Mongolian preferred of simply "Battsetseg"? – from Princeton, Minn. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. There's no universal agreement on Mongolian names, or the order of names, even in Mongolia. Unless the individual wrestler publicly proclaims a name preference, go with the version provided by organizers of the sports event.
Q. Should it be Director Joe Doe or director Joe Doe for a theater director's title? – from Houston on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. Lowercase director as a job description.
Q. When referring to a military reservist, does someone serve "in" the Army Reserve, for example, or "with" the Army Reserve? – from Lincoln, Neb. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. I would go with "in," as the old lyric puts it, "You're in the Army now."
Q. Are the name of studies capitalized or put in quotations? Example: The Department of Agriculture released a new SNAP Food Security In-Depth Interview Study (March 2013)... – from Portland, Ore. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. Readers would probably find that complicated title a challenge. Better to interpret the terms with a simpler summary focusing on the real topic. For example, SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Food security is easy enough to grasp, but what is an in-depth interview study?
Q. Should sub-headings be underlined? – from Caledonia, MI on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. No underlining in AP stories.
Q. Is it stepdad, step dad or step-dad? – from St. Joseph, Mo. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. One word on the model of the "stepbrother, stepfather" entry.
Q. Hello: Could you please make a ruling on House and Senate resolutions? HR 2210 or H.R. 2210? This really is an issue for us out here in the workplace. Your previous responses have been inconclusive. – from Washington DC on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. AP Washington says the practice isn't set in stone. What we have most often used is H.R. 1234 or S-4556 in referring to House and Senate bills. Almost every House bill is voted on as a resolution. When it is clearly a resolution (lacking the force of law) as opposed to a bill, we use House Res. 8976, Senate Res. 5432 and Joint Res. 3456.
Q. Is it prekindergarten or pre-kindergarten? – from St. Paul , Minn. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. AP story usage now favors prekindergarten, though it's
pre-K when abbreviated.
Q. How are the names of space shuttles written in AP style? Do they need quotation marks or any other distinguishing marks? For example, "He flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia in January 1986." – from Springfield, Va. on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. There's a Stylebook entry on that question. Lowercase space shuttle, but capitalize a proper name.
Q. When quoting from printed material, how do you handle changing capitalization? Academic writers tend to use brackets if they are changing the capitalization of the first word of a quote from a written source (i.e. "[B]ut the fact is no one knows" or So-and-so said that "[s]ince it doesn't matter ..."). What does AP style call for in this situation? – from Beirut, Lebanon on Wed, May 15, 2013
A. See "quotations in the news" for handling full and partial quotes. In brief, we don't do that.
Q. Do you prefer industry leading or industry-leading as a modifier? Example: The cruise ship division of the industry-leading travel and hospitality company. – from Ewing, N.J. on Wed, May 15, 2013
Q. Do you use quotes for second and shortened references to composition titles? For example: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a great book by Mark Twain. In Huckleberry Finn, Twain introduces... – from Orange, Calif. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. For renowned works, as you have it. You could also use a generic like the novel.
Q. Why is timeline considered one word but time frame is two? – from Oakland, Calif. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. AP uses the Webster's NWCD spellings of those terms.
Q. Merriam-Webster's website says oil field is two words but coalfield is one. Does AP have any guidance on reconciling this discrepancy? Thank you much. – from Austin, Texas on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. AP's main reference, Webster's New World College Dictionary, lists oil field. The American Heritage Dictionary, a back-up, lists coalfield. These dictionaries have a different publisher than the book you cite.
Q. For an agricultural story: distiller's grains, distillers grains or distillers' grains? – from Tennessee on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. Usually written as a descriptive, without apostrophe: distillers grains.
Q. We're having a discussion about collective nouns, specifically "homeless." Does it take on an article? Would you say "When homeless are attacked ... " or "When the homeless are attacked ... " ?
Thanks. – from Aurora , Colo. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. AP stories use the term in various formulations, such as the homeless, homeless people and people who are homeless. In the example, perhaps phrased: "When homeless people are attacked ... When the homeless are attacked ..."
Q. Can you help me clarify when foot or feet is appropriate? For example, would you say:
...enough to fill a 15 x 30 foot pool that's 4-feet deep.
or
... enough to fill a 15 x 30 foot pool that's 4-foot deep.
or some other combination.
Thanks! – from Carlsbad, Calif. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. Enough to fill a 15-by-30-foot pool that's 4 feet deep.
Q. Here is the sentence I am editing:
The analysis sought to answer the following research questions: Which program areas received grants; where have the past decade of grants been distributed; and how has grantmaking shifted over the past decade.
Should there be a question mark at the end? A question mark after each question? Should the first word of each question be capitalized? – from Camarillo, Calif. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. Capitalize the first word of each question and use a question mark for each.
Q. Something to consider:
Our editing professor insisted that using "earned" to indicate "someone *earned* a bachelor's degree" is far better than "holds a bachelor's degree" or "has," "obtained," "was awarded," etc.
One must earn a degree, he said (other than an honorary degree).
Just as "said" is simple, straightforward, accurate and correct, he told us, so is "earned a degree."
"Said" is better and neutral in a way that "offered," "implied," "whispered," "admitted," "disclosed," etc., are not.
Any thoughts?
Thanks. – from Dallas on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. In AP news stories, the preferred verb of attribution is said. Other verbs may be used with caution and precision. See "admit, admitted" entry. Earned a degree is certainly accurate, but AP usage allows other verbs in connection with academic degrees.
Q. Would you delete the comma in a legal case name that contains a company name including a comma before Inc.? Such as Environmental Termite & Pest Control, Inc. v. Arrow Exterminators, Inc.
Thanks! – from Nashville, Tenn. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. No comma before Inc. in AP Style.
Q. Hello - Should parking lot numbers be spelled out when the number is less than 10? And does it matter if "No." is used? Two examples: "Parking lot No. 1 is across the street..." or "...guests should park in lot one..." Thank you. – from Gainesville, Fla. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. With the No. abbreviation, use a numeral. For more
casual references, lot one should be fine.
Q. Is it: reigniting or re-igniting? – from New Jersey on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. It's reignite, reigniting
Q. What would AP recommend for the term Third Coast? Cap or not? (It's in reference to the Gulf Coast.) – from Farmington, Maine on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. Probably spell lowercase, like left coast for West Coast and
right coast for East Coast.
Q. What is the most current guidance for spacing when entering mixed numbers and using the symbol for the fraction (such as a quarter, a half, or three-quarters) as opposed to entering 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4? Should there be a space between the whole numeral and the fraction symbol? I found two questions in the ASK THE EDITOR section, but the answer for the first seemed to conflict with the example given in the answer for the second. Thank you1 – from , Great Bend, Kansas on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. See the "fractions" entry, which specifies a space between a whole number and the fraction.
Q. Isn't there a population guideline to determine whether a location is called a village, town or city? I thought AP used to have guidelines for it, but it doesn't seem to be in the latest AP stylebook. – from Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. Not aware of exact population range. Webster's says a village is larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town or city. But the word also has broader uses, such as an Olympic Village housing thousands. Be guided by a community's description of itself.
Q. Regarding the bipartisan group of senators often in the news, should they be called the so-called Gang of Eight, the so-called "Gang of Eight," or what? (Have seen many variations on this.) Also, should they be designated differently after the first reference to them in a story? Thanks for your assistance! – from Millburn, N.J. on Tue, May 14, 2013
A. Two ways to express it: 1. The bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators who authored the immigration legislation. 2. The so-called Gang of Eight senators who authored the legislation. (No quotes with so-called.)
Q. If writing a magazine article and one is using a quotation that is as long as a paragraph (3-4 sentences long), would the quotation still go in quotation marks or would I introduce it with a colon, start a new paragraph and then put the quotation? I looked in the quotations section but it was still unclear to me.
Thank you! – from Pleasanton , Calif. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. A long quotation can be a separate paragraph enclosed in quotes, with the attribution in the previous sentence ending with a colon.
Q. I came across this word in an article Twitterati. I had to look it up and found a definition in the online urban dictionary. Here it is%uFFFDThe Tweet elite, whose feeds attract thousands of followers and whose 140-character spews capture the attention of the rapt who doggedly monitor them. Does AP use this term? – from Orysia,Burlington, Ontario, Canada on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Doesn't show in AP stories. A term for the
self-important, or wannabes?
Q. That actually didn't answer my question. Does AP have a policy on correcting tweets for actual errors %uFFFD legitimate misspellings and/or style problems? For example, in a tweet, someone wrote "southern California" sted "Southern California." Would AP fix the capitalization if the tweet is quoted in a story or would AP leave it as the tweeter tweeted it? – from Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. See "quotations in the news" entry. It offers some
alternatives for incorrect spellings, etc.
Q. Do aircraft provide close-air support or close air support? – from Fort Meade, MD on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. I've seen it written both ways, but close air support (no hyphen) predominates in AP stories.
Q. Is there a rule for using a comma before versus? Ex. Twenty percent of people with a college degree voted against the bill, versus 39 percent of those with less education.
Would you use a comma in this case? – from North Palm Beach , Fla. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Yes, but do you mean legislators rather than people for the vote on the bill?
Q. I am writing about a family bakery and they all have the same name. I want to write Carmine Junior and Carmine the third, what is the correct way to write both? – from mount vernon, N.Y. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Carmine Junior, Carmine III.
Q. We're having a hard time in the office deciding on whether to use "re-list" or "relist" to describe a home being listed again. We've seen it both ways in news stories, but AP style says to use a hyphen for "re" words not in the dictionary and if the governing sense says use the hyphen. We're leaning toward re-list. Please let us know what you think! Thanks! – on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Generally spelled relist (no hyphen) in AP stories.
Q. What is AP's policy on editing tweets that are published in print or in stories online (that aren't screen grabs) for style or spelling? – from Thousand Oaks, Calif. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. See "text messaging, instant messaging" section of Social Media Guidelines for acceptable abbreviations, punctuation, etc. Message texts are enclosed in quotes.
Q. Hi Editor - In referring to the Netherlands in the following way, would "the" be capitalized or not capitalized: "Company ABC in Drachten, The/the Netherlands, is known for delivering personal service." Thank you for your help! – from Des Moines, Iowa on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Lowercase the per "Netherlands" entry.
Q. I realize that accent marks are generally omitted in copy, but is that also true for the word expose? In the Newsgathering Conduct section, the final e has an accent mark. – on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. AP news stories do not use diacritical or accent marks because they cause garble for some users.
Q. Is it: shelter in place or shelter-in-place? – from Boston on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. The school urged students to shelter in place. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order.
Q. Should it be "northwest U.S." or "Northwest U.S."? – from Buffalo, N.Y. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. It's the Northwest or Pacific Northwest as a region of the U.S.
Q. Would a second reference to the World Series be series or Series? – from Farmington, Maine on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. On second reference, the Series. See "World Series" entry.
Q. For historic entities, in this case the Virginia Company, would you use the Co. abbreviation? – from Naples, Fla. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Spell out Virginia Company for the historical reference.
Q. I have a story that references the Postal Service's "Forever" stamp. Does AP use that designation, and if so, does it lowercase the term and/or put it in quote marks? – from Arlington, Va. on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. Used two ways in AP stories: 1. A new global "forever" stamp will allow customers to mail letters anywhere in the world for one set price of $1.10. 2. The Rosa Parks Forever Stamp, which bears her likeness
Q. When describing the automotive under the hood market, under-the-hood should be hyphenated, correct? But when describing parts used under the hood it should not? – from New York on Mon, May 13, 2013
A. I'm not familiar with the first phrase. To me it's awkward and hyphenation wouldn't make it less so. No hyphens in parts used under the hood.
Q. I'm proofreading a chapter-by-chapter book synopsis and don't have much latitude to rewrite. In the following sentence, which word is correct -- result or results? "This chapter describes the benefits of investing and the security and financial independence that result/results." I'm thinking it should be the plural "result" because it's preceded by two items, but could "security and financial independence" be considered a collective, meaning "results" would be the right word? Thanks, J.J. – from Greensboro, N.C. on Sun, May 12, 2013
A. ... the security and financial independence that result.
