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Welcome! Today is Saturday, February 04, 2012
Ask the Editor provides answers, clarification and guidance on style issues that go beyond the pages of the AP Stylebook. Before posing a question to AP editor David Minthorn, search the accompanying style archives for your topic. With thousands of questions and answers on file, your topic has very likely been covered. For typical style questions and responses, visit Ask the Editor FAQ.
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Ask the Editor questions from the past week:
| Q. Should bocce be capitalized? – from Dublin , Calif. on Fri, Feb 03, 2012 A. The game similar to lawn bowling is lowercase. |
| Q. In annual reports or other documents listing
financials, is a negative number written with the
"$" mark inside or outside the parenthesis, as
in $(xxx.xx) or ($xxx.xx). – from Magnolia, Texas on Fri, Feb 03, 2012 A. AP stories don't present negative financial numbers in parentheses. An example: U.S. Steel reported a net loss of $68 million, or 47 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $482 million, or $3.36 a share, in 2010. |
| Q. sky dive or skydive? – from NY, N.Y. on Fri, Feb 03, 2012 A. Webster's hyphenates the verb sky-dive and uses two words for nouns: sky diver, sky diving. |
| Q. Is the apostrophe in the correct place for this sentence? The ( ) makes it look/sound awkward. "If the user organization%uFFFDs (Reporting Entity) management and/or user auditor determine..." Or should it be "..user organization's management (Reporting Entity) and/or..."? Thanks! – from Vienna, Va. on Fri, Feb 03, 2012 A. AP avoids parenthetical inserts, jargon such as and/or and unneeded capitalization. If you must, the second example is a little clearer. |
| Q. In the context of sports gambling, does AP hyphenate point shaving only if it's used as a modifier? Or is it always hyphenated? – from Erie, Pa. on Fri, Feb 03, 2012 A. It's point-shaving (n. and adj.). |
| Q. I see that this was last answered in 2009, but I'm curious whether central Florida has become such a commonly-known region that we can now use capitalization (Central Florida), like South Florida and Southern California. I notice that the area's major newspaper uses caps on Central. I appreciate your response. – from Asheville, N.C. on Fri, Feb 03, 2012 A. AP stories from the state spell it central Florida (lowercase c). |
| Q. Hello. I have a question regarding this rule:
SINGULAR COMMON NOUNS ENDING IN S: Add 's unless
the next word begins with s:
Examples: the hostess's invitation, but the
hostess' seat; the witness's answer, the witness'
story.
Why is this rule in place? It doesn't seem to
follow American grammar rules some of us learned
in grade school. Thanks! – from , on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. Possessives can be among the biggest challenges in punctuation. If you'll send me a few examples using the rules you learned, I'll take a look. |
| Q. When you use the name of someone and put where they are from do you use: John Smith of Columbus, Ohio. or John Smith from Columbus, Ohio? – from Campbellsville, Ky. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. In news stories, usually written: John Smith, of Columbus, Ohio, ... |
| Q. Can I use the word "engage" without an object in the tagline of a new website; for example, the purpose of the site is "to entertain, engage and inspire"? – from Springfield, MA on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. That's appropriate to suggest the aim of interaction with your audience. |
| Q. Should it be "in a moment's notice" or "in a moments notice"? – from Eagan, Minn. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. Customarily, at a moment's notice. |
| Q. In a annual report....should the titles of briefs
in all caps? – from Lubbock, Texas on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. They could be, but you might want to reserve all-caps for more prominent segments of an annual report, such as section headlines. |
| Q. Do I need to put quote marks around the title of the play 'ART' when single quotes are already part of the title? – from Belleville, Ill. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. AP stories spelled it "Art" in 1998 when Yasmina Reza's comedy was being honored. |
| Q. Can't find this specifically under "Directions."
Would a publication from. say, Boston be an
Eastern (cap.) publication? Thanks. – from sausalito, Calif. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. Yes, in the sense of a regional viewpoint or appeal. |
| Q. When referring to sales, is it fast food sales or fast-food sales? – from Lenexa, Kan. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. You could hyphenate fast-food as a modifier of sales. |
| Q. Hi. I'm editing a business article that notes
several (lengthy) patent names. How to
capitalize? As a composition title with quote
marks and initial caps of all major words or just
quote marks and cap first word of patent title?
The U.S. Patent Office rules do not discuss title
capital letters. Thank you! – from Missoula, Mont. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. I don't find any recent examples of AP stories using lengthy patent names and numbers. AP is more likely to use a short descriptive term about the patent. In your situation, either of your suggestions should work. |
| Q. should the comma following a bold word in a sentence be bold? – from Chadds Ford, Pa. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. Probably not, unless the comma is within a formal title that bolds all elements. |
| Q. Hi, Are titles of dissertations and theses enclosed in quotation marks, as are most composition titles? Thanks. – from Petaluma, Calif. on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 A. Yes, treat them as composition titles. |
| Q. It's homebuyer. How about home seller? Solid, two words or hyphenated? – from Chicago on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Generally home seller (two words) in AP stories. |
| Q. What is the proper way to refer to various New York City subway trains?
Is it A train, or "A" train, or A-train, or A Train? Is it No. 1 train? On the MTA website, they use A Train,
capitalizing the "T," but they also use
1 train, with a lowercase "t." They also refer to
the 6 local train.
On that site, they start a sentence with the numeric, as follows: 6 local trains . . . That seems confusing and looks awkward. – from New York on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. In AP stories, A train, No. 1 train, No. 6 train. Capitalize the letter of the subway line, lowercase train and use No. and figure for the numerical lines. AP stories often include the direction, such as northbound A train, etc. |
| Q. I think you accidentally spelled Abu Ghraib "Abu Grayb" in the pronunciation section. – from Los Angeles on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Thank you. The reference is being amended. |
| Q. Are hyphens necessary for: 48-year-to-life sentence? – from Sacramento, Calif. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Yes, but better to turn it around: a sentence of 48 years to life. |
| Q. Would it be "well thought out ideas" or
"well-thought out ideas" or "well-thought-out
ideas"? I've seen all three in AP articles. – from Half Moon Bay, Calif. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. I've wavered on this myself. My current leaning: well-thought-out ideas. Or, substitute another term: thorough ideas or exacting ideas. |
| Q. Does AP still capitalize Black History Month? – from Grambling, La. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Correct. |
| Q. In referring to the Russell T. Joy Building, on second reference would it be the Joy Building or would building be lowercase? – from SEATTLE, Wash. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Seems fine to cap the Joy Building on follow-ups, particularly if that's a local usage. |
| Q. To describe disease stages, do you use Stage 4, stage 4, Stage IV, stage IV? – from New York City on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. It's stage 4, or late-stage for the disease. |
| Q. Plural of general counsel: Is it generals counsel, or general counsels? And why? – from Yardley, Pa. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. General counsels. For compounds of separate words, make the most significant word plural. |
| Q. Is it girls night out or girls' night out. Thx. – from Charlotte, N.C. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Frequently spelled with girls' as a possessive in the context of businesses sponsoring theme events. |
| Q. Which is the preferred name, USB flash drive or jump drive? Or something else? Thanks. – from Houston on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. AP technology stories show USB flash drive, but not the other. |
| Q. kettlebells or kettle bells? – from NY, N.Y. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. The fitness devices are kettlebells. |
| Q. Is this comma placement correct? In many, if not most cases, it is the first ... – from Kansas City, Mo. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. The "if not" phrase is ambiguous. It could mean "in many or most cases" or "in many but not most cases." Either way, no comma after many but comma after cases. |
| Q. As a noun: "role-player" or "role player?" Webster's only lists "role-playing" (noun) and "role-play" (verb). – from Parris Island, S.C. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. The noun for an individual is role player (two words, no hyphen), often used in sports contexts. |
| Q. In the sentence "A final list of candidates is expected to be ready for review by mid-March, with the first round of interviews beginning soon after," is the correct word "after" or "afterward?" – from Binghamton, N.Y. on Wed, Feb 01, 2012 A. Either is fine. |
| Q. Can enrollment be plural? As in "Public school enrollments continue to track downward"? – from Stoughton, Wis. on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. Correct. |
| Q. What is the style for a "Right-to-Know request"? In Pennsylvania, the official title is the "Right-to-Know Law" or the "Right to Know Law" (the hyphens are inconsistent on state websites and documents). Should it remain capitalized on all references? And should it be hyphenated? – from Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. AP stories from Pennsylvania often use Right-to-Know request. |
| Q. Forgive the salacious nature of my question but is the proper spelling "striptease" or "strip-tease"? – from Brooklyn, N.Y. on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. You're forgiven: striptease (one word). |
| Q. When using the phrase get-out-of-jail-free card when not talking about the game of Monopoly, but in something like "there is no get of of jail free card when paying income tax" -- are there hyphens in get-out-of-jail modifying card? Should the words be capped because that's the name of the card? "Get Out of Jail Free" card? Or does it need quotation marks? It's someone's direct quote -- otherwise I'd work around it. – from New Jersey on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. Often capped, no hyphens: "There is no Get Out of Jail Free card ... |
| Q. I would like to know what to do in the case of article that starts off with the U.K. Royal Navy, then uses the term a navy spokesperson and then later in the article writes the navy. They are all referring to the Royal Navy of Britain so how would I write each, lowercase or uppercase for navy? – from Orysia Belle River, Canada on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. AP stories capitalize Royal Navy and lowercase navy on second reference to that force. However, British navy is lowercase "n" because it's not the formal name. U.K. is acceptable as a noun or adjective in AP Style. So U.K. Royal Navy would be fine. |
| Q. Is the abbreviation Q1 or Q2, etc., for quarters of a company's fiscal year acceptable per AP style? Or should we spell it out, and if so how? – from DALLAS, Texas on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. In AP stories, business quarters are usually spelled out: first quarter, third quarter, etc. Q1, Q2, etc., may be used in headlines, occasionally in story texts. |
| Q. Hi AP, checking archives and found 2 conflicting
answers here. Can you please clarify? Also, what
about small business as a modifier for other
words -- small business life, small business loan, etc. Many thanks!
Q. Should a dash be used in the phrase "Small Business Owners" between small and business?
A. Small business owners (no hyphen). 2007-07-06 (Source: Ask the Editor, Spelling)
Q. I've checked the hyphen entry and references to small business but I remain confused as to whether or not to use a hyphen in constructions such as small business owner, small business owners,
A. Using guidance in "hyphen" entry, small-business owner, small-business owners, small-business customer. (Source: Ask the Editor, Spelling) – from North Palm Beach , Fla. on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. If referring to the size of the business, hyphenate small-business owner, small-business loan, etc. |
| Q. How do you know if you spell out or use figures
for the address of Fifth Street – from warrensburg, Mo. on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures with two letters for 10th and above: 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St. |
| Q. In a written quote ending with LOL, what's the AP Stylebook's guidance? – from New York City on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 A. The Stylebook's social media abbreviations include LOL for laughing out loud. Ending a sentence, LOL is followed by a period and enclosed in quotes: ... LOL." |
| Q. ok conflict here-which is correct?
city council Capitalize when part of a proper name: the Boston City Council . Retain capitalization if the reference is to a specific council but the context does not require the city name
Q. When writing a story about a specific city council AP says capitalize like this: The Boston City Council, and BOSTON--City Council decided ... But, later in a story, do you continue to use caps,
A. AP would use the proper name capitalized on first reference. Thereafter, the council or possibly the city council on subsequent references. 2007-07-09 – from Barberton, Ohio on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. Retain the capitalization of City Council in follow-ups for a specific body. |
| Q. Should "Federal Bankruptcy Code" be capitalized? – from Eagan, Minn. on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. It's lowercase. |
| Q. Is the properway to say first-come, first-serve OR first-come, first-served with a (d)? Thank you. – from Jacksonville, Fla. on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. Hyphenated with comma as a compound modifier: first-come, first-served basis. |
| Q. What is the correct abbreviation for Coenzyme Q10? I find both Co Q10 and Q10 used in various places, but cannot find it in the AP Stylebook or archives. – from Eagan, Minn. on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. It's Coenzyme Q10 on first reference, defined as a nutrient believed important in mitochondrial energy production. I don't find an abbreviation in AP archives. |
| Q. Is the plural form of kiwi, kiwis??? or is kiwi singular and plural? – from Minnetonka, Minn. on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. Add s for the plural, kiwis. |
| Q. What is the correct abbreviation for a bachelor
of science in education -- BSED or B.S.Ed. --
when it is used in a listing of degrees offered
by a University? For example "Smith University
offers the following degrees: BSED or B.S.Ed.?"
According to AP Style, MBA has no periods, so
would BSED follow this same rule? Please note I
do not want to know how to reference it behind
someone's name
when listing their credentials. Instead, I want
to know how to reference it in a list of degrees
offered by a University.
Thank you. – from Jackson, Mo. on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. AP Style doesn't abbreviate lists of academic degrees in that fashion. Check with other colleges and universities for abbreviations they use. |
| Q. Points and scores - digits or not? Examples are seemingly inconsistent: "Jones scored 8 points. ... 4-pointer in basketball. ...eight points, four points. ...His 3 from the corner ... We lost by six points ...Those last two 3-pointers did us in. ... 3 under par ... in 3 of 4 from 3-point range." – from Kankakee, Ill. on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 A. There are inconsistencies. Based on recent AP basketball stories: Jones scored eight points (and we lost by six points). Using Stylebook's 3-pointer example, 4-pointer for a long shot plus foul shot. Stories show 3 from the corner, shorthand for 3-pointer from the corner, and two 3-pointers. Stories also show 3 of 4 from 3-point range. In golf stories, 3-under par. |
| Q. Is "at about" redundant in a usage such as "The
shooting happened at about 2 a.m."? – from San Francisco on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 A. Either one or the other. But the idiom is so ingrained it would be difficult to counter. |
| Q. Are quotation marks used for nightclub parties and theme nights? Such as, "Club X holds "Past Imperfect" every Tuesday to celebrate 1980s music." – from San Francisco on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 A. That's fine, to differentiate from the club name. |
| Q. Is it re-offend or reoffend? – from 98662, Wash. on Sun, Jan 29, 2012 A. Normally written without a hyphen. |
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