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Last Seven Days

Question from Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 5, 2026

Hi! My team is pretty sure AP has changed to ceasefire (one word) as of a while ago and we also saw ceasefire noted in the most recent email about changes announced at ACES. However, when we search in the online stylebook, it's showing us a cease-fire (with a hyphen) entry last updated November 2024. Help!

Answer

You are correct. We aren't sure why it's showing up incorrectly, but we're fixing. Thanks for pointing out!

In the meantime, here's the entry:
ceasefire, ceasefires (n. and adj.)
Ceasefire is one word, without a hyphen as a noun or adjective. The verb form is cease fire. Do not refer to ceasefires as peace deals or peace agreements, as that would imply a lasting resolution to the conflicts.

Question from Walla Walla, Washington, on May 4, 2026

Now that AP uses Merriam-Webster as its main dictionary, which take precedence: AP entries or M-W entries? For example, AP says "timeout" but M-W says "time-out". Which should be followed? Is there a general policy to follow when similar questions arise?

Answer

Follow AP style and turn to Merriam-Webster for entries that aren't in the Stylebook. 

Question from Seattle, Washington, on May 2, 2026

Should "taste test" be hyphenated when used as a verb?
"We decided to resolve your hot sauce hardships and taste test all ten hot sauces featured in our expansive and underutilized sauce station."

Answer

The hyphen isn't necessary to understand the sentence, so I'd leave it out. 

Question on May 1, 2026

I am writing an article that references an official presidential message. My question is regarding the capitalization rules for this. My understanding is that I would capitalize in this way: 
- The president issued a presidential message commemorating 250 years of the Bible in America. (lowercase because "presidential message" is used in a generic sense)
- The president issued Presidential Message Commemorating 250 Years of the Bible in America. (capitalized because it is the specific title for the presidential message).
Am I right in this? 

Answer

I'd stick with the first version. You are describing the message and what it does.

The president issued a presidential message commemorating 250 years of the Bible in America

Question on April 29, 2026

Thank you for the new Middle East topical guide. We often produce maps where we delineate the area the Israeli army has told residents to leave. We've been labeling this area the "evacuation zone," but is there a better option for a short map label in light of the "evacuation orders" entry? Thanks again! 

Answer

I wouldn't quibble with using "evacuation zone" on a map. The guidance to avoid "evacuation orders" is meant primarly to avoid the word "order," since a nation can't order evacuations in another sovereign nation. A shorter option could be "threatened area."

Question from Northampton, Massachusetts, on April 29, 2026

Hi! Looking for guidance on the word "chain saw." Merriam-Webster clearly prefers one word, and AP Style indicates two words, BUT the entry was created in Jan. 2004. Does AP still disagree with Merriam-Webster on this, or should it be one word "chainsaw"?

Answer

We still advise two words, but it's been a while since we considered. I'll add it to our list. Thank you for pointing it out!

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