Ask the Editor
Last Seven DaysQuestion from Winter Park, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2021
I was told early in my career (about 20 years ago) that "whirling dervish" should not be used metaphorically, e.g., "The ride spun me around like a whirling dervish." I can't really find anything about that topic, in regard to it being offensive, as I peruse AP and the internet. Was this information incorrect, or should I still err on the side of caution where this term is concerned?
Answer
I'd avoid it. Using the term metaphorically could be seen as making light of a religious practice:
der•vish
(dʉr´vish)
n. [[Turk dervish < Pers darvēsh, beggar]] a member of any of various Muslim religious groups dedicated to a life of poverty and chastity: some dervishes practice whirling, chanting, etc. as religious acts
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Feb. 26, 2021
When writing policy articles for our industry newsletter, we often reference agencies within agencies. Here is my example:
ASA submitted comments today to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service regarding animal biotech regulation.
My question is, do you have to use the 's possessive after USDA. I do not but see many of our staff doing so. Thanks!
Answer
Yes, we'd use the possessive, as you have it.
Question from New York, New York, on Feb. 26, 2021
Hi. Is "parliamentarian" capitalized before a name in something like this? "Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled against the provision."
Answer
We'd use lowercase.
Question from on Feb. 26, 2021
Should military titles be abbreviated when part of the formal title of, for example, a location or scholarship? The Colonel Palmer House is located in Crystal Lake or The Col. Palmer House is located in Crystal Lake?
Answer
Spell it out in that scenario.
Question from Seattle, Washington, on Feb. 25, 2021
How do you format the photo credit for multiple photos cropped to be next to each other? For example, for three photos, would it be something like
(Joe Smith, Mary Jones, Steve Brown / The Seattle Times)
(Joe Smith, Mary Jones, Steve Brown / The Seattle Times)
Answer
For just two or three photos, we usually write the caption signoff as you suggested. For more photos than that, we would write just (The Seattle Times).
The issue is that once you get a lot of photos in the combo and, therefore, a lot of bylines, it becomes unwieldy to credit everyone and image itself really becomes a new visual work in the context of all of the photos put together like that.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Feb. 25, 2021
When using senators as an improper noun should it be capitalized? "Tell your senators to vote for... or "Tell your Senators to vote for?
Answer
Tell your senators ....
Question from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 25, 2021
My question pertains to capitalization and epochs. In the "Historical periods and events" entry, the Stylebook uses "Pliocene Epoch" (uppercase "E" in "Epoch") as an example, but in the "ice age" entry, it uses "Pleistocene epoch" (lowercase "e" in "epoch). Is this an oversight or correct as presented?
Answer
Sharp eye! That's an oversight and we will fix it. Should be Pleistocene Epoch.
Question from Tulalip, Washington, on Feb. 25, 2021
Hi. I see the Broadcast guidelines. But does AP Stylebook still publish or advise a specific guide about writing for broadcast? Thanks!
Answer
No, we don't.
Question from Flemington, New Jersey, on Feb. 25, 2021
Are occupational titles lowercased after the name? For example Commissioner Joe Doe, human services liaison.
Answer
Yes, lowercase after the name.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Feb. 25, 2021
The rule on company names gives the example of "Ikea." But when naming the company (rather than the store) in a story, would you use the formal name Inter Ikea Group or Inter Ikea Systems?
Answer
We generally call both the stores and the company Ikea.
Question from Cleveland, Ohio, on Feb. 25, 2021
Does the comma need to be included in this headline?
Your Mutual Appreciation Questions, Answered!
Your Mutual Appreciation Questions, Answered!
Answer
Yes, use the comma.
Question from Austin, on Feb. 25, 2021
Are the semicolons necessary in this sentence? Thank you. "Our safety record was 30 times lower than the overall U.S. manufacturing average and was lower than the refining industry and other industries, including retail trade; construction; and electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
Answer
They're not necessary but I would use them rather than commas in this case. I'd also make it two sentences:
Our safety record was 30 times lower than the overall U.S. manufacturing average. It also was lower than that of the refining industry and other industries, including retail trade; construction; and electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
Another thought: I'm not sure that "our record was lower" is really what you mean to say. For one thing, it may give the impression that your record was 30 times worse.
Our safety record was 30 times lower than the overall U.S. manufacturing average. It also was lower than that of the refining industry and other industries, including retail trade; construction; and electric power generation, transmission and distribution.
Another thought: I'm not sure that "our record was lower" is really what you mean to say. For one thing, it may give the impression that your record was 30 times worse.
Question from Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, on Feb. 25, 2021
AP stories have been going with COVAX, all uppercase — the style of the WHO-backed vaccine distribution program. Is that the correct AP style?
Answer
Yes.
Answer
Thanks. We'll take a look at that.
Question from Chicago, Illinois, on Feb. 25, 2021
For U.S. Postal Service, would that be US Postal Service in a headline to stick with the no periods in U.S. in headlines?
Answer
Yes. Or simply the Postal Service, if it's clear from the context.
Question from Chicago, Illinois, on Feb. 24, 2021
Would you capitalize the words in a subtitle of a book (the part after the colon)? For instance: "Kiss the Ground: How the food you eat can reverse climate change" or "Kiss the Ground: How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change."
Answer
We don't have a style for that. I'd use the uppercase.
Question from on Feb. 24, 2021
Do we add periods to abbreviations of specific associate degree programs like we would for bachelor's degrees? For example, would an Associate of Science be abbreviated as A.S. or AS?
Answer
We don't use those abbrevations for associate degree programs. If you choose to, use the periods in keeping with our style for B.A. and M.A.
academic degrees
If mention of degrees is necessary to establish someone’s credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use instead a phrase such as: Fatima Kader, who has a doctorate in psychology.
Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science.
Also: an associate degree (no possessive).
Use such abbreviations as B.A., M.A., LL.D. and Ph.D. only when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. Use these abbreviations only after a full name — never after just a last name.
When used after a name, an academic abbreviation is set off by commas: John Snow, Ph.D., spoke.
Do not precede a name with a courtesy title for an academic degree and follow it with the abbreviation for the degree in the same reference.
Question from Brookings, South Dakota, on Feb. 24, 2021
Would you hyphenate trial and error? As in "through trial and error, the process was completed."
Answer
No hyphens there.
Question from Walnut Creek, California, on Feb. 24, 2021
How would you hyphenate the term "master certified coach"? The International Coaching Federation website calls the degree/program a Master Certified Coach (https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/mcc-path), which I think would be in lowercase according to AP style. Should there also be a hyphen (as in "master-certified coach")?
Answer
We'd use the hyphen and lowercase.
Question from on Feb. 23, 2021
Is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer capitalized in referencing a community?
Answer
We use LGBT or LGBTQ in all references. if you need to spell it out, use lowercase. Here's the relevant section of our gender and sexuality entry:
LGBT, LGBTQ (adj.) Acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and/or queer. In quotations and the formal names of organizations and events, other forms such as LGBTQIA and other variations are also acceptable with the other letters explained. Igenerally stands for intersex, and A can stand for asexual (a person who doesn't experience sexual attraction), ally (some activists decry this use of the abbreviation for a person who is not LGBT but who actively supports LGBT communities) or both. Use of LGBT or LGBTQ is best as an adjective and an umbrella term. Don't use it, for instance, when the group you're referring to is limited to bisexuals. Walters joined the LGBTQ business association. Queer is an umbrella term covering people who are not heterosexual or cisgender and is acceptable for people and organizations that use the term to identify themselves. Do not use it when intended as a slur. Follow guidelines for obscenities, profanities, vulgarities as appropriate.
LGBT, LGBTQ (adj.) Acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning and/or queer. In quotations and the formal names of organizations and events, other forms such as LGBTQIA and other variations are also acceptable with the other letters explained. Igenerally stands for intersex, and A can stand for asexual (a person who doesn't experience sexual attraction), ally (some activists decry this use of the abbreviation for a person who is not LGBT but who actively supports LGBT communities) or both. Use of LGBT or LGBTQ is best as an adjective and an umbrella term. Don't use it, for instance, when the group you're referring to is limited to bisexuals. Walters joined the LGBTQ business association. Queer is an umbrella term covering people who are not heterosexual or cisgender and is acceptable for people and organizations that use the term to identify themselves. Do not use it when intended as a slur. Follow guidelines for obscenities, profanities, vulgarities as appropriate.
Question from Calgary, AB, on Feb. 23, 2021
How do you hyphenate a compound successive linked by a preposition rather than a conjunction? Should it be near- to medium-term outlook or near-to-medium-term outlook? Thanks for clarifying.
Answer
near-to-medium-term outlook. Here's the relevant section from the hyphens entry:
SUSPENSIVE HYPHENATION: Use these forms to shorten a compound modifier or a noun phrase that shares a common word:
SUSPENSIVE HYPHENATION: Use these forms to shorten a compound modifier or a noun phrase that shares a common word:
When the elements are joined by and or or, expressing more than one element: 10-, 15- or 20-minute intervals; 5- and 6-year-olds. But: The intervals are 10, 15 or 20 minutes; the children are 5 to 6 years old.
When the elements are joined by to or by, expressing a single element: a 10-to-15-year prison term; an 8-by-12-inch pan. But: The prison term is 10 to 15 years; the pan is 8 by 12 inches.
Question from New York, New York, on Feb. 23, 2021
I would like to double-check that the second reference for District of Columbia is "district." That's what in the District of Columbia entry right now. But a colleague pointed out to me that in 2014, AP had changed it from "district" to "District."
Answer
The current entry is our current style. (We know that many within that jurisdition capitalize the District. You're free to do so if you prefer.)
District of Columbia
In datelines Washington doesn't take D.C. Generally use District of Columbia within a story only for official designations, such as local government names, or to avoid confusion with other localities of that name. Washington should be used in most story references to the U.S. capital because of the name recognition globally. Use Washington, D.C., with the added abbreviation only if the city might be confused with the state. Do not use D.C. standing alone other than in quotations. On second reference, the district is acceptable. Postal code: DC. See state names, Washington.
Question from on Feb. 23, 2021
Hello! Do you hyphenate "in-season" in this example? I assume yes based on another Ask the Editor question. "They are in-season during the spring." Thank you!
Answer
Yes, I'd use the hyphen there.
Question from Virginia, on Feb. 23, 2021
I keep seeing people write: The degradation and loss of forests is
I think of them of two things and would write "are." Is the former correct? Could it be considered "is" because it is the degradation that leads to the subsequent loss?
I think of them of two things and would write "are." Is the former correct? Could it be considered "is" because it is the degradation that leads to the subsequent loss?
Answer
Indeed, you could consider them/it as either two things or one combined thing. I'd go with the singular.
Question from Parker, Colorado, on Feb. 23, 2021
In recent AP stories about the Ku Klux Klan I've noticed the second reference as the Klan. Have the guidelines changed from the lowercase klan on second reference?
Answer
Our style is still klan or KKK on second references. The writer/editor got it wrong,
Ku Klux Klan
A secretive society organized in the South after the Civil War to assert white supremacy, often using violence. The organization splintered, and not all successor groups use the full name. But each may be referred to as the Ku Klux Klan. The klan or the KKK may be used on second reference.
From the Pronunciation Guide
From the Topical Guides
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