AP Stylebook's most popular style tips

We share AP style guidance regularly on social media. Below are some of our tweets that generated the most conversation.

To keep up with our style tips, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

July

We have new guidance on AP Stylebook Online, recommending that writers avoid the shorthand former Soviet republic(s) for any of the group of 14 countries besides Russia that existed within the former Soviet Union, unless clearly relevant to the story. pic.twitter.com/Lz8FRLkyyA

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) July 5, 2023

Manual de Estilo de la AP is joining the AP Stylebook family.
AP's editors in Mexico City created this guide. It's not a translation of our English guidance. It's written by Spanish-speaking journalists, for Spanish-speaking writers and editors. pic.twitter.com/iWt8jFdOfP

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) July 11, 2023

In 2021, we revised our guidance on the word injuries. We now say they may be suffered, sustained or received.
Often, simpler wording is possible: She was injured in the crash, rather than she sustained injuries in the crash. pic.twitter.com/p9XgwcG5LI

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) July 26, 2023

June

We have new guidance on AP Stylebook Online, recommending that writers avoid the shorthand former Soviet republic(s) for any of the group of 14 countries besides Russia that existed within the former Soviet Union, unless clearly relevant to the story. pic.twitter.com/Lz8FRLkyyA

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) July 5, 2023

Avoid the vague "casualties," which can mean either injuries or deaths. Instead, be specific. If authorities use the term, press for specifics. Or, for example: Officer Riya Ho said the crash resulted in casualties, but said she did not know whether those were injuries or deaths.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) June 13, 2023

We now capitalize Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. The Hajj occurs once a year during the Islamic l unar month of Dhul-Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar year.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) June 23, 2023

May

Use the term Hawaii residents — not Hawaiians — for the overall population of Hawaii.
Use the term Hawaiian or Hawaiians only for members of the ethnic group indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands. They also may be called Native Hawaiians or Hawaii's Indigenous people.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) May 2, 2023

How to use onetime, one-time and one time: He is the onetime (former) heavyweight champion. She is a one-time (once) winner. He did it one time.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) May 30, 2023

Our style: canceled, with one "l," but cancellations, with two. https://t.co/ppU8QGxd6Y

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) May 8, 2023

Use quotes around the slang term "woke," which originally described enlightenment or awakening about issues of racial and other forms of social justice.
Some people and groups, especially conservatives, now use it in a derogatory sense implying what they see as overreactions. pic.twitter.com/Tlowr9zD3C

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) May 3, 2023

April

Think carefully before using shorthand descriptions. Are they relevant, full and fair? Labels such as socialite, playboy, grandmother or former football star shouldn't be the first or only description of someone whose life or career has included other notable endeavors.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) April 25, 2023

Dear PR folks everywhere,
We already have our own style-checking tools that proof for AP style in Word, Outlook and on web browsers. They're powered by technology built by @TansaSystems.
Love,
AP Stylebook https://t.co/jZRNKK6j6E https://t.co/qkMCstIygD

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) April 12, 2023

Imply vs. infer: Writers or speakers imply in the words they use. A listener or reader infers something from the words.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) April 10, 2023

Webster's New World College Dictionary hyphenates dog-tired:
adj. [[< phr. (as) tired (as a) dog]] very tired; exhausted.

It makes us want to take a catnap.
In 2019, AP Stylebook Online's Ask the Editor said:
Catnap is recognized by at least three dictionaries as the spelling. https://t.co/PM591b3y6Q

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) April 6, 2023

March

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?

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) March 4, 2023

Thanks to feedback from fans on Twitter and elsewhere, we updated our guidance on use of the word "incident."
Try to avoid this term, which is vague and often used as jargon by police and others. Instead, be specific about what happened. That includes later references. pic.twitter.com/ayxXC1u12l

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) March 16, 2023

The red carpet isn't literal. Even if the floor covering isn't red (it was champagne this year), the arrival area is still called the red carpet.
The beverage Champagne is capitalized because it's from Champagne, France. The color champagne is lowercase. https://t.co/hBCkY7qcyk

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) March 13, 2023

Thanks to our education experts Andy Bechtel, Lisa McLendon and Christine Steele for helping us transform our AP Style Quizzes into the new AP Stylebook Study Guides. The guides are live this week. https://t.co/l9WItHylWp #ACESEvolve pic.twitter.com/da1B6NH2YY

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) March 24, 2023

February

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.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) February 27, 2023

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.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) February 7, 2023

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. pic.twitter.com/sQqym0ilGn

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) February 22, 2023

January

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when one or more arteries supplying blood to the heart become blocked.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It can be due to a heart attack, a heart rhythm problem or as a result of trauma.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) January 3, 2023

Regardless of sexual orientation, the term husband for a man or wife for a woman is acceptable in all references to people in any legally recognized marriage. Spouse or partner may be used if requested or as a gender-neutral option.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) January 10, 2023

Some understand the words notorious and notoriety to refer simply to fame; others see them as implying being well known because of evil actions. Be sure the context is clear, or use terms like famous, prominent, infamous, disreputable, etc., depending on which applies.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) January 9, 2023

December

Spell out the number in New Year’s Six when referring to the group of college football bowl games that rotate the College Football Playoff semifinal games.
The games include the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, the Peach Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl. pic.twitter.com/0LxtW12DWb

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) December 28, 2022

Do not use the term "late-term abortion." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines late term as 41 weeks through 41 weeks and 6 days of gestation, and abortion does not happen in this period. pic.twitter.com/KjT1k9rDSS

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) December 6, 2022

Our style is doughnut, not donut. We are aware that this causes consternation for some of you. But it is in keeping with dictionary recommendations. Looking ahead to Hanukkah: https://t.co/yh7FtlKg4r

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) December 12, 2022

November

Headlines are key to any story. They must stand on their own in conveying the story fairly. They must include key context. They should invite readers to read more, without misleading or overpromising. Their tone should match the story's tone.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) November 28, 2022

Who do you think of when you remember first learning AP style?
Did you have a copy editing professor who quizzed you weekly? Or an editor who marked up your drafts pointing out your style errors?

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) November 22, 2022

October

We recommend avoiding the vague jargon officer-involved or police-involved. Be specific about what happened. 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.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) October 18, 2022

If you go to the farmers market this fall, you don't need an apostrophe.
This follows our possessives guidance not to add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense: a Cincinnati Reds infielder, a teachers college, a writers guide. pic.twitter.com/EV7ijmjBER

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) October 12, 2022

The terms marijuana and cannabis may be used interchangeably. The term pot is acceptable in headlines and generally in stories, though it may not be appropriate in some stories. Some prefer the term cannabis because of arguments the term marijuana has anti-Mexican roots.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) October 10, 2022

We changed our style in 2021 to antisemitism, not anti-Semitism. The past style was based on common usage. But some say that could give credence to the idea that Jews are a separate race. A growing number of Jewish organizations and others have moved to the style antisemitism.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) October 20, 2022

September

No hyphen for Asian American, African American and other dual-heritage terms. When possible, refer to a person’s country of origin or follow the person’s preference. Such as: Filipino American or Indian American. RIP and thank you, Henry Fuhrmann @latimes. https://t.co/AgRGT5oH1W

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) September 15, 2022

No hyphen is needed between adverbs ending in -ly and adjectives they modify: an easily remembered rule, a badly damaged island, a fully informed voter.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) September 6, 2022

We prefer terms such as older adults or older people over the terms senior citizens, seniors or elderly as general descriptions when appropriate and relevant. Be specific when possible: discounts for people 62 and older; the risk of stroke among women in their 70s.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) September 13, 2022

August

Our style: Don't use the pronoun "she" in reference to nations, ships, storms or voice assistants except in direct quotations. Use "it" instead.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) August 22, 2022

We now have guidance saying that "pregnant women" or "women seeking abortions" is acceptable phrasing.
Phrases like "pregnant people" or "people seeking abortions" are acceptable when you want to be inclusive of people who have those experiences but do not identify as women. pic.twitter.com/ljaabPxWak

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) August 17, 2022

A smorgasbord of AP style and preferred spellings for your menu: naan, kimchi, BLT, PB&J, doughnut, Fluffernutter, horchata, ketchup, meatloaf, omelet, po'boy, chiles, chili, whoopie pie, shawarma, shepherd's pie, s'mores, coffeecake, cornbread, french fries, microgreens.

— APStylebook (@APStylebook) August 23, 2022