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Last Seven Days

Question on Dec. 1, 2023

Please explain to me why the term backlit is not in AP Style Guide. It's a commonly used term in tech. Both Cambridge Merriam-Webster have definitions for it.

Answer

Many, many terms aren't in the Stylebook. We're not a dictionary. We do, of course, include some terms that are in the dictionary. But it's hardly an all-encompassing list.

Question from Frederick, Maryland, on Dec. 1, 2023

AP has an entry for "look-alike," meaning a person or thing that resembles something else (a noun). But Meta is using "lookalike" as an adjective (i.e., "lookalike audience") to refer to people grouped together based on certain demographics. I'm also reading a document that refers to a marketing campaign targeting "lookalikes." Do you have an opinion on this new spelling and definition? (Thanks, and Happy Friday!)

Answer

Meta's style differs from AP's, as well as from the style used by Merriam-Webster and Webster's New World College Dictionary. You're welcome to use Meta's style if you prefer. Happy Monday!

Question from Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 1, 2023

I work for Nemours Children's Health and our brand managers entreat us to use Nemours Children's for all subsequent references. Some want to use Children's' as the possessive. Further, our leader is Larry Moss. Some want to use Moss's as the possessive. Will you please guide us? Thank you.

Answer

A definite no on Children's' ... treat that the same as Lowe's or McDonald's, in which the possessive form is the same as the name. Nowhere, as far as I know, would you find a guide saying that Children's' is OK.

There's more flexibility on proper names ending in s. Our style:

SINGULAR PROPER NAMES ENDING IN S: Use only an apostrophe: Achilles' heel, Agnes' book, Ceres' rites, Descartes' theories, Dickens' novels, Euripides' dramas, Hercules' labors, Jesus' life, Jules' seat, Kansas' schools, Moses' law, Socrates' life, Tennessee Williams' plays, Xerxes' armies.

But some others do use the possessive apostrophe: Williams's plays; Moss's goals. That one is your choice.

Question from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 1, 2023

Bed making or bedmarking or bed-making?

Answer

bed-making

Question on Nov. 30, 2023

Should I italicize spacecraft such as Gemini 6, Gemini 7 and Artemis II? I see conflicting answers under "ships" ("Names of specific ships and other vessels are both capitalized and italicized...the space shuttle Discovery")

and "spacecraft" ("...capitalize and do not italicize: Gemini 7, Apollo 11, Pioneer 10, the Apollo program, the Mercury program, Project Mercury")

Answer

I think you must be looking at a custom entry by your own organization (subscribers to Stylebook Online can add their own individual entries).

The non-custom version of the AP Stylebook doesn't have an entry that says anything like what you have in your question.

And, we don't use italics at all for publication. We do use them in highlighting examples in the Stylebook. But not for publication.

In your examples, we'd capitalize but not italicize.

Here's the entry we do have:

boats, ships

A boat is a watercraft of any size but generally is used to indicate a small craft. A ship is a large, seagoing vessel.

The word boat is used, however, in some words that apply to large craft: ferryboat, PT boat.

Use it, not the pronoun she, in references to boats and ships.

Use Arabic or Roman numerals in the names of boats and ships: the Queen Elizabeth 2 or QE2; Titan I, Titan II.

The reference for military ships is IHS Jane's Fighting Ships; for nonmilitary ships, IHS Fairplay Register of Ships.

And:

spacecraft designations

Use Arabic figures and capitalize the name: Gemini 7, Apollo 11, Pioneer 10.

Question from Half Moon Bay, California, on Nov. 30, 2023

There are two questions and responses about school courses like Algebra I and Algebra II. One says to capitalize Algebra I and the other says not to capitalize it. Which is right?

Answer

We generally lowercase course names other than proper names (history, English, for example). However, if numbers included, I'd use the capitalized version as you have there. This also is an exception to our general guidance not to use Roman numerals.

Question from Louisville, Kentucky, on Nov. 30, 2023

Is the hyphen appropriate in supply chain disruption-related costs?

Answer

We'd prefer not to use the long and confusing modifier. Why not make it: Costs caused by supply chain disruptions.

If for some reason you need to use the awkward modifier, I guess I'd hyphenate it as you have it there. You could add more hyphens but I'm not sure that's either justified or helpful.

Question from KANSAS CITY, Missouri, on Nov. 30, 2023

Uses: weight-management meal replacement program; weight management programs. Is weight management a collective noun or hyphenated adjective? Both? I'm in the collective noun camp for now. Thank you!

Answer

You could view it either way.

Question from Raleigh, North Carolina, on Nov. 30, 2023

Hi! I can't find guidance on the use of the term "second-class citizen" when referencing how racial and ethnic minority groups were not considered to deserve the same rights as white people in U.S. history (and how that continues in present times).

What is your guidance on the use of the term"second-class citizens"?

Answer

Both Webster's New World College Dictionary and Merriam-Webster list the term. I'd use it with caution, though. Generally it's best to use more words to detail what you mean (as you did in your question).

Question from Edwardsville, Illinois, on Nov. 30, 2023

Is there a guideline for abbreviating "International" for space purposes on a business card?

Answer

We don't cover that.

Question from San Jose, California, on Nov. 29, 2023

Hi, Paula - thanks for the recent workshops. I feel like I've heard somewhere that artists prefer to keep the plural of "medium" as "mediums" as opposed to "media," as in, "She used a variety of mediums in her art portfolio." Can you confirm or correct? Thanks.

Answer

Glad you liked the workshops! I hadn't heard anything about artists preferring mediums over media, but it may well be true at least for some of them. This also could be an example of different people liking different forms.

Merriam-Webster notes that media is usually the plural form of that word when used in that sense. That leaves open the possibility of using mediums if that seems better in a given situation.

: a means of effecting or conveying something: such as

plural usually media

(1): a channel or system of communication, information, or entertainment compare MASS MEDIUM

(2): a publication or broadcast that carries advertising

(3): a mode of artistic expression or communication

Question from Delray Beach, Florida, on Nov. 29, 2023

Hi Paula,

Since the AP Stylebook prefers memorandums as the plural of memorandum, and the article I am editing involves the term memorandum of understanding and uses MOU after the first reference, should the first reference be: "Goodwill and memorandums of understanding (MOU)..." or "Goodwill and memorandums of understanding (MOUs)..."? Thank you!

Answer

You probably know that we don't put acronyms in parentheses after the full name of something. But of course you can do it if you prefer. In that case, make it (MOUs)

Question from Golden Valley, Minnesota, on Nov. 29, 2023

When describing the crack cocaine epidemic do I say crack epidemic, crack cocaine epidemic or crack-cocaine epidemic?

Answer

the crack cocaine epidemic

Question from Olmsted Falls, Ohio, on Nov. 28, 2023

Is the preferred plural form of intellectual property also intellectual property, or intellectual properties?

Answer

Generally, intellectual property.

Question from Kanab, Utah, on Nov. 28, 2023

I see that AP style says to not use the word "reservation" as a word to describe the land where Indigenous peoples reside -- only as part of a proper name. What is the alternative?

And while Inyo County Animal Services doesn’t have jurisdiction on tribal reservations, a future goal of the local sheriff’s department is to meet with tribal leaders to discuss mutual animal welfare issues.

What would be word preferred to reservations?

Answer

Where are you seeing that we say not to use the word reservation other than in a proper name? The Native Americans, American Indians section of the race-related coverage entry uses it in a general sense three times. I don't see that we have any guidance not to use it. Perhaps there's a custom entry made by your organization as part of your Stylebook Online subscription?

Question on Nov. 27, 2023

Is a hyphen needed for the modifier in lump-sum payment?

Answer

I'd use the hyphen.

Question on Nov. 27, 2023

Hi, for this headline: "Our 2024 Festival Program Is Almost Here!" - would "is" be capitalized?

Answer

Yes, that's capitalized. That assumes you're using our composition titles guidance instead of our headlines guidance. That's fine; just making sure you know the difference. Our headlines style capitalizes only the first word, proper nouns and the first word after a colon. Composition titles guidance capitalizes most words. You can choose which you prefer. More details are in the links above.

Question from Shaker Heights, Ohio, on Nov. 27, 2023

The entry for "unique titles" states that "If a title applies only to one person in an organization, insert the word the in a construction that uses commas."

Does this mean that a unique title should always be offset by commas and the word the, or that a unique title -- when used in a construction that uses commas -- should be prefixed by the word the?

Answer

I'm not quite sure what you're asking, but see if this helps:

CORRECT:
Adama Bimou, the deputy vice president, spoke.
Deputy Vice President Adama Bimou spoke.

INCORRECT:
Adama Bimou, deputy vice president, spoke.

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