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Last Seven DaysQuestion from New York, New York, on Dec. 08, 2021
Hi! A person's last name is Simms. Are he and his wife the Simmses, and is the plural possessive this: the Simmses' services include
Answer
Yes, that's correct.
Answer
Yes, that's correct.
Question from Chicago, Illinois, on Dec. 07, 2021
If you could end a spirited debate on this: when a company doesn't have "The" in its formal name, is it every appropriate to add it - like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CCIM Institute, Banana Republic and the like?
Answer
It depends. How's that for an answer to "end" a spirited debate?!
I certainly wouldn't add it before Banana Republic; doing so could indicate something entirely different than what is intended. I don't see a problem with writing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, though I don't see a reason to add the article either. We say both AP and the AP are OK on second reference, as are WHO and the WHO.
Let the debate continue.
I certainly wouldn't add it before Banana Republic; doing so could indicate something entirely different than what is intended. I don't see a problem with writing the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, though I don't see a reason to add the article either. We say both AP and the AP are OK on second reference, as are WHO and the WHO.
Let the debate continue.
Question from Providence, RI, Rhode Island, on Dec. 07, 2021
Would the possessive form of a company name that ends in "apostrophe s," such as Bally's or Macy's, be the same as the company name? Here's a sample quote: “Bally’s expansion allows it to better diversify its revenue streams, which should allow more stability from regional impacts.”
Answer
Yes, that's correct.
Question from East Lansing, Michigan, on Dec. 07, 2021
How do you advise writing a span of years - 2022-2024 or 2022-24?
Answer
Either is fine.
Question from St. Louis, Missouri, on Dec. 07, 2021
The Stylebook says to use single quote marks when your headline includes a quote. What if the entire headline is a quote, without attribution? Would you use double quote marks or stick with single?
Answer
Still use single quote marks in that example.
Question from Cupertino, California, on Dec. 06, 2021
For broadcast members: Which o, oh or ah, is preferred for the first letter of omicron?
Answer
The U.S. use is AH while the British use OH, with the stress on the first syllable in either case.
Question from Reston, Virginia, on Dec. 06, 2021
Example sentence: "I read the over-4oo-page report." What should be hyphenated and what shouldn't?
Answer
Hyphenate as you have it. But much better to rephrase. Or if it's a direct quote, don't use the direct quote and paraphrase instead.
Question from Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Dec. 06, 2021
Well wishes or well-wishes? Usage in AP stories seems to vary.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Answer
Well wishes. No hyphen.
Answer
We don't have a style for that. There are many options. I think what you have is fine, though I'd omit the Or before 3).
Question from Dallas, Texas, on Dec. 06, 2021
When talking about computing/coding, what is the best way to say: "Video games are just a series of 1s and 0s"? Should it be "ones" and "zeroes" instead?
Answer
Yes, use ones and zeroes for clarity.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Dec. 06, 2021
Should electric vehicle-charging station be hyphenated?
Answer
I wouldn't use a hyphen. It seems perfectly clear without one. You wouldn't be wrong to use one. It's one of those stylistic choices.
Question from New Orleans, Louisiana, on Dec. 06, 2021
QUESTION ABOUT RUNNING QUOTATION AND QUOTE MARKS. If a full paragraph of quoted material is followed by a paragraph that continues the quotation, we know not to put close-quote marks at the end of the first paragraph and to begin the second paragraph with open-quote marks. The question is: if the second paragraph identifies the speaker again in the middle of the paragraph/sentence, by including "Brown added,” should the first paragraph end with close quotes? Thanks!
Answer
No. Still no close quote marks at the end of the first paragraph.
Question from on Dec. 06, 2021
I'm assuming "oath of enlistment" is lowercased because I don't see any specific guidance on AP, but I'd like to know if that term referring to the oath one takes upon joining the military should actually be capitalized.
Answer
We'd lowercase it.
Question from Indianapolis, on Dec. 06, 2021
What happened to the photo captions guidelines? I can't find them here online nor in the printed stylebook.
Answer
They were specific to AP operations. So we've removed them from the public sections of the book and online.
Question from Faribault, Minnesota, on Dec. 05, 2021
Hello!
Measurements written correctly in this sentence? These 6-inch-by-3-inch wounds come in first-, second-, third- or fourth-degree burns.
Measurements written correctly in this sentence? These 6-inch-by-3-inch wounds come in first-, second-, third- or fourth-degree burns.
Answer
Yes, that's correct.
Question from Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 05, 2021
Is it supply chain issues or supply-chain issues?
Answer
I think it's clear without the hyphen, regarding supply chain as a recognizable noun phrase. But it's OK to hyphenate if you prefer.
Question from Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 03, 2021
Is there an AP rule dictating the placement of the word "still" in the following:
"There still is a chance of snow."
"There is still a chance of snow."
"There still is a chance of snow."
"There is still a chance of snow."
Answer
Either is fine.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Dec. 03, 2021
Great Replacement Theory, all capitalized? Or would you lowercase "theory" or all three words? Thanks.
Answer
The "great replacement theory," lowercase and in quote marks, with an explanation.
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Dec. 02, 2021
I understand that undocumented should not be used as a noun or as an adjective to describe individuals, but is it ok to use it to describe circumstances, similar to a proper use of illegal in the stylebook "use illegal only to refer to an action, not a person: illegal immigration, but not illegal immigrant. Acceptable variations include living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission." Would "individuals who are living in the U.S. undocumented" (or "without documentation") also be acceptable?
Answer
Among the reasons we don't use undocumented is that most people have some sort of documents. Just not necessarily the necessary ones. So we wouldn't use the revisions that you suggest, either.
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