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Last Seven DaysQuestion from Dallas, TX on Jan. 17, 2019
I'm having trouble determining when I need a comma in sentences with understood you as the subject of each clause. There aren't any examples like this in the Commas - With conjunctions entry. Ex. "Go for a run on one of our many hike and bike trails or do yoga in the park." "Get out there and get your heart pumping."
Answer
A comma is optional in your first example. Using the comma provides more of a mental break, or a pause, between the two elements. It lets the reader take a mental breath. But it's not necessary. (I would use the comma there. I need to take a breath when thinking of exercise!) For the same reason, you could choose to use a comma in the second example. But I think it works better without it. (Sorry, there's really no rule on this one.)
Question from Costa Mesa, CA on Jan. 17, 2019
Should "auto-fill" be hyphenated when it's used as a verb? (Context: "auto-fill forms for quicker access")
Answer
Typically, there's no hyphen with auto- words. But I'd use it in this case; autofill may not be immediately clear to readers or users.
Question from Anchorage, AK on Jan. 17, 2019
I work at a financial institution and we are having some trouble figuring out the correct capitalization for the term e-statements in our collateral. Although there is not a specific entry for this word in the stylebook, e-book is fairly similar word. Are there situations where AP style would capitalize the e? Thank you!
Answer
We use lowercase e in all e-constructions. So we'd make it e-statements.
Question from on Jan. 17, 2019
Should the FEMA designation that is represented by the acronym be capitalized or rendered in lowercase letters:
"A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is an area that would be inundated during a 100-year flood ."
"A Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is an area that would be inundated during a 100-year flood ."
Answer
AP style wouldn't use that acronym nor enclose it in parentheses.
Here are relevant parts of the entry:
Here are relevant parts of the entry:
abbreviations and acronyms
A few universally recognized abbreviations are required in some circumstances. Some others are acceptable depending on the context. But in general, avoid alphabet soup. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms that the reader would not quickly recognize.
Abbreviations and most acronyms should be avoided in headlines.
AVOID AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONS: Do not follow an organization's full name with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses or set off by dashes. If an abbreviation or acronym would not be clear on second reference without this arrangement, do not use it.
AVOID AWKWARD CONSTRUCTIONS: Do not follow an organization's full name with an abbreviation or acronym in parentheses or set off by dashes. If an abbreviation or acronym would not be clear on second reference without this arrangement, do not use it.
Names not commonly before the public should not be reduced to acronyms solely to save a few words.
All that said, if you must use the acronym for your audience, put it in capital letters.
All that said, if you must use the acronym for your audience, put it in capital letters.
Question from Atlanta, GA on Jan. 17, 2019
How do you punctuate mid-sentence quotes? Is this correct: She said, "Enjoy," after seating Eileen.
Answer
For some short quotes that blend into the rest of the sentence, you don't need a comma. I'd use the commas in this case, for reasons that I can't really put my finger on.
Question from VALLEY STREAM, NY on Jan. 17, 2019
I've seen it both ways in the best papers, but don't the modifiers in second-straight win, or third-straight loss take a hyphen?
Answer
AP doesn't hyphenate those constructions.
Answer
There's not a formula; there are varying ways to do it. Just make sure it's 1) clear and 2) punctuated correctly. If your readers weren't already familiar with the dates, I might put the dates first. But presumably in this case, your readers know the dates involved in tournament week? Assuming that's the case, I'd put the times first. I'd do it this way:
During tournament week, dermatologists will provide free skin cancer screenings for fans from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 through Saturday, Jan. 26; and from 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Jan. 27.
You also could use to instead of the hyphen for the time ranges.
During tournament week, dermatologists will provide free skin cancer screenings for fans from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 through Saturday, Jan. 26; and from 10 a.m.-noon Sunday, Jan. 27.
You also could use to instead of the hyphen for the time ranges.
Question from on Jan. 17, 2019
Reading the latest entry on state names, it looks like this would be the correct way to note a state:
"Under North Carolina law, anyone who..."
As opposed to "Under NC law, anyone who..."
Is that right? Does it matter if it's first or second reference?
"Under North Carolina law, anyone who..."
As opposed to "Under NC law, anyone who..."
Is that right? Does it matter if it's first or second reference?
Answer
In the text of stories, we always spell out state names. Under North Carolina law, anyone ... is correct.
Question from on Jan. 17, 2019
In golf, we see both The Open and British Open used to describe The R&A's annual golf tournament. What is the AP Stylebook's rule for referencing this major golf championship?
Answer
We use British Open. The official name is The Open Championship. We have used British Open (to distinguish between the U.S. Open, for starters) for more than 100 years. The R&A started getting bullish about “The Open” in recent years. But our policy is more aligned with writing what readers understand. Thus, we use British Open.
Question from New York, NY on Jan. 16, 2019
If it's less than a percentage-point change, is it percentage point or percentage points? For example, do we say 0.5 percentage points or 0.5 percentage point?
Answer
It's 0.5 percentage point.
Question from Boston, MA on Jan. 16, 2019
Hi,
Is there any reason to put blackface in quotes? We are writing about a historical documentary where the performers were shown in blackface.
Thank you.
Is there any reason to put blackface in quotes? We are writing about a historical documentary where the performers were shown in blackface.
Thank you.
Answer
No quotes needed there. But that's pretty much the only context in which I'd use the term.
Question from MO on Jan. 16, 2019
"Come" or "comes" in the following sentence?
"With the new year come(s) new opportunities to support charitable organizations."
"With the new year come(s) new opportunities to support charitable organizations."
Answer
Come. Flip around the sentence in your mind: New opportunities come with the new year.
Question from Altamonte Springs, FL on Jan. 16, 2019
How would you punctuate this sentence?
Our dedication to our shared goals – such as student success, research and creativity; access and diversity; partnerships; campus culture and service excellence, and sense of place – will be evident in our daily interactions on campus, as well as in initiatives and innovations we recommend to the University.
Our dedication to our shared goals – such as student success, research and creativity; access and diversity; partnerships; campus culture and service excellence, and sense of place – will be evident in our daily interactions on campus, as well as in initiatives and innovations we recommend to the University.
Answer
I would break it up into two or three sentences. Take a step back and pretend that you're reading that sentence for the first time. Do you get lost midway through? And then maybe a second time? I did. As I recall from my university days, long sentences are indeed a staple of academic writing and in university settings. Break the mold! Write sentences that can be read and understood easily. Try something like this:
We share many goals: student success, research and creativity; access and diversity; partnerships; campus culture and service excellence; sense of place. Our dedication to those shared goals will be evident in our daily interactions on campus, as well as in initiatives and innovations we recommend to the university.
We share many goals: student success, research and creativity; access and diversity; partnerships; campus culture and service excellence; sense of place. Our dedication to those shared goals will be evident in our daily interactions on campus, as well as in initiatives and innovations we recommend to the university.
Question from VALLEY STREAM, NY on Jan. 16, 2019
What is the style for time in a spoken quote -- would it be say, 2 in the morning, or two in the morning?
Answer
It's 2 in the morning for a spoken quote.
Question from Anderson, SC on Jan. 16, 2019
Please clarify colon use with a list. The way I understand it, a sentence or partial sentence - with or without a paragraph - preceding a list ends with a colon, but a standalone line has no colon. Is that correct?
Examples
These dogs are good for indoors because they do not shed:
Examples
These dogs are good for indoors because they do not shed:
- Dog1.
- Dog2.
- Dog3.
Indoor dogs
- Dog1.
- Dog2.
- Dog3.
Thanks
Answer
I'm not sure what you mean by a standalone line. If it's something like a header that you're setting off typographically, it's probably better to use no colon. But if it's a phrase in standard text, we still use the colon even if it's not a complete sentence. See the last part of the entry:
lists, bulleted lists
AP uses dashes instead of bullets to introduce individual sections of a list; others may choose to use bullets. Put a space between the dash or bullet and the first word of each item in the list. Capitalize the first word following the dash or bullet. Use periods, not semicolons, at the end of each section, whether it is a full sentence or a phrase.
Use parallel construction for each item in a list:
— Start with the same part of speech for each item (in this example, a verb).
— Use the same voice (active or passive) for each item.
— Use the same verb tense for each item.
— Use the same sentence type (statement, question, exclamation) for each item.
— Use just a phrase for each item, if desired.
Introduce the list with a short phrase or sentence: Our partners: or These are our partners: or Our partners are:
Question from MO on Jan. 16, 2019
Pre-digital or predigital? "Some banks are still rooted in a pre-digital financial services environment." Thank you!
Answer
Pre-digital.
Question from Halifax, NS on Jan. 16, 2019
The NBA's Clippers are officially known as the LA Clippers, while the Lakers are the Los Angeles Lakers. Does AP style allow for the shortform LA to be used when mentioning the Clippers on first reference?
Answer
We generally spell out Los Angeles Clippers if using the full name like that, but we allow for the Clippers on first reference and Los Angeles by itself as well. We also allow for LA once it’s clear what we’re talking about.
Question from Magnolia, TX on Jan. 16, 2019
Dateline - City/Location: If the location for the news stories is always the same, is the location required on each entry?
Answer
I'm not sure what you're referring to with the part about "each entry."
AP style always uses a dateline. If we wrote 100 stories out of Boise, Idaho, we would use that dateline every time. But if it doesn't make sense to do so in your specific situation, then do what you think works better for your readers.
AP style always uses a dateline. If we wrote 100 stories out of Boise, Idaho, we would use that dateline every time. But if it doesn't make sense to do so in your specific situation, then do what you think works better for your readers.
Question from Tokyo on Jan. 16, 2019
"My son writes his Rs backward" or "backwards"?
I know AP style is to drop the "s" but it doesn't feel like natural speech.
I know AP style is to drop the "s" but it doesn't feel like natural speech.
Answer
That's our style; you can choose not to follow it in this case. Also, our style is R's.
SINGLE LETTERS: Use 's: Mind your p's and q's. He learned the three R's and brought home a report card with four A's and two B's. The Oakland A's won the pennant.
SINGLE LETTERS: Use 's: Mind your p's and q's. He learned the three R's and brought home a report card with four A's and two B's. The Oakland A's won the pennant.
Question from Tokyo on Jan. 16, 2019
"blond beauty" or "blonde beauty"? I know that blond is the noun for males and the adjective for the hair color, but when used in front of "beauty" wouldn't it be the adjective (blond beauty) rather than the noun (blonde beauty)?
Answer
Yes, if the phrase has to be used, it's blond beauty. Here's the entry:
blond, blonde Use blond as a noun for males and as an adjective for all applications: She has blond hair. Use blonde as a noun for females.
blond, blonde Use blond as a noun for males and as an adjective for all applications: She has blond hair. Use blonde as a noun for females.
Question from Meridian, ID on Jan. 15, 2019
I'm wondering if the hyphen in the following sentence is correct or not:
"Once you make label-reading a habit, you’ll be shocked to discover just how many foods are adulterated with sweeteners."
Thank you.
"Once you make label-reading a habit, you’ll be shocked to discover just how many foods are adulterated with sweeteners."
Thank you.
Answer
Yes, I'd use the hyphen for clarity. But better: Once you make reading labels a habit ...
Question from Weston, WI on Jan. 15, 2019
Is it accurate to say, "when torque exceeds 600 in-lbs.?" Or, would inch-lbs. be more acceptable; or does it matter?
Answer
It's not a construction that AP uses. I suggest consulting sources specific to the industry.
Question from on Jan. 15, 2019
While looking for the need for hyphens in 'face to face' an answer you gave on Feb. 24, 2017 included:
Answer:The Stylebook entry is face to face
I'm not finding this entry in AP; has it been changed? Websters instructs to put hyphens in all cases. Thanks for clarifying.
I'm not finding this entry in AP; has it been changed? Websters instructs to put hyphens in all cases. Thanks for clarifying.
Answer
Looks like the previous entry was deleted. The term is redundant for in-person meetings. But if needed to distinguish from virtual meetings: They scheduled a face-to-face meeting, where they could meet face to face.
Question from RIchardson, Texas on Jan. 15, 2019
Is Arab-American hyphenated as a noun, just like African-American?
Answer
As of this writing, yes.
Question from Washington, DC on Jan. 15, 2019
Is there a handy AP guide to international regions and the countries included in each according, e.g., Middle East, North America, South America, South Pacific, etc.?
Answer
Not for most of those. Here's the Middle East entry:
Middle East
The term generally applies to southwest Asia west of Pakistan and Afghanistan (Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the eastern part of Turkey known also as Asia Minor, United Arab Emirates and Yemen), and northeastern Africa (Egypt and Sudan).
Some consider Libya and other Arabic-speaking countries of the Maghreb to be part of the region.
Popular usage once distinguished between the Near East (the westerly nations in the listing) and the Middle East (the easterly nations), but the two terms now overlap, with current practice favoring Middle East for both areas.
Use Middle East unless Near East is used by a source in a story.
Mideast is also acceptable, but Middle East is preferred.
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