Ask the Editor

Last Seven Days

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.


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!

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

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 But not for publication.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


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.

Answer

You could view it either way. 

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).

Answer

We don't cover that.

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



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)


Answer

the crack cocaine epidemic

Answer

Generally, intellectual property.

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?

Answer

I'd use the hyphen.

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.

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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