Ask the Editor
Last Seven DaysQuestion from Columbia, South Carolina, on March 08, 2021
Use of apostrophes with plural possessives: Deacons' Wives' Ministry?
Answer
Rather than lead the reader through a parade of possessives, we'd be tempted to go with the Deacons' Wives Ministry, in the same way that we don't add an apostrophe to the National Governors Association.
Question from on March 08, 2021
In the byline "Savannah State University Quality Enhancement Plan" is an apostrophe mandated?
Answer
If you're suggesting "Savannah State University's Quality Enhancement Plan," probably not. It would seem to be a name in its entirety (albeit a very long one).
Question from West Chester, Pennsylvania, on March 08, 2021
Hello! My paper is covering our college's sorority recruitment process right now. Does AP have guidance for terms like "formal/informal recruitment," the rounds of recruitment (open house, philanthropy, sisterhood, preference), and "littles, bigs, grandbigs"? We're just really not sure regarding capitalization or quotation marks and such. Thank you!
Answer
Alas, as you might expect, we rarely cover this kind of thing and so we haven't felt the need to set a style. Our advice: Pick a style and stick to it. We'd probably avoid capitalization for the most part, unless you're talking about words that demonstrably proper nouns. And unless you see the need to underscore the fact that a term is colloquial, you can steer clear of quotation marks.
Answer
You're right, generally. Webster's New World says an agency is an "administrative division of government with specific functions," which would seem to exclude departments that have many responsibilities, often exercised through their ... agencies. But an archive search will turn up numerous times in which "the agency" is used by AP reporters desperate to avoid using "the department" one more time in a story.
Question from Tampa, Florida, on March 08, 2021
The word weblink was used in an answer in 2016. Should it be one or two words?
As always, thanks for the help!
As always, thanks for the help!
Answer
One word, to be consistent with website, webcast and webpage. But we'd probably just go with link.
Answer
We would avoid using either the title or the number, instead reporting that the president issued a directive for (whatever purpose). Or, in the first example, the advocates called upon the Biden administration to rescind a Trump directive that they claim conflates ...
Question from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 08, 2021
I work in an environment with lots of former military folks, and they like to use "to include" where I feel "including" would be better writing. As in "... taking security precautions, to include checking IDs at the gate, making sure visitors are expected ..." Does AP Style give any guidance on this usage?
Answer
We don't have guidance. But my personal guidance, as well as what I see elsewhere, is that to include is wrong in that use and including is right.
Question from West Newton, Massachusetts, on March 07, 2021
When do I need to cite a published source, such as the U.S. Census or a published article, for a statistic?
For example, if a published report gives me the number of family caregivers who are also working at formal jobs, I think I should refer to the report in an article using that number.
But what if I'm giving a stat that's more broadly known, such as, "The estimated population of the U.S. is more than 330 million"?
For example, if a published report gives me the number of family caregivers who are also working at formal jobs, I think I should refer to the report in an article using that number.
But what if I'm giving a stat that's more broadly known, such as, "The estimated population of the U.S. is more than 330 million"?
Answer
You nailed it. Generally it's best to give a specific source. But widely known figures such as the U.S. population are fine without attribution.
Question from HOUSTON, Texas, on March 05, 2021
Should the names of departments within an organization ( a social club) be capitalized? For example: Fitness Staff, Youth Department, Fitness Department? What about job titles: Youth Party Coordinator?
Answer
We generally use lowercase for those. You could choose to do differently.
Question from Boulder, Colorado, on March 05, 2021
In a dateline, is it CITY NAME, The Netherlands; CITY NAME, Netherlands; or CITY NAME, the Netherlands??
Answer
CITY NAME, Netherlands
Here's the entry:
Here's the entry:
Netherlands
In datelines, give the name of the community followed by Netherlands:
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands (AP) –
In stories: the Netherlands or Netherlands as the construction of a sentence dictates.
Question from Langley, BC, on March 05, 2021
Hi there,
does AP have a preference for the spelling of the new prime minister of Libya? I've seen variation even within the same AP story, to say nothing of the variations with other news outlets. Should it be Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, Abdelhamid Dbeiba or something else?
Many thanks
does AP have a preference for the spelling of the new prime minister of Libya? I've seen variation even within the same AP story, to say nothing of the variations with other news outlets. Should it be Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, Abdelhamid Dbeiba or something else?
Many thanks
Answer
We are using: Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah.
Question from Olathe, Kansas, on March 04, 2021
Is ice melt a generic term for product used to treat streets and sidewalks and so, doesn't need to be capitalized? Or is it a brand name that should be capitalized? My search here didn't net any results, and a Google search shows many products that use that term in their names.
Answer
I'm not seeing any indication that ice melt without a specific brand name added to the phrase is a trademark.
Question from Henrietta, New York, on March 04, 2021
I can't seem to find an entry on this (apologies if I missed it!) hyphen question. I would be inclined to put a comma between these two modifiers (comma after compliant): "... 100% HIPAA-compliant high-quality performance." Thoughts?
Answer
Yes, I'd use a comma there.
Question from Allentown, Pennsylvania, on March 04, 2021
The Coronavirus Topical Guide says to avoid using CARES Act. Should we assume the same policy toward the new American Rescue Plan legislation making its way through Congress?
Answer
Yes. And watch for an updated topical guide coming soon ...
Question from HOUSTON, Texas, on March 04, 2021
Should we say 'kids night out, kids gym' or 'kids' night out, kids' gym'?
Answer
No apostrophe, following the guidance in this section of the possessives entry:
DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES: Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense: citizens band radio, a Cincinnati Reds infielder, a teachers college, a Teamsters request, a writers guide.
DESCRIPTIVE PHRASES: Do not add an apostrophe to a word ending in s when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense: citizens band radio, a Cincinnati Reds infielder, a teachers college, a Teamsters request, a writers guide.
Memory aid: The apostrophe usually is not used if for or by rather than of would be appropriate in the longer form: a radio band for citizens, a college for teachers, a guide for writers, a request by the Teamsters.
Question from Alexandria, Virginia, on March 04, 2021
What's the preferred capitalization for "Long COVID" vs. "long COVID"? Or should is post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or PASC, preferred?
Answer
Either long-haul COVID-19 or long COVID-19. We don't use the medical term.
Question from Portland, Oregon, on March 04, 2021
Which is correct?
In a post to the restaurant’s Facebook page, a representative said that the XXX location will be closing on [date] as it gets a full remodel.
In a post to the restaurant’s Facebook page, a representative said that the XXX location will be closing on [date] as it gets a full remodel.
In a post to the restaurant’s Facebook page, it said that the XXX location will be closing on [date] as it gets a full remodel.
Answer
The first. The second one isn't clear on what "it" is. This would also work: A post to the restaurant’s Facebook page said the XXX location will close on [date] as it gets a full remodel.
Answer
We don't have guidance on that. I'd ask if you know the positions or former positions of everyone who has donated. Where would you draw the line of what positions to list and what not to list? How do you know if you know all that are relevant?
Answer
It's fine as you have it, since the two speakers are separated by other material. But don't stack successive quotes by different people. Even with closed quote marks after Person A's quote, a reader until getting to the Person B attribution could get the impression that Person A was still speaking.
Don't do this:
“I’m really proud of the team and proud that the team came out on top,” said John Doe, Made Up organization president. “I thought their idea was very well-crafted, and they worked long and hard on it.”
“This will help the member when complex problems arise throughout different organizations,” said Changing the Name team member Joe Smith, a Made Up plans officer. “Those leaders at those levels will be able to establish their own dynamic teams for a particular issue or anomaly they are having to get a quicker response. This will put all the players together much quicker than sending out hundreds of emails to try to figure who is available in a specific time zone.”
Don't do this:
“I’m really proud of the team and proud that the team came out on top,” said John Doe, Made Up organization president. “I thought their idea was very well-crafted, and they worked long and hard on it.”
“This will help the member when complex problems arise throughout different organizations,” said Changing the Name team member Joe Smith, a Made Up plans officer. “Those leaders at those levels will be able to establish their own dynamic teams for a particular issue or anomaly they are having to get a quicker response. This will put all the players together much quicker than sending out hundreds of emails to try to figure who is available in a specific time zone.”
Question from FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, on March 03, 2021
What is AP Style's guidance on the average rate at which copyeditors edit — i.e., how many "manuscript pages" per hour can be completed? This is assuming standard text is involved, and each page contains about 250 words (double-spaced copy).
Answer
We don't address such questions. I would think it's fairly variable, depending on the type of editing being done, the complexity of the subject matter, etc.
Question from SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, on March 03, 2021
Is it NAICS or Naics for the industrial classifications abbreviation?
Answer
That's not one we use. Neither Webster's New World College Dictionary nor Merriam-Webster lists it. I've seen it both ways. I'd say it's your choice.
Answer
I think we will need to agree to disagree on this one. I don't have a problem with using a comma in those cases. I think it's a stylistic choice. Either can be correct.
I'd argue that often a person (if that person is me, for example) does pause after the first word when saying those sentences out loud. Adding the comma (or the pause) does provide for a bit more emphasis. I think that's appropriate and effective in many cases. So, there you have it. But I know you don't agree.
I'd argue that often a person (if that person is me, for example) does pause after the first word when saying those sentences out loud. Adding the comma (or the pause) does provide for a bit more emphasis. I think that's appropriate and effective in many cases. So, there you have it. But I know you don't agree.
Question from Troy, Michigan, on March 03, 2021
How would you treat this – with hyphens or no hyphens?
...and this was a never before seen challenge...
or
...and this was a never-before-seen challenge...
Are the hyphens necessary, or is it an issue of style//look? Thank you. :
...and this was a never before seen challenge...
or
...and this was a never-before-seen challenge...
Are the hyphens necessary, or is it an issue of style//look? Thank you. :
Answer
I'd use the hyphens. See this part of the hyphen entry:
Generally, also use a hyphen in modifiers of three or more words: a know-it-all attitude, black-and-white photography, a sink-or-swim moment, a win-at-all-costs approach. Consider carefully, though, before deciding to use more than three modifiers.
Generally, also use a hyphen in modifiers of three or more words: a know-it-all attitude, black-and-white photography, a sink-or-swim moment, a win-at-all-costs approach. Consider carefully, though, before deciding to use more than three modifiers.
Question from McCordsville, Indiana, on March 03, 2021
What is the correct way to list a series of times that include both a.m. and p.m. (such as service times) e.g. 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. or 8, 9:30, 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m.
Answer
The first option you note.
Question from Tacoma, Washington, on March 03, 2021
Recent AP stories identify the Indian city as Bengaluru, formerly Bangalore. Will the stylebook be updating this entry?
Answer
We don't have an entry on either Bengaluru or Bangalore. I did delete one outdated Ask the Editor response.
From the Pronunciation Guide
From the Topical Guides
2021 Impeachment
To help with coverage of the impeachment inquiry, The Associated Press has prepared a guide with key background, explanation and style points. WHAT'S HAPPENING Former President Donald Trump faces...
View all