Abbreviations
True or False: Abbreviate junior or senior directly after a name, with a comma to set it off.
False: Abbreviate junior or senior directly after a name, with no comma to set it off.
Example: Abe Wilson Jr.
True or False: Punctuation goes outside the quotation marks in direct quotations.
False: Punctuation goes inside the quotation marks in direct quotations.
Example: She said, "I bought every AP Style book."
Select the correct capitalization for this technological term: Blackberry or BlackBerry
BlackBerry
Select the correct capitalization of this title: professor or Professor
professor.
The AP Stylebook does not recognize professor as a formal title but does define Professor Emeritus as a formal title.
True.
Examples:
Two hundred freshmen attended.
2000 was an important year.
True or False: The AP recommends using abbreviations and acronyms in headlines.
False: Do not put abbreviations and acronyms in headlines.
What is the purpose of semicolons?
Semicolons are used to clarify sentences with multiple commas.
Example: The big, red horse; small, tabby cat; and fluffy, bouncy dog were adopted.
Select the correct capitalization for this term: Democratic party or Democratic Party
Democratic Party
Common nouns should be capitalized only when used as part of a proper name for a person, place, or thing.
True or False: Use quotation marks around the titles of books, songs, television shows, poems, works of art, etc.
True
How do you write plural numbers using AP style?
Plural numbers are written by adding -s without an apostrophe.
Examples: 7s, 11s
True or False: Do not add the word "degree" after an abbreviation of the degree or after the full name of the degree.
True.
Examples:
She'll receive her PhD this fall.
She has a bachelor's degree in chemistry.
How many spaces do you use after a period?
Use only one space after a period.
Select the correct capitalization for this food: French fries or french fries
french fries
Because the "french" in this form of potato comes from a cooking method, not a country, AP style suggests we put it in lowercase.
Formal titles should be capitalized when they appear directly in front of one or more names.
Example:
President Ronald Reagan
General George S. Patton
Select the correct use of numerals for this term: I had four sandwiches or I had 4 sandwiches.
I had four sandwiches.
The AP instructs writers to always spell out months with five or fewer letters. What are those months?
March, April, May, June, July
Select the correct punctuation for this term: My boss' vacation or My boss's vacation.
My boss's vacation.
Add an 's to all single nouns and names, even if they already end in an s.
True or False: For the most part, job descriptions should never be capitalized.
True.
For instance, police officers, teachers, or accountants do not need to be capitalized in AP style. However, formal titles should be capitalized when they come directly before a name.
True or False: Astronauts, dentists, farmers and athletes are all examples of formal titles.
False: These are examples of occupational titles.
True or False: Spell out numbers below 10 and use figures for numbers 10 and above.
True.
Example: The man had five children and 11 grandchildren.
The AP identifies eight states that are never abbreviated in datelines or text. What are they?
Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah.
Select the correct punctuation for this term: The two deers' tracks or the two deer's tracks.
The two deer's tracks.
True or False: Months and days of the week are capitalized, and so are the four seasons.
False.
Months and days of the week are capitalized, but winter, spring, summer and fall are all styled down. Seasons are only capitalized when used in a proper name.
False: The only time you should use courtesy titles are in direct quotations or at the person's request.
True or False: Ages are always expressed as numerals.
True.
Examples:
He is 5 years old.
I have a 6-year-old daughter.