Abbreviations
Punctuation
Capitalization
Titles
Numerals
100

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.

100

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."

100

Select the correct capitalization for this technological term: Blackberry or BlackBerry

BlackBerry

100

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.

100
True or False: Never begin a sentence with a figure, except for sentences that begin with a year.

True.

Examples:

Two hundred freshmen attended.
2000 was an important year.

200

True or False: The AP recommends using abbreviations and acronyms in headlines.

False: Do not put abbreviations and acronyms in headlines.

200

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.

200

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.

200

True or False: Use quotation marks around the titles of books, songs, television shows, poems, works of art, etc.

True

200

How do you write plural numbers using AP style?

Plural numbers are written by adding -s without an apostrophe.

Examples: 7s, 11s

300

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.


300

How many spaces do you use after a period?

Use only one space after a period.

300

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.

300
What is the AP style recommendation for capitalizing formal titles?

Formal titles should be capitalized when they appear directly in front of one or more names.

Example: 

President Ronald Reagan
General George S. Patton

300

Select the correct use of numerals for this term: I had four sandwiches or I had 4 sandwiches.

I had four sandwiches.

400

The AP instructs writers to always spell out months with five or fewer letters. What are those months?

March, April, May, June, July

400

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. 

400

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.

400

True or False: Astronauts, dentists, farmers and athletes are all examples of formal titles.

False: These are examples of occupational titles.

400

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.

500

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.

500

Select the correct punctuation for this term: The two deers' tracks or the two deer's tracks.

The two deer's tracks.

500

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.

500
True or False: Courtesy titles such as Mr. or Miss should be used consistently throughout an article.

False: The only time you should use courtesy titles are in direct quotations or at the person's request.

500

True or False: Ages are always expressed as numerals.

True.

Examples:
He is 5 years old.
I have a 6-year-old daughter.