How to put in AP Style
How do you write out days in AP Style?
You always spell the day out in body text.
Ex. Monday, not Mon.
I gave my friend $20 dollars.
Incorrect, you either write it as $20, or 20 dollars.
Do you capitalize directions (N,E,S,W) when writing?
You use lowercase when indicating compass direction (north, south, northeast, northern, etc.).
Ex. The storm is moving northeast.
Girl friend or girlfriend?
girlfriend, always one word
Fix the sentence: United States Soccer player Megan Rapeno is happy about the equal pay win but says there is a lot more work to do.
U.S. Soccer player Megan Rapinoe is happy about the equal pay win but said, “there is a lot more work to do.” (Note: never use says when quoting, it’s always said)
When using AP Style, is it ever proper to write a headline in the past tense?
No, when using AP Style, you always write headlines in the present tense.
The abundance of homework effected the class's sleep schedule.
Incorrect. Effect is used as a noun, while affect is used as a verb. In the case of this sentence, it is a verb, so it should be "affected" rather than "effected".
Do you capitalize regions when writing?
Yes, you capitalize when the word designates a region.
Ex. A storm is developing in the Midwest and will move in a northeasterly direction.
Fund raiser or fundraiser?
Fundraiser, always one word
Is this sentence correct? After Albert Pujols hit 700 homerun, Albert said, “I am truly humbled and honored.”
Yes, Correct
How do you write out letter grades in AP Style?
You use A-minus, C-plus, etc. (not A-, C+) when mentioning letter grades in text.
The senior was happy with his final GPA.
Correct, you always reference grade-point-average as GPA.
When writing, do you capitalize districts?
No you lowercase districts in sports stories.
E-mail or Email?
Email. There’s a difference however between email and an email address. So, when someone asks, “Can I have your email,” tell them “no, but you can have my e-mail address.”
Which is the correct sentence? Serena Williams announced recently that she would retire after this year's U.S. Open. OR Serena williams announced recently that she would retire after this year's US open.
Serena Williams announced recently that she would retire after this year's U.S. Open.
Do you write "freshman" or "freshmen" as an adjective when using AP Style?
Do not pluralize freshman as an adjective. It’s freshman girls, not freshmen girls, just as it’s sophomore boys, not sophomores boys.
The Editor for the newspaper takes their job very seriously.
No, you only capitalize "editor" as an official title but, not as a job description.
Ex. North Pointe Editor Allison Michaels, editor Eric Quinlan said.
Do you ever capitalize titles after a person's name?
No, you do not.
Ex. Sarah Scott, goaltender
Head lines or Headlines?
Headlines. One word.
Is this sentence correct? The Ohio State Buckeyes play in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference.
Yes, it is.
Do you capitalize directions? For example, North, South, East, and West
Yes if they they are referred to as places.
The English department met together for a meeting.
Correct, you capitalize words that are proper nouns when referring to departments.
Do you capitalize the word Homecoming as an adjective?
No, you lowercase it as an adjective.
Ex. I have to find the perfect homecoming dress.
Editor-in-chief. Use hyphens. If plural, the correct term is editors-in-chief.
Fix the sentence: After retiring for a 2nd time, tom brady is finally done playing for the tampa bay buccaneers.
After retiring for a second time, Tom Brady is finally done playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.