AP Style Highlights

A set of vocabulary flashcards summarizing key points from AP Style highlights for media writing.

AP Stylebook

A manual containing guidelines on grammar, punctuation, and usage for journalistic writing.

Dateline

A line that indicates the date and place of an article's origin.

State Names

Spelled out except in datelines or political identifiers; no postal abbreviations.

Numerals (0-9)

Spell out numbers from zero through nine.

Numerals (10 and up)

Use numerals for numbers 10 and higher.

Ages

Always rendered as numerals, e.g., the 5-year-old boy.

Percentages

Spelled out with a numeral, e.g., 6 percent.

Large Numbers

Numerals are used for numbers lower than 1 million.

Money

Always takes a dollar sign when quoted.

U.S. Senator

Abbreviation for United States Senator; correct format includes periods.

President

Capitalize when referring to a specific person, lowercase when used generically.

Official Titles

Capitalized when before a name, lowercased when after.

Unofficial Titles

Lowercase regardless of position in relation to a name.

United States

Must be spelled out as a noun.

U.S.

Abbreviation sufficient when used as an adjective.

Quotation Marks

Commas and periods go inside quotation marks.

Question Marks

Placement depends on the context relative to the quotation.

Double Quotes

Used in all instances unless quoting something inside.

Oxford Comma

Not used in AP style; avoid serial commas.

Abbreviated Months

Spelled out when used without a date, abbreviated with a date.

Specific Addresses

Street names are abbreviated when used with specific addresses.

Possessives

For names ending in s, AP style eliminates the second s.

Newspaper Titles

Capitalized without punctuation or italicization.

Book Titles

Presented in quotation marks.

Second Reference

Refer to people by last name only on second reference.

Essential Clauses

Clauses that are crucial to the meaning of a sentence.

Nonessential Clauses

Clauses that can be removed without changing the sentence's meaning.

Web

Always lowercase when referring to the internet.

Website

Lowercase when mentioning internet sites.

Internet

Lowercase when mentioned as a general term.

Time Notation

Use p.m. and a.m., avoid o'clock.

Street Names

Spelled out when not part of an address.

Honorifics

Terms like Mr., Ms., Mrs. used primarily in obituaries.

Essential Phrases

Phrases that are necessary for understanding the sentence.

Nonessential Phrases

Phrases that add extra information but aren't necessary.

Numerals with Millions/Billions

Expressed with numerals, e.g., 4.8 billion.