[← Back to AP-Compatible overview]({{ "/docs/ap-compatible" | relative_url }}) **Tier 1 of 3.** The most frequently consulted AP rules in compact form—the rules a working editor needs at-the-elbow. ~2K tokens. For more depth, use the [Condensed]({{ "/docs/ap-compatible-condensed" | relative_url }}) or [Thorough]({{ "/docs/ap-compatible-thorough" | relative_url }}) tier. --- # AP Style Quick Reference The most frequently consulted AP style rules. Local market style guides may override specific entries. --- ## Numbers ### Basic Rule Spell out **one through nine**. Use numerals for **10 and above**. - She has three children. - The company has 15 employees. ### Always Use Numerals For: | Category | Examples | |----------|----------| | Ages | a 5-year-old boy; She is 7. | | Dates | March 5, Sept. 23 | | Times | 3 p.m., 9:30 a.m. | | Addresses | 5 Main St. | | Money | $5, $1.5 million | | Percentages | 5%, 0.5% | | Scores | The team won 24-17. | | Measurements | 5 miles, 6 feet | ### Special Cases - **Noon and midnight:** Use words, not "12 p.m." or "12 a.m." - **Beginning of sentence:** Spell out or recast. "Twenty people attended" or "The event drew 20 people." - **Large numbers:** Use numeral + word. "$2.5 million" not "$2,500,000" --- ## Punctuation ### Comma—No Serial (Oxford) Comma Do **not** use a comma before "and" in a simple series. - The flag is red, white and blue. ✓ - The flag is red, white, and blue. ✗ **Exception:** Use the comma when needed for clarity. - Breakfast included bacon and eggs, toast, and orange juice. ✓ ### Apostrophe—Possessives **Singular nouns:** Add 's, even if the word ends in s. - the company's policy - James's book - the witness's testimony **Plural nouns ending in s:** Add only an apostrophe. - the companies' earnings - the witnesses' accounts **Its vs. It's:** - **its** = possessive (The dog wagged its tail.) - **it's** = it is (It's going to rain.) ### Quotation Marks **Periods and commas** always go inside quotation marks. - "We will investigate," she said. ✓ - "We will investigate", she said. ✗ **Question marks and exclamation points** go inside only if part of the quote. - She asked, "What time is it?" - Did he really say "no comment"? ### Em Dash Use spaces on both sides. - The mayor—who arrived late—spoke briefly. ✓ - The mayor—who arrived late—spoke briefly. ✗ --- ## Capitalization ### Titles **Capitalize** formal titles directly before a name. - President Joe Biden signed the bill. - Gov. Gavin Newsom spoke. **Lowercase** after a name or standing alone. - Joe Biden, president of the United States - The president signed the bill. - The governor spoke. ### Government Terms **Capitalize** specific bodies; **lowercase** generic references. - the U.S. Senate, the Senate - the House of Representatives, the House - Congress (U.S.) - the City Council voted... Council members said... ### Regions vs. Directions **Capitalize** regions; **lowercase** directions. - the South, the Midwest, the West Coast - southern California, eastern Texas, driving west --- ## Attribution ### Use "Said" Use "said" for most attributions. It's neutral. - "We will investigate," the mayor said. ✓ - "We will investigate," the mayor stated. (use sparingly) **Placement:** After the quote is preferred. - "We will investigate," she said. ✓ - She said, "We will investigate." (acceptable) ### Quotation Types **Direct quote:** Use the exact words. - The mayor said, "This is unacceptable." **Partial quote:** Quote only key words. - The mayor called the proposal "a waste of money." **Paraphrase:** No quotation marks. - The mayor said the proposal wastes money. --- ## Commonly Confused Words | Word | Meaning | Example | |------|---------|---------| | **affect** | verb: to influence | The law will affect thousands. | | **effect** | noun: result | The effect was immediate. | | **its** | possessive | The company raised its prices. | | **it's** | it is | It's going to rain. | | **their** | possessive | Their house is large. | | **there** | location | Put it there. | | **they're** | they are | They're arriving soon. | | **your** | possessive | Your car is ready. | | **you're** | you are | You're welcome. | | **who's** | who is | Who's calling? | | **whose** | possessive | Whose book is this? | | **than** | comparison | She is taller than he. | | **then** | time/sequence | First this, then that. | | **fewer** | countable items | fewer people, fewer dollars | | **less** | quantities | less money, less time | | **that** | essential clause | The book that she wrote... | | **which** | nonessential (use commas) | The book, which was published... | | **who** | subject | Who is calling? | | **whom** | object | To whom should I speak? | --- ## Ages Always use numerals. Hyphenate when a modifier. | Usage | Example | |-------|---------| | After noun | The boy is 5 years old. | | Before noun | a 5-year-old boy | | As noun | The 5-year-old started school. | | After name | Jane Smith, 45, was appointed. | --- ## Times - Use numerals with **a.m.** and **p.m.** (lowercase, with periods) - 9 a.m., 3:30 p.m. - Use **noon** and **midnight**, not 12 p.m. or 12 a.m. - Don't use :00 for on-the-hour times: 9 a.m., not 9:00 a.m. --- ## Dates - Use numerals without st, nd, rd, th: March 5, not March 5th - Abbreviate months with six or more letters when used with a date: Jan. 5, Sept. 23 - Never abbreviate: March, April, May, June, July - Decades: the 1990s (no apostrophe), the '90s (apostrophe for omitted figures) --- ## Titles Before Names | Title | Example | |-------|---------| | Dr. | Dr. Jane Smith | | Gov. | Gov. Gavin Newsom | | Sen. | Sen. Elizabeth Warren | | Rep. | Rep. Kevin McCarthy | | the Rev. | the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. | | President | President Joe Biden (never abbreviate) | **Party affiliation format:** Sen. Jane Smith, D-Texas; Rep. John Jones, R-Calif. --- ## State Abbreviations Use these traditional abbreviations (not postal codes) after city names: | State | Abbrev. | State | Abbrev. | |-------|---------|-------|---------| | Alabama | Ala. | Montana | Mont. | | Arizona | Ariz. | Nebraska | Neb. | | Arkansas | Ark. | Nevada | Nev. | | California | Calif. | New Hampshire | N.H. | | Colorado | Colo. | New Jersey | N.J. | | Connecticut | Conn. | New Mexico | N.M. | | Delaware | Del. | New York | N.Y. | | Florida | Fla. | North Carolina | N.C. | | Georgia | Ga. | North Dakota | N.D. | | Illinois | Ill. | Oklahoma | Okla. | | Indiana | Ind. | Oregon | Ore. | | Kansas | Kan. | Pennsylvania | Pa. | | Kentucky | Ky. | Rhode Island | R.I. | | Louisiana | La. | South Carolina | S.C. | | Maryland | Md. | South Dakota | S.D. | | Massachusetts | Mass. | Tennessee | Tenn. | | Michigan | Mich. | Vermont | Vt. | | Minnesota | Minn. | Virginia | Va. | | Mississippi | Miss. | Washington | Wash. | | Missouri | Mo. | West Virginia | W.Va. | | | | Wisconsin | Wis. | **Never abbreviated:** Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, Utah **Cities that stand alone** (no state needed): Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington --- ## Month Abbreviations Abbreviate only with specific dates: | Abbreviate | Never Abbreviate | |------------|------------------| | Jan. | March | | Feb. | April | | Aug. | May | | Sept. | June | | Oct. | July | | Nov. | | | Dec. | | **Examples:** - The event is March 5. (no abbreviation) - The event is Sept. 5. (with date) - September was warm. (standing alone) --- ## Money - Use $ and numerals: $5, $1,000 - Large amounts: $1.5 million, $2.35 billion - Cents under a dollar: 50 cents (spell out) --- ## Percentages - Use numerals and %: 5%, 0.5%, 150% - **Percentage points** vs. **percent:** - A rate rising from 5% to 10% increased by 5 percentage points - A rate rising from 5% to 10% doubled (increased by 100%) --- ## Compound Modifiers Hyphenate two or more words acting as a single modifier **before** a noun. | Before noun (hyphenate) | After noun (no hyphen) | |-------------------------|------------------------| | a well-known author | The author is well known. | | a first-quarter loss | in the first quarter | | a full-time employee | employed full time | | a 10-year-old boy | The boy is 10 years old. | **Don't hyphenate:** - Adverbs ending in -ly: a newly elected official - Proper nouns: a New York minute --- ## Quick Error Check Before filing, check for these common errors: | Error | Rule | |-------|------| | it's vs. its | it's = it is; its = possessive | | Serial comma | Don't use before "and" in simple series | | Numbers 1-9 | Spell out (except ages, dates, times, money, etc.) | | Titles | Capitalize before names only | | State abbreviations | Calif., not CA | | Times | 3 p.m. (lowercase, periods) | | Ages | Always numerals: 5 years old | | Percent | Use % symbol |