AP Style

always lowercase with periods, avoid redundant 10 a.m. this morning

use if common person will recognize it, (Dr., Gov., Jr., Sr., A.D., B.C., certain months, No. 8)

accept means to receive, except means to exclude

spelling

use Ave., Blvd., and St. with numbered adresses, spell them out if no number; lowercase when alone, spell out first through ninth when used as street names, numbers above that; abbreviate compass points in numered adress spell out if not

admit implies doing wrong, use acknowlegde

not advisor

affestens to influence, effect means to cause

not afterwards, towards, forwards

alays use figures; hyphen when expressed before a noun (5-year-old boy)

never alright, hyphen when used as a compound modifier

alumnus (alumni)= man who attended school (plural

alumna (alumnae)= woman who attended school (plural)

use First; 10th; plead the Fifth

between for two items; among refers to three or more

bad should not be used as an adverb, but may be used as an adjective

use because to denote a specfic cause and effect relationship; since in a more casual sense

Capitol is always capitalized when referring to the building

capitalize proper nouns, proper names, popular names and the first word of a sentence

spell out the word cents for numeral less than one dollar (5 cents); use the $ sign and decimal system for larger amounts ($1.01)

lowercase, spelling out numbers less than 10 (first century, 20th century)

call children 15 and younger by first name on second referece, unless seriousness calls for it

nouns that denote a unit use singular verbs; team names and band names take plural verbs

no oxford commas

complement is a noun and verb meaning completeness; compliment is praise

compose means to create or put together;comprise means to contain

quotes except for the Bible and catalogs of reference

criterion is singular

always use figures without st, nd, rd, or th

capitalize, dont abbreviate unless in a table

use figures to indicate decades of history; use apostrophe for numerals left out; show plural by addin the letter s (the mid '30s)

spelling

to do away with something completely; redundant to say totally destroyed

use figures and spell out worrd; hyphenate adjectival forms before nouns (the 5-foot-tall man)

use figures and $ sign

• each other = two people
• one another = more than two people

each takes a singular verb; either means one or the other, not both

one who leaves emigrates; one who comes immigrates

ensure means to guarantee; insure for references to insurance

means in a hopeful manner; not used to mean it is hoped, let us hope, or we hope

not in quotes

only abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.; spell out when using alone

lowercase unless part of a formal name

not in quotes

farther refers to physical distance; further refers to extension of time or degree

fewer refers to individuals; less refers to bulk or quantity

flier refers to a bill or handbill; flyer refers to a proper name for tains and busses

firefighters, not firemen

capitalize them

slaying or killing; malicious, premeditated; without malice

do not use last as a synonym for latest; use pasat when talking about previous

• action word: lay (laid, laying)
• reclining horizontally: lie (lay, lain)

like compares, as introduces clauses

always two words in verb form

medium is in singular form

over refers to spatial relationships; more than refers to numerals

person is an individual; people is plural

one word, written out, with numerals used for numbers

pore is to gaze intently; pour is a continuos stream

principal is a rank of authority; principle is found truth

rebut is to argue to the contrary; refute is to break down someone's argument

semiannual is twice a year; biennial is once every two years

only 8 not abbrevited (Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah)

ary is to stand still; ery is writing paper

use words to indicate below zero; use figures except for zero; temps fo up and down in numbers not get warmer and colder

that is used with essential clauses, no comma; which is used in nonessential clauses, usually with a comma

always two words

who is the subject, whom is the object of the preposition