AP Style

Question 0

Academic Departments

Answer 0

Use lowercase except for words that are proper nouns or adjectives: the department of history, the history department, the department of English, the English department, or when department is part of the official and formal name: University of Connecticut Department of Medicine. Do not abbreviate department.

Question 1

Academic Degrees

Answer 1

If mention of a degree is necessary to establish someone’s credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use instead a phrase such as: John Jones, who has a doctorate in psychology.

Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s, etc., but there is no possessive in Associate in Science, Associate in Arts, Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science. (Also: an associate degree (no possessive).
Use such abbreviations as A.A., A.S., B.A., M.A., LL.D. and Ph.D. only when the need to identify many individuals by degree on first reference would make the preferred form cumbersome. Use these abbreviations only after a full name—never after just a last name.

Question 2

Ages

Answer 2

Always use figures for people and animals (but not for inanimates):

The girl is 15 years old; the law is eight years old.

Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as substitutes for a noun.

Examples: A 5-year-old boy, but the boy is 5 years old. The woman is in her 30s (no apostrophe).

Question 3

Apostrophe Usage

Answer 3

In general, use to show possession: the alumni’s contributions, women’s rights, Northridge’s reputation. If the word ends with an S put the apostrophe after the S: the campus’ appearance, the reporters’ deadlines. Do not use an apostrophe if it’s simply a plural and NOT a possessive.

Wrong: She gave the CD’s to me.
Right: He has too many CDs to count.

Question 4

a.m./ p.m.

Answer 4

LOWERCASE with periods.
Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.
Noon and midnight stand alone. Don’t use 12 noon or 12 a.m.

Question 5

California

Answer 5

The abbreviation is Calif. when the name of the city is included. Otherwise, always spell it out.
Wrong: Northridge, CA
Right: Northridge, Calif.

Question 6

Hold Usage

Answer 6

Use held only in the literal sense: He held the pencil. She wants to hold the baby. Do NOT use held when referring to events, concerts, conventions, etc. In most cases, the word held can simply be removed with no impact. For rare occasions, the words hosted or sponsored suffices.

Wrong: The club held its meeting on Thursday.
Right: The club had its meeting on Thursday.
Wrong: The convention will be held at a hotel in Los Angeles Hotel. Right: The convention will take place at a hotel in Los Angeles Hote

Question 7

Died

Answer 7

Use died, not passed away

Question 8

Months

Answer 8

Capitalize the names in all uses. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out the months with five letters or less: March, April, May, June and July. Spell out all months when using alone or with a year alone: 
The class ended in December. He was born in August 1980. (No comma between the month and year if a specific date isn’t used.)

Question 9

Numerals

Answer 9

Spell out one through nine; 10 and higher use numerals.
Since graduating high school three years ago, Susan has had 12 jobs. Use numerals for sports scores (a 4-3 win), percentages (a 3 percent pay increase), court decisions (a 5-4 decision), ratios (a 2-to-1 ratio), weights (The baby weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces.) and with million or billion (The nation has 1 million citizens. Rupert Murdoch is worth more than $5 billion.) Avoid starting a sentence with a numeral since it will need to be spelled out. If possible, rewrite the sentence.

Wrong: 993 freshmen entered the college last year.
Right: Last year 993 freshmen entered the college.

Question 10

Seasons

Answer 10

Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter and derivatives such as springtime unless part of a formal name: Dartmouth Winter Carnival, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics. Capitalize seasons when the exact year is included: Fall 2014 semester

Question 11

Series of three or more

Answer 11

Do not use a comma before the word “and” when listing a series of three or more things: The flag was red, white and blue.
She has lived in many communities, including Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Canoga Park and Reseda.

Question 12

Titles (Mr. And Ms.)

Answer 12

In general, capitalize formal titles used directly before a person’s name. Use courtesy titles (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss) ONLY in DIRECT QUOTATIONS. Otherwise, simply use the person’s first and last name

Question 13

Usage of: To

Answer 13

Use to between two dates, times or numerals:
The museum, which has a mummy display from June to August, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
(Do not use a hyphen to separate dates, times or numerals.)

Question 13

That/ Which

Answer 13

Use that and which in referring to inanimate objects and to animals without a name.

Use that for essential clauses, important to the meaning of the sentence and without commas: I remember the day that we met.

Use which for nonessential clauses, where the pronoun is less necessary and use commas:
The dog, which had strong legs, was a natural jumper.

Question 15

Who/ Whom

Answer 15

Who is the pronoun used for references to human beings and to animals with a name. It is grammatically the subject (never the object) of a sentence, clause or phrase: The woman who rented the apartment moved out without notifying the owner. Who is there?

Whom is used when someone is the object of the verb or preposition: The woman to whom the apartment was rented moved out without notifying the owner. Whom do you wish to see?

Question 16

Addresses

Answer 16

use the abbreviations Ave., Blvd. and St. only with a numbered address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Spell them out and capitalize when part of a formal street name without a number: Pennsylvania Avenue. Lowercase and spell out when used alone or with more than one street name: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania avenues.

All similar words (alley, drive, road, terrace, etc.) always are spelled out. Capitalize them when part of a formal name without a number; lowercase when used alone or with two or more names.

Always use figures for an address number: 9 Morningside Circle.
Spell out and capitalize First through Ninth when used as street names; use figures with two letters for 10th and above; 7 Fifth Ave., 100 21st St.

Abbreviate compass points used to indicate directional ends of a street or quadrants of a city in a numbered address: 222 E. 42nd St., 562 W. 43rd St., 600 K St. N.W. Do not abbreviate if the number is omitted: East 42nd Street, West 43rd Street.

Question 17

Over

Answer 17

It generally refers to spatial relationships (The plane flew over the city) but is now acceptable when referring to a quantity.

Question 18

It’s/ its

Answer 18

It’s is a contraction for it is or it has: It’s up to you.
It’s been a long time.
Its is the possessive form of the neuter pronoun: The dog chased its tail.

Question 19

Spacing

Answer 19

Only one allowed in between sentences.