AP Style

Question 1

Titles

Answer 1

Titles that come BEFORE a name are capitalized
Ex. Apple Chairman and CEO Steve Jobs

Titles that come AFTER a name are lowercase
Ex. Steve Jobs, Apple chairman and CEO (look at the c in chairman)

Capitalize titles used directly before a person’s name
Ex. Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss

Question 2

Addresses

Answer 2

If you use a full address, abbreviate the “street destination” such as street, avenue, or boulevard.
Ex. The bank is located at 5501 Los Angeles Ave. (pay attention to the abbreviation of avenue)

If you say that something happened on Los Angeles Avenue, then you spell out the destination.
Ex. The bank on Los Angeles Avenue was robbed

Question 3

Affect vs. Effect

Answer 3

Affect - as a verb, means to influence
Ex. The game will affect the standings.
When used as a noun, affect, is best avoided.

Effect - as a verb, means to cause
Ex. He will effect many changes in the company
When used as a noun, effect, means result
Ex. The effect was overwhelming. He miscalculated the effect of his actions.

Question 4

Age

Answer 4

For people and animals, use digits to represent age
Ex. The girl is 15 years old OR the dog is 2 years old

However, for in-animates, spell out the age
Ex. The law is eight years old

Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or as a substitute for a noun
Ex. A 5-year-old boy, but the boy is 5 years old.

• The woman is in her 30s (NO apostrophe)*

Question 5

Am., p.m.

Answer 5

Lowercase, with periods.
Ex. 10 a.m.

Don’t use 12 noon or 12 a.m.
it should just be noon or midnight

Question 6

Apostrophe (‘)

Answer 6

In general, it’s used to show possession
Ex. The alumni’s contribution OR Ashley’s books and notebooks OR women’s rights

Do not use an apostrophe to show plural
Wrong: She gave the CD’s to me
RIGHT: She gave the CDs to me

Question 7

Spelling and use of states

Answer 7

Spell out the name of all states (for large cities like Los Angeles, don’t include the state)

Wrong: Northridge, CA
Wrong: Northridge, Calif.
RIGHT: Northridge, California

Question 8

In cases of death…

Answer 8

Use died, NOT passed away

Question 9

Numbers

Answer 9

Spell out numbers 1-9 and use digits for number 10 and greater
Ex. Nine and 50

EXCEPTIONS: weights and measurements (including age)
Ex. She is 7 years old OR I live on a 2-acre farm

Question 10

Held and Hold

Answer 10

Use held ONLY in a literal sense**
Ex. He held the pencil OR she wants to hold the baby

Do not use held when referring to events, concerts, conventions, etc.

Wrong: the club held a 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.

Question 11

It’s vs Its

Answer 11

It’s is a contraction for it is
Ex. It’s up to you

Its is the possessive form of the neuter pronoun
Ex. The dog chased its tail

Question 12

Months

Answer 12

Always capitalize

When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. ALL other months have less than five or less letters therefore you must spell them out fully.
Ex. March, April, May, June, and July

Spell out all months fully when just using it along or when accompanied by a year
Ex. August and July 2016

No comma is used between the month and year if the specific date isn’t used
Ex. December 2016

Question 13

Spacing

Answer 13

Only use one space between sentences

Question 14

Numerals

Answer 14

Spell out one through nine and 10 and higher use numerals
Ex. Since graduating high school three years ago, Susan has had 12 jobs. (Pay attention to the numbers)

Use numerals for sports scores
Ex. 4-3 win

Use numerals for percentages
Ex. A 5 percent pay increase

Use numerals for court decisions
Ex. A 5-4 decision

Use numerals for ratios
Ex. A 2-to-1 ratio

Use numerals for weight
Ex. The baby weighed in a 9 pounds, 7 ounces

Use numerals with million and billion
Ex. The nation has 1 million citizens OR Bill Gates is worth more than 7 billion dollars.

AVOID starting a sentence with numerals
Wrong: 993 freshman entered college last year
RIGHT: Last year 993 freshman entered college

Question 15

The use of the word over

Answer 15

Can be used to refer to spatial relationships and quantity

Ex. The plane flew over the city AND their salaries increased over $20 a week

Question 16

Percent

Answer 16

Use numerals
Ex. I got a 50 percent on my test

Never use fractions, always use decimals
Ex. The quiz was less than 5.5 percent of my grade

Repeat percent with each individual figure
Ex. He said 10 percent to 30 percent of the electorate may not vote

Question 17

Seasons

Answer 17

Lowercase spring, summer, fall, winter UNLESS part of a formal name such as Dartmouth Winter Carnival

Question 18

Quote marks

Answer 18

Use quote marks for exact, word-for-word comments AND put a common on the inside of the quote
Ex. “CSUN is a great place to learn,” said Stephanie Bluestein, journalism professor.

Question 19

Series of three or more

Answer 19

Do not use a comma before the word “and” when listing a series of three or more things
Ex. The flag was red, white and blue.

She has lived in many communities, including Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Canoga Park

Question 20

Use of to

Answer 20

Use to between two dates, times or numerals

Ex. The museum, which has a mummy display from June to July, is open from 10 a.m. To 6 p.m. Daily

Question 21

That vs Which (pronouns)

Answer 21

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

Use that for essentials causes
Ex. I remember the day that we met.

Use which for nonessential clauses
Ex. The dog, which had strong legs, was a natural jumper.

Question 22

Who vs Whom

Answer 22

Who is the pronoun used for references to human beings and to animals with a name
Ex. Who is there?

Whom is used when someone is the object of the verb or preposition
Ex. Whom do you wish to see?