AP Style Study Guide Flashcards
Ages
Always use figures for people and animals (not inanimate).
She is 12 years old. That desk is six years old.
a.m, p.m
Lowercase, with periods.
Avoid 10 a.m. this morning.
Noon and midnight stand alone. Don’t use 12 noon or 12a.m.
States
Spell out the names of all states. (Los Angeles, Chicago stand alone because they are large cities)
Northridge, California
Died
Use died not passed away
It’s, its
It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
Its is the possessive form of the neuter pronoun. The cat ate its food.
Spacing
Only one space between sentences
to
Use to between two dates, times or numerals.
Academic degrees
Use phrases instead of abbreviations when establishing someone’s credentials.
Only use abbreviations when identifying many people with degrees.
When used after a name, the academic abbreviation is placed after a comma.
Do not give titles before a name.
Academic departments
Use lowercase except.
Only uppercase when using proper nouns or adjectives or when the department is apart of the title.
Addresses
Use abbreviations only with a numbered address
Spell and capitalize the street names when listing a street without its number.
Only use figures for an address number.
Spell and capitalize numbers and locations when used in the address.
123 Fourth St. to 321 North St.
held, hold
Use held in the literal sense: She held the lightsaber.
Don’t use it when referrinf to events, concerts, conventions etc.
Months
Capitalize the names in everything.
Abbreviate only when the month is used in a specific date.
Spell out months with five letters or less.
No comma between the month and year.
Numerals
Spell out 1-9, 10+ use numerals.
Over
Usually spatial, nut is now accepted when referring to quantity.
Percent
One word. Always spell out.
Quote marks
Use quote marks for exact, word-for-word comments.
Put comma inside quote marks.
Seasons
Lowercase always unless apart of a formal name.
Series of three or more
Don’t use a comma before the word “and” when listing a series of three or more.
Who, whom
Who= pronoun used for references to human beings and animals with names. Whom= when someone is the object of the verb or preposition
Affect, effect
Affect - (v) to influence; as a noun is best avoided.
Ex. The game will affect the standings.
Effect - (v) to cause; she will effect a lot of leadership in her sorority;
(n) result; the effect of her leadership was amazing!
