Is it doughnut or donut? Midnight or 12 a.m.? Is Texas abbreviated? Web site or website? Thankfully, for journalists there is a book with all the answers (by the way, it’s doughnut, midnight, no and it’s website now). That is why journalists like the AP Stylebook. From AAA all the way to ZIP codes, the reliable AP Stylebook has had the backs of journalists and editors since 1975.
Any journalist wanting to turn in clean copy and not be reminded the difference between affect and effect will eventually go to bed with the AP Stylebook.
It sets the rules on how to write out addresses, when to spell out numbers and what to capitalize and what not to capitalize.
Journalists are instructed at places of higher education like colleges and accredited online
schools not to question, second guess or stray away from the bible of the newsroom. Doing so could draw the ire of overworked copyeditors whom who (after doing a check) have sworn their allegiance to this book.
The book leaves much of the decision making of news writing to the AP and not the writers, which comforts journalists.
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Topics:
ap stylebook midnight, AP Style book highlights 2008, AP style donuts, Dec 1st AP style, Doughnut AP style
My all-time favorite entry (in the late ’70s, I think) ran something like this:
Burro/burrow: One is an ass, the other a hole in the ground. The astute journalist knows the difference.
I agree with you post. But isn’t it ‘allegiance’ sted ‘alliance’? Check your stylebook…
Loving this! However, if you work in radio, as I do, AP Style is strongly discouraged in favour of coversational writing. Any UK readers will also be familiar with “police speak” in press releases – I may well post on this one elsewhere!
What about the CP stylebook, huh, you racists?
My last newspaper had its own style guide, the work of several years by dedicated chief subs. I still miss it, and sneakily refer to it on my new job…
The AP Stylebook … one of my favorite books! When I left my copy editor job, I had to take it with me.
HAHAHAHAH! Buro Burrow! Love that one. And the comment about it leaving all the decision making to AP, which comforts journalists? Absolutely true!
The AP Stylebook needs to leap into the 21st century. Their old Military abbreviations Sgt for SGT, Capt for CPT have been out of date for over 40 years!
There’s others of course.
I hear journalistic “black helicopters!” I have trangressed!
John Cox: Those military abbreviations are not outdated. Just because the Army (or Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard) abbreviates something one way does not mean that abbreviation is clear to non-military readers. Besides, the Stylebook was created to ensure consistency and recognition. Going with your example, just how many people know what SSG means? In the Army in means staff sergeant. But not in the Air Force or Marines.