How to avoid common AP style errors that can · An umbrella term for companies, corporations,...

How to avoid common AP style errors that can undermine your writing

How to size up your audience and tailor your content to entice them

Steps for making your writing interesting, accessible, engaging and fun

Tips for adjusting to style changes

Why you should avoid jargon

How to use AP style as the underpinning for your organization's internal style guide

Time: 8:30 a.m., 2-5 p.m., noon, midnight

Dates: January 1972, Jan. 2, May 8, no “th,” “Feb. 14, 1987, was the target date.”

Years: the 1920s, the '80s

Italics: We use quote marks instead

Regions: Lowercase the compass point - central Louisiana -- unless it's a widely known section, as in Southern California or South Florida

Addresses: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.; Fifth Avenue

Spell out one through nine: In general, spell out one through nine and use figures for 10 or above.

Among the exceptions, use figures for: Units of measure (4 feet, 6 degrees)

Ages of people, animals, events or things, (7 years old)

Monetary units (5 cents, 8 euros)

Mathematical usage (multiply by 4, divide by 2)

Millions, billions and trillions (2 billion)

Rankings (No. 1)

Use commas to separate elements in a series, but do not put a comma before the conjunction in a simple series:

The flag is red, white and blue. He would nominate Tom, Dick or Harry.

Put a comma before the concluding conjunction in a series, however, if an integral element of the series requires a conjunction:

I had orange juice, toast, and ham and eggs for breakfast.

Use a comma also before the concluding conjunction in a complex series of phrases:

The main points to consider are whether the athletes are skillful enough to compete, whether they have the stamina to endure the training, and whether they have the proper mental attitude.

This clarification is new in the 2017 Stylebook. The intent isn’t new but the added language about it is:

As with all punctuation, clarity is the biggest rule. If a comma does not help make clear what is being said, it should not be there. If omitting a comma could lead to confusion or misinterpretation, then use the comma.

Niche versus general interest

Beat reporter versus general assignment

Local versus national or international

Print versus broadcast

Media versus direct to your customers

Internal versus external

Google Analytics

Search terms

Reader studies

Audience surveys

Social media feedback

What else?

Excessive capitals – capitalizing something or someone doesn’t make it more important.

Alphabet soup – don’t use abbreviations or acronyms that aren’t commonly recognized

Hyphens – the fewer the better

$5 words and flowery language – aim for short and clear

Unnecessary apostrophes – if it’s not possessive or a contraction, no apostrophe

Exclamation points!!!

C-suite. Many in our audience work not for huge corporations, but for nonprofits, government agencies, startups, and so on, so they don’t even recognize this term. Try instead “top-tier executives,” “leaders,” and other, more universally understood terms.

Organization. An umbrella term for companies, corporations, nonprofits, hospitals, clinics, medical practices, firms, governmental agencies, startups, and so on. Because our audience members work for an array of such entities, using “organization” is the most inclusive option.

Shape-shifting parts of speech. “Ask” is not a noun, nor is “rebrand.” The coinage “learnings” is abhorrent. We can’t stop corporate buffoons from mutilating the language in their “convos” and blogs, but we sure as hell can keep such atrocities off our websites.

Social media. Not just “social.” Please fix this every damn time.

We now allow use of singular they, in limited cases

We added new entry on fact checks and fake news, providing guidelines on fact-checking politicians and public officials.

Greatly expanded data journalism guidance is included in a new chapter.

A new entry on addictions and revised drug-related entries, including guidance to avoid words like abuse, problem, addict and abuser in most uses.

A revised entry recommends the use of Walmart (not Wal-Mart) when writing about the company, including Walmart stores. The legal name Wal-Mart Stores Inc. should be included in stories specific to corporate news.

spokesman, spokeswoman, spokesperson – Use spokesperson if it is the preference of an individual or an organization.

voicemail

media – Generally takes a plural verb, especially when the reference is to individual outlets: Media are lining up for and against the proposal. Sometimes used with a singular verb when referring to media as a monolithic group: Media is the biggest force in a presidential campaign.