Commando AP-Style Tactics Any Time you’re not sure, use Stylebook. Strunk & White rule, too. Your text’s style briefer is excellent. Pay attention to formal titles, acronyms, addresses, abbreviations. Always use a shorter word for a longer one. Include the day of week in spot stories. Style is learned by using it, not by studying it.

Capitalization Cap titles before a name, not after a name: Congressman J.J. Pickle J.J. Pickle, a congressman from Austin, Texas Cap formal organizations on first reference, use informal reference afterward w/o caps: The Association of Embalming Practitioners The association; the embalming association

Capitalization II Geographic regions take caps: West Texas, western Texas, Upstate New York Be careful about capping things that sound like they should be, but shouldn’t: The girl ate some french fries.

Capitalization III Political orgs take caps; philosophies don’t: --The Liberal Party held its convention. --He said he was liberal in his political leanings. Pay close attention to religious titles—by the book! Informal job descriptions aren’t titles: Compac executive Marvin Frump Compac Vice President Marvin Frump Don’t use brand names for generic purposes: --Tissue stedda Kleenex --Bandage stedda Band-Aid

Capitalization IV Historical and official documents, legal codes, specific laws usually takes caps on first reference. Enough with capitalizations.

Source References Full reference on first occurrence: --Congressman J.J. Pickle --Association of Embalming Practitioners Short reference thereafter: --Pickle (at some pubs, Mr. Pickle) --the association If a source comes up long after initial i.d., briefly re-identify: --Pickle, the Texas congressman --the embalming association

Source Info Full name—include preferred nicknames Address, contact info Occupation Age Not necessarily in print, but necessary!

Handling Quotes NEVER change paraphrases into quotes. Wrong: Jones praised the workers. “You have exceeded our expectations, and I plan to give everyone a party.” Right: “You have exceeded our expectations, and I plan to give everyone a party,” Jones said.

Quotes II Wrong: “Our quota was 10,000 units,” Jones said. “This month the company produced 50,000 widgets,” he continued. “I plan to give everyone a party,” he added. Right: “Our quota was 10,000 units,” Jones said. “This month the company produced 50,000 widgets. I plan to give everyone a party.”

Quotes III Wrong: Jones said, “I plan to give everyone a party. Our quota was 10,000 units. This month the company produced 50,000 widgets.” Right: “I plan to give everyone a party,” Jones said. “Our quota was 10,000 units. This month the company produced 50,000 widgets.”

Quotes IV Wrong: “I plan to give everyone a party,” Jones said. “Our quota was 10,000 units. This month the company produced 50,000 widgets.” “I wish the company would give everyone a pay raise instead of a party,” Joe Smith, president of the union, said. Right: I plan to give everyone a party,” Jones said. “Our quota was 10,000 units. This month the company produced 50,000 widgets.” Joe Smith, president of the union, said, “I wish the company would give everyone a pay raise instead of a party.”

Acronyms Never put an acronym in parentheses after a first reference: --Wrong: Committee for Press Freedom (CPF) Use them only when they’re obvious and clear. Some are usable on first reference: CIA, NASA. All caps when four letters or fewer, caps & lower case when five or more. Countries take periods: U.S.A., U.N.

Addresses Abbreviate only when there is a number: 519 Bluebonnett St., Bluebonnett Street Ave., Blvd., St. are only abbreviations—others are spelled out.

Businesses Abbreviate corporate suffixes: Co.; Inc.; Ltd.; Corp.; LLC Never use two suffixes, even when it’s in name: Dow Jones & Co., not Dow Jones & Co., Inc. Use abbreviations only in full name, not in informal references. Department, division, other company categories are spelled out.

Other Abbreviations Time: a.m., p.m., A.D., B.C., CST, EDT Military: Gen., Maj., Col., Lt., Sgt., Pfc. States: See stylebook for abbreviations. Titles: Gov., Lt. Gov., Sen., Rep., Dr., the Rev. Never abbreviate these: attorney general, comptroller, detective, district attorney, officer, professor, superintendent.

Keep Constructs Parallel Success in school is made more likely by studying and to exercise daily. Home-security systems are popular to discourage criminals and for keeping insurance rates low.

Web Sites for Grammar, Style Test 3: Usage Test 4: Style 50 online exercises to practice AP style