1. Associated Press (AP) Style
important AP guidelines for you to follow when writing for THE DRUMBEAT:
A-D

2. A, An
You use the article “an” in front of words that sound as if they begin with a vowel, regardless of how they are spelled.

3. Example: A, An
Would you use a or an in this sentence: It is __ honor to be here. an

4. Academic Degrees
Put an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree and master’s degree. This is to show possession. Even when shortened to bachelor’s or master’s, with no “degree” afterwards, you keep the apostrophe. Only capitalize if you’re naming a specific degree. Ex: She received a Bachelor of Arts in history.

5. Example: Academic Degrees
Which one of these sentences is correct?
The teacher has a masters degree.
-or-
The teacher has a master’s degree.
Mr. Smith recently received his Master’s degree in English.
Mr. Smith recently received his master’s degree in English.

6. Addresses
Abbreviate the words street, avenue, etc., but only if they appear after a numbered address. Also abbreviate compass directions, but only if they appear with a numbered address.

7. Example: Addresses Is this the correct way to write this address?
50 South Court Street.
No. It would be 50 S. Court St.

8. Affect, Effect
If the word you use is a verb, spell it with an “a,” and if it is a noun, spell it with an “e.” Affect means to influence and effect means the result of an action.

9. Example: affect, effect
Which affect, effect belongs in the following sentence:
How will this __________ my grade?
affect
I don’t know what the ________ will be.
effect

10. A lot
Never alot

11. Example: Which one of these sentences are correct:
We have a lot of homework tonight.
We have alot of homework tonight.

12. All right
Never alright

13. Example: Is this sentence written correctly?
“I’m feeling alright about tonight’s game,” Coach Smith said.
No.

14. Alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae
An alumnus is a man who has attended a school. An Alumna (alumnae in the plural) is the corresponding reference to a woman (or women). Alumni are groups of men and women. Do not refer to them as alum.

15. Example: alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae
Is this sentence written correctly?
Copley alumni gathered at the football game.
Yes

16. a.m., p.m. Recognize that 8 p.m. tonight is redundant.
So, write 8 tonight, or 8 p.m. and the date. These abbreviations are always lowercase following the numeral.

17. Example: a.m./p.m.
Which of the following sentences is written correctly?
School board members will meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
-or-
School board members will meet at 8:00 PM tonight.

18. a.m./p.m. continued
For 12 p.m. and 12 a.m., always write noon or midnight. Never use the numeral.
Also, think TDP (Time before Date before Place):
The talent show will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, April 25 in the auditorium.

19. Between and Among
Use “between” to show the relationship between two entities.
Use “among” to show the relationship among more than two.

20. Example: Between and Among
Which sentence is written correctly (even though they are both in yucky passive voice)? A compromise was reached among Susie and Sally. -or- A compromise was reached between Susie and Sally.

21. Capitalization
AFTER A COLON: If the information introduced by a colon is a complete sentence, quotation or a speech, a capital letter should be used.
If the information is a series or phrase, use a lowercase letter.
SUBJECTS AND DISCIPLINES: In general , do not capitalize academic subjects or medical specialties. DO capitalize subjects based on proper nouns (ex: languages or specific level of a class). Ex: She studied for her English final – or – He prepared for the Algebra II exam.

22. Example: Capitalization
Which two sentences are written correctly?
I wish to make the following announcement: All employees must sign out before leaving for lunch.
Guidance counselors mentioned the following subjects: Mathematics, History and Music.
She enjoys Science class the most.
She studied for her English final.

23. Coach
Capitalize only when used without a qualifying term before the name of the person who directs an athletic team.

24. Example: coach
How would coach be capitalized in the following sentences?
“It will be a tough game,” ______ Bartow said.
Coach
“ “ said head ________ Murry Bartow.
coach
“ “ said the ____________ of the basketball team.

25. Collective nouns
Nouns such as council, board, senate, group, class, committee, club, faculty, family, group, jury, orchestra and staff take singular verbs such as “is.”
These collective nouns also take the pronoun “it” instead of “they,” and “is” instead of “are.”

26. Example: collective nouns
The committee is meeting today to set _____ agenda.
its
The horticulture class is planting native oaks today for _____ final. 
The offense rallied to _____ best effort in the third quarter. 
The Lakers gave Southern California an exciting season with _____ post-season play.
their

27. Days of the week
Do not abbreviate the days of the week

28. Example: Days of the week
Is the following sentence written correctly?
The meeting will be held on Sun., Oct. 4.
No.
Write out Sunday. In addition, when the day of the week is used with a specific date, a comma should follow the day of the week.

29. Directions and Regions
Capitalize words such as North and South if they refer to places you can stand. Ex: The North Pole
When referring to compass directions, lowercase them.
When referring to the names of a nation, directions should be lowercased unless they are officially part of the country’s name.

30. Example: directions and regions
Which of the following sentences is written correctly? The Western United States is full of open land. I live in south Korea. I live to the west of Detroit, Michigan.

31. Dollars
Use numerical figures and the $ sign except in casual references (I need a dollar).
Use either the dollar sign or the word “dollar,” NEVER both.

32. Example: Dollars Which sentence is written correctly?
The book costs four dollars.
He said $500,000 dollars is the charity’s goal.
He is worth $4.35 million dollars.
I need to borrow $15.