1. AP Style Shenanigans Miss Landon 2.0

2. Numbers Spell out numbers one through nine. Use numerals for 10 and up. (One, five, 10, 15, 17, etc.) For ages, always use the numeral. She is 8 years old. He is 2 years old. Use numerals to describe money. $26.52 $100 million $4 million Don’t begin a sentence with a numeral. Incorrect: 40 people attended the conference. Correct: Forty people attended the conference.

3. Statistics Percentages. Always spell out the word “percent.” Always use the numeral. Correct: 3 percent Incorrect: 3% Incorrect: three percent Provide a source for statistics. Don’t list a collection of statistics in one sentence. Too many numbers will make it confusing.

4. Names Upon first reference, use the person’s first name, last name and title. Dr. John Brown Gov. Steve Beshear Use an abbreviation for most titles. Dr., Gov., Rev., etc. Upon second reference only use the last name. “We’re implementing the new plan,” Beshear said.

5. Don’t use the Oxford Comma The oxford—or serial—comma is not used in journalism. Correct: My friends are Sally, Kathy and Sarah. Incorrect: My friends are Sally, Kathy, and Sarah. Correct: I finished my homework, cleaned the house and wrote a letter. Incorrect: I finished my homework, cleaned the house, and wrote a letter.

6. Dates and Times Spell out the month unless it’s one of these: Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Use only the number of the date, not “th,” “st,” or “rd.” Sunday, April 6, 2011. Oct. 5, 2013 Dec. 25 Times: always use the numeral and “a.m.” or “p.m.”

7. Support for ideas Be fair and balanced. Yes, you need an angle, but don’t completely ignore opposing viewpoints. Support your claims with facts, quotes, and research. Use examples. Don’t go on a tangent, but a true story can go a long way. Are you trying to convince people that taking college courses in high school helps with the college transition? Find someone who took college courses as a senior and interview him or her about the experience.

8. Commonly confused words Their, they’re, there Imply vs. infer Farther vs. further Fewer vs. less