Ask the Editor is a forum on writing, style and phrasing issues that go beyond the pages of the AP Stylebook. AP Stylebook editor Paula Froke fields questions posed by subscribers to AP Stylebook Online. Below is a sampling of recent questions Paula has answered.
Question from Middletown, Delaware, on Dec. 11, 2023
Although a common acronym for our business writing, I'm assuming AP would say to spell out computer numerical control for CNC on first reference?
We would, yes. If it's so commonly known among your readers that spelling it out on first reference would look silly, then don't spell it out. But if at least some of your readers might not understand, then it's best to spell it out.Answer
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Oct. 12, 2023
Hi! Thanks for the thorough AI guidance. Wondering whether you're considering allowing AI on first reference. I know style evolves (internet used to be Internet, email used to have a hyphen). So, thinking most readers will understand AI on first reference. Thanks again.
Not at this time. But certainly that's something we'd consider in the future. Remember, a lot of people have trouble with AI without the periods, thinking we're talking about some guy named Al. And it's harder if there's not a spelled-out first reference. Also, just because you and I understand AI on first reference doesn't mean my mom, my sister, and many other readers are as attuned.Answer
Question from Little Rock, Arkansas, on Oct. 11, 2023
On first reference of an interstate, do you need to put the abbreviation in parentheses as you would an acronym when it's going to be used again? For example: "Interstate 49 (I-49) will be closed at Exit 21." Or can you just say Interstate 49 on first reference and I-49 on second reference?
We don't put abbreviations in parentheses. Our style would be Interstate 49 on first reference and I-49 on second reference.Answer
Question from on Sept. 15, 2023
Hello, is PB&J acceptable for the sandwich? How about on first reference?
Yes, in our style it's acceptable on all references.Answer
Question from Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 31, 2023
Do you still consider ESG an acronym that needs definition on first reference, or can it stand alone in all instances?
If your specific audience understands it, then you don't need to define it. As for me, I had no idea what it meant until I looked it up. I imagine that's the case for many general-audience readers. And remember, it's not in your interest to confuse or annoy your readers. But your specific audience may well be different in what readers understand without explanation.Answer
Question from Sterling, Virginia, on May 16, 2024
If you are writing about an association, and quote its president, would it be President Name said or president Name said. The association's full name would not be in front of the title. ...
Capitalize the title of President when it immediately precedes a name. She said she would ask association President Peter Pringle ...Answer
But note the lowercase in this construction: She said she would ask the association president, Peter Pringle, ...
Question from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Feb. 28, 2024
My Legal department changes "the company" to "the Company" in our internal communications. For example, "We have an experienced team that works collaboratively to support the Company in its goals."
I understand it's common practice in a legal document, but we argue to no avail that it's unnecessary in an intranet story or internal email because "company" is a common noun. I see one previous similar question, but can you help us put this to rest by confirming in this example that the common noun shouldn't be capitalized? Thanks so much!
The corporate world does love its capital letters. But you are correct: In our style, the word company standing alone is lowercase because it's not a proper noun. You may be fighting a losing battle, however. It's pretty common for companies to do their own thing when it comes to capitalization. We, however, strongly agree with you.Answer
Question from Charlotte Hall, Maryland, on Feb. 02, 2024
Is the illness Lung Cancer capitalize?
No. Here's the entry: Do not capitalize diseases such as cancer, emphysema, leukemia, hepatitis, etc. When a disease is known by the name of a person or geographical area identified with it, capitalize only the proper noun element: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Ebola virus disease, etc. Other than in direct quotations, avoid such expressions as: He is battling cancer. She is a stroke victim. Use neutral, precise descriptions: He has stomach cancer. She had a stroke. They are being treated for malaria.Answer
Question from Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 31, 2024
For paid family and medical leave, do you advise lowercasing it or capitalizing it when it's used as a descriptive term and not part of an official name? I assume if it's part of an official program or department name, then we would capitalize it?
Lowercase as a descriptive term. Uppercase in a department name. Capitalize the Family and Medical Leave Act.As for individual programs, determine whether it's necessary to use the formal name (which often can be clunky) or if a shorter, descriptive approach could work.Answer
Question from Overland Park, Kansas, on Dec. 05, 2023
Title case question: When writing about no-see-ums (the insects also known as biting midges), are all three words capitalized in title case? Is it No-See-Ums or No-see-ums?
Lowercase no-see-ums, according to both Webster's New World College Dictionary and Merriam-Webster.Answer
Question from Washington, on Jan. 31, 2024
What is the accepted way to reference a decade in AP style? Is it to spell it out (ex. 1960s) or can it be shortened (ex. '60s)?
Either is fine. The longer form is more formal and the shorter more informal, so use what's appropriate for your piece and your audience. Use Arabic figures to indicate decades of history. Use an apostrophe to indicate numerals that are left out; show plural by adding the letter s: the 1890s, the '90s, the Gay '90s, the 1920s, the mid-1930s.Answer
Question from Casper, Wyoming, on Sept. 11, 2023
Hello Paula!
I have a question that is driving me crazy. Here is the sentence in question:
The event will begin with a social hour and cash bar, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cavigelli’s presentation will start at 7, followed by a live auction at 7:30.
The director of this event wanted :00 after 7. When I explained that that was not AP Style, she responded with an email that included a photo of her 2017 AP Stylebook and this comment: “My copy doesn’t specify that 7:00 is objectionable. Please list it as either p.m. or :00.”
Help! Which is correct, per AP?
Thank you!
There's a line between following AP style to the letter, and doing what's necessary to keep the customer satisfied (within reason). It's true that we don't say 7:00 is objectionable. But when we say our style is 7 p.m., it's implied that our style is not 7:00 p.m. The good news: She gave the option of including p.m. and I think that's a reasonable option. In our heart of hearts, we think the p.m. is pretty apparent (the presentation wouldn't start at 7 a.m. following a 6:30 p.m. dinner). But including the p.m. dresses up the stand-alone 7 a bit and wouldn't strike most people as odd. So how about: The event will begin with a social hour and cash bar, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cavigelli’s presentation will start at 7 p.m., followed by a live auction at 7:30 p.m.Or if the organizers are really in love with :00, then go with it. We need flexibility ...Answer
Question from KANSAS CITY, Missouri, on April 14, 2023
Would there be a comma after 2021 in this: "between February 1, 2021 and February 22, 2023, the ..."
Thanks.
Yes, a comma after 2021. Also: In AP style, we abbreviate most months when used with a date. So our style is: between Feb. 1, 2021, and Feb. 22, 2023, the ...Answer
Question from Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2022
I see your entry on time but would like clarification. Which style would be best for this type of sentence: Join us from 9-11 a.m. OR Join us 9-11 a.m.
I typically like to use "from" and "to" when I use one or another. But I also like sticking to your style and using a hyphen. The "from" in the first example seems to make the sentence flow better.
Yes: Join us from 9-11 a.m. But, we also are just fine with no hyphen. See the end of the below section from the times entry. So you easily could write: Join us from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Answer
Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 9-11 a.m., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Question from on Oct. 19, 2022
Is it necessary to include the year on an invitation for an upcoming event if it's obvious the event is in the current year?
Example: You are invited to attend the Christmas Pageant on Friday, December 16. or You are invited to attend the Christmas Pageant on Friday, December 16, 2022.
Don't include the year if it's the current year. Here's the entry: When a phrase refers to a month and day within the current year, do not include the year: The hearing is scheduled for June 26. If the reference is to a past or future year, include the year and set it off with commas: Feb. 14, 2025, is the target date. Use an s without an apostrophe to indicate spans of decades or centuries: the 1890s, the 1800s. Years are an exception to the general rule in numerals that a figure is not used to start a sentence: 2013 was a very good year.Answer
Question from Warrenton, Virginia, on May 13, 2024
Can you start a sentence with the numeral with the word million such as...
“$44 million to treat an operation...
or do you write it out..."Forty-four million dollars to treat an operation...
We spell out numbers when they start a sentence. But it's much better to rephrase to avoid that situation. Assuming it's not exactly $44 million: about $44 million, at least $44 million, almost $44 million, more than $44 million ... whichever is accurate could be used to start the sentence.Answer
Question from on May 13, 2024
How would you talk about the data mentioned in this sentence? "We adjusted the original adult definition of complexity from adults with > 4 out of 10 specified health conditions to adults with >4 out of 8 conditions."
Would you keep the symbols?
We use figures for ratios (1 in 4 voters). But I wouldn't consider your example a ratio. So I'd use words: adults with more than four of eight conditions. And we definitely wouldn't use the > symbol.Answer
Question from Wilmington, Delaware, on April 29, 2024
This is one the silliest work arguments ever. For Star Wars Day (ugh), the correct style would be "May the Fourth be with you" because numbers less than 10 are spelled out, right?
I can see how this would turn into a work argument; I'm sure it would turn into a Stylebook team argument as well, if I were to raise it with the rest of the team. But I'm going to go it alone on this one. Yes, we spell out numbers under 10 in general. But there are lots of exceptions. We also generally spell out ordinals (such as fourth) but there are exceptions to that, as well. Dates aren't listed as an exception because we typically don't write May 4th (instead, just May 4.) See below for that section of the numerals entry. Ordinals Numbers used to indicate order (first, second, 10th, 25th, etc.) are called ordinal numbers. Generally spell out first through ninth: fourth grade, first base, the First Amendment, he was first in line. Use figures starting with 10th. Use figures for ages: 4th birthday. Also: 3rd Congressional District; 2nd Precinct.Answer
I think I'd go with May the 4th be with you. That's in keeping with our general guidance on dates. It's also how the Star Wars folks style it themselves.
Question from Mitchellville, Maryland, on Feb. 27, 2024
Which is correct: 2 years or two years
Two years. Unless it's an age, in which case it's 2 years old. Answer
We have owned our car for two years. Our car is 2 years old. (Weird? Yes.)
Question from Lawrence, Kansas, on Jan. 21, 2024
I do not see guidelines on how to treat %/percent within a direct quote under the most recent style change. If a source says the word "percent," and that is used within a direct quote, should it be "%" or "percent"?
If it's a spoken quote, use the % sign. If it's a written quote, use the style used by the writer. The guidelines are in this section of the quotations in the news entry: When quoting spoken words, present them in the format that reflects AP style: No. 1, St., Gov., $3. But quotes should not be changed otherwise for reasons of style. If the speaker says towards, do not change it to toward. When quoting written words, retain the style used by the writer; do not alter the written words even if they don’t match AP style.Answer
Question from Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 30, 2023
Hello, my question is concerning comma usage in when introducing poem, book, and podcast episode titles. I've searched your site and have not come across clear direction, and appreciate any clarity you can provide using the examples below:
When introducing a poem title:
Option A
Benjamin Gucciardi reads his poem, "The Rungs."
Option B
Benjamin Gucciardi reads his poem "The Rungs."
And in referencing the episode title of a podcast:
Option A
This poem was featured in Benjamin's conversation with April, "The Poetry We're Reading Now."
Option B
This poem was featured in Benjamin's conversation with April "The Poetry We're Reading Now."
These fall under the category of essential or nonessential phrases. Read the full entry for details. In your first example, the answer depends on whether Gucciardi has one poem, or more than one. If he has only one poem, the name of the title is nonessential and thus the comma is used. If he has more than one poem, the name of this one is essential and there is no comma in that construction. In your second example, it depends on whether he has only one conversation with April. In that case, use the comma. If he has more than one conversation with April, no comma. I know this can be confusing. But I think the entry spells it out reasonably well.Answer
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Sept. 30, 2023
Question about a subhed in a news story. Wording as published is:
On Florida’s Gulf Coast, a loose coalition of activists, officials and Trumpworld celebrities is building the world they want to live in
Seems odd to me to have to use a singular verb for coalition when the sentence is clearly about many people and the world they want to live in. Certainly it wouldn't be the world it wants to live in. Are there exceptions to the singular rule for certain constructions using words like coalition?
I have pages of notes about this, focusing on the concept of notional agreement and the principle of proximity. Grammarians have differing views. We don't address it thoroughly in the Stylebook, yet. But in short: You'd have plenty of support in using the plural are for the verb. I'm among those in support.Answer
Question from Fortville, Indiana, on Sept. 29, 2023
I would love to get your thoughts on a question that comes up frequently at my organization regarding the use of the word "talent." The answer to this question is helpful, but suppose for reasons outside your control you needed to use this word to refer to multiple individuals. Which of the following examples would you prefer?
These three talents have the strongest performance. (Pluralize talent with an "s")
These three talent has the strongest performance. (Collective noun taking singular verb--this seems weird.)
These three talent have the strongest performance. (Treat plural of "talent" like "deer")
Could you possibly let the people outside your control know that the AP Stylebook editor strongly (VERY strongly) recommends against this use, and can't find support for it in major dictionaries? There's a distinct fingernails-on-chalkboard effect. I could go on. And on and on. OK, but if you have to use it, I guess I'd choose the first option. Definitely not the second. Maybe the third. It's hard to say what correct usage is for something that's not correct usage however you do it ...Answer
Question from Fargo, North Dakota, on Sept. 14, 2023
"Their passion and focus on agriculture are evident and apparent."
Ignoring any other potential problems with this sentence, my proofreading team feels the "are" should be changed to "is." It sounds really odd to us otherwise. However, when two nouns are joined by "and," the verb should be plural. Is "are" here incorrect? Would you change it? (Assuming rewording isn't an option.)
Thank you!
It depends on on whether you view passion and focus as one concept (taking a singular verb) or two distinct concepts (taking a plural verb). In your example, I agree that the are simply sounds odd (not that sounds odd is a technical term, but it matters). And certainly passion and focus can be viewed as one concept. So I agree: Use the singular is. On another note, I question whether you need both evident and apparent. How about one or the other? The two together are redundant. (Maybe that's one of your other potential problems!)Answer
Question from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 31, 2023
I have a question regarding plural subjects that act as a singular idea and the verb they take. As an example sentence: “The increasing severity and frequency of weather events have had a profound impact on the community.”
Grammatically, “severity and frequency” are a compound subject, so the sentence requires a plural verb. But “severity and frequency” also function as a singular idea. Would “has” being more appropriate verb in that sentence, or is this down to a judgment call?
Thank you!
It's a judgment call. In your example, I'd question whether severity and frequency is really a single idea. If it is a single idea, indeed you would use a singular verb. But they strike me as separate ideas. I also think it could be argued either way. Definitely a judgment call!Answer
Question from Bloomington, Minnesota, on May 17, 2024
https://www.apstylebook.com/ask_the_editors/44741 refers to another entry that has since been archived. Is the advice still current?
That advice (no hyphen in multidevice) is still current. All of the entries on prefixes, which had been listed separately, are now grouped together in one prefixes entry. The entry notes a few changes as we move to Merriam-Webster as our primary dictionary. (Measurement-related prefixes such as centi- and milli- are listed individually in the book.) Same with all suffixes entries, which are now grouped together in one. Answer
Question from on May 14, 2024
Can I ask for clarification on partial quotes? If a partial quote is – despite being an excerpt – a complete grammatical sentence, does it routinely begin with a capital?
The implication from the quotes within quotes example is that it doesn't:
She said, "I quote from his letter, 'I agree with Kipling that "the female of the species is more deadly than the male," but the phenomenon is not an unchangeable law of nature,' a remark he did not explain."The embedded comment on feminine lethality could stand perfectly well as a sentence in its own right, but it is not given a capital. Why not?
We (and other experts) don't use a comma or capital letter for most partial quotes within a sentence, since they blend into or flow with or are integrated as part of the sentence as a whole. That said, the combination of three speakers/writers being quoted in one sentence is awfully hard for a reader to handle. I don't know why my predecessors didn't add a cautionary note to that example. But I am going to add one ... sometime, when I have a chance. Thanks for bringing it up.Answer
Question from on May 13, 2024
I wanted to revisit the "re-" entry. I saw in the Q&A that there was updated guidance where it would be reelection, reelected and the like. Is this still the case or was there another update? I have seen it both ways within our organization and wanted to get a final determination. And are there exceptions to the re- guidance specific to reelected or reelection
Thank You!
Yes, we announced a change in style a few years ago, removing the requirement to hyphenate between double-e combinations (any of those combinations, not just reelection). This was to bring us in line with what the major dictionaries do, as well as common usage. A revised prefixes entry announced last month incorporates that change as well as a few others. It's worth a look!Answer
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on May 08, 2024
Greetings! With the transition to Merriam-Webster, where are you landing with noncollege/non-college, specifically when it comes to hyphenation (or not) in compound phrases? For example: "noncollege graduates/non-college graduates" (arguably, non- is modifying the noun phrase "college graduate")? And more complex phrases like noncollege educated adults/non-college educated adults/non-college-educated adults? Thank you
Here's our new prefixes entry, which notes generally no prefix with the non- prefix (the same as our guidance before the change to Merriam-Webster). That doesn't answer your specific question, though. Here's the answer: We'd much prefer to use more words rather than that awkward shorthand. I mean, what is a noncollege graduate or a non-college graduate? A graduate of a noncollege? It doesn't make sense no matter how you punctuate it. Why not: adults without a college education (or without a college degree) or adults who don't have a college education (or who don't have a college degree)? If you do need to use the term, hyphenate thusly: non-college-educated adults. That's in keeping with this section of the hyphen entry: Also use hyphens to avoid nonsensical terms such as nonlife: Make it non-life-threatening, not nonlife-threatening. Often the better choice is to rephrase, even if it means using a few more words.Answer
Question from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 08, 2024
Hi there,
I'm wondering how to hyphenate the following, which includes the first reference to artificial intelligence—so, spelled out—and also must define the acronym right after per an internal style guide: "...and artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled vision tools." Hyphenating the acronym in parentheses looks odd to me, but I'm at a loss for how else I can clearly format.
Thank you!
Whenever you're at a loss about how to make it clear, it's a good sign that you're much better off rephrasing. Can you make it: ... and vision tools enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) ? If for some reason you need to keep the exact phrasing, I think the way you have it is your only option. I agree, though, it's not a good option ...Answer
Question from Bradenton, Florida, on April 09, 2023
Does AP prefer jelly bean or jellybean?
We much prefer chocolate. For the sugary treat that you're asking about, Webster's New World College Dictionary prefers the two-word version: jelly bean a small, bean-shaped candy with a soft, jellylike center and a hard sugar coating: also written jellybean n.Answer
Question from Corvallis, Oregon, on July 19, 2022
The official stylebook entry for FAQ says just that — FAQ. That entry was created in 2002. But an Ask the Editor response from 2020 says FAQs. Which is correct? Thanks in advance.
It's FAQ for one set of questions/answers: Please read the FAQ on track racing. If you have separate FAQs on different topics, it's FAQs: Please read the FAQs on track racing and mountain bike racing.Answer
Question from Longmont, Colorado, on April 08, 2022
How should I pluralize PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substance)?
Our style is PFAS for both the singular and plural. Here's the entry.Answer
Question from Kansas City, Missouri, on May 01, 2024
Is it placemaking or place-making?
Use the hyphen, following this guidance in the suffixes entry: -maker, -making No hyphen in commonly used words such as automaker, automaking; dealmaker, dealmaking; drugmaker (but drug-making); filmmaker, filmmaking; moneymaker, moneymaking; policymaker, policymaking; speechmaker, speechmaking. An exception: decision-maker, decision-making. Also: coffee maker. Avoid contrived combinations such as difference-maker and magic-maker. But if using less common terms such as those, include the hyphen. No hyphen with proper nouns, such as iPhone maker.Answer
Question from Indianapolis, Indiana, on Nov. 08, 2023
Could you help us understand why AP Style chooses to format health care as two words when Webster's New World College Dictionary (online) uses the one-word format as the default entry (providing two words as the alternate format)?
healthcare n. the prevention and treatment of illness or injury, esp. on a comprehensive, ongoing basis: also written health care.
Just curious about the reasoning for sticking with two words, especially when many in the field format it as one word.
Safe to say that there are as many who prefer the two-word version as who prefer the one-word version. Merriam-Webster, a dictionary separate from Webster's New World, prefers two words. So does American Heritage Dictionary. I don't know why the decision was originally made to go with two words; it was before my time on the Stylebook team. Since then, we have revisited a number of times and each time decided to stick with two words in the absence of an overriding reason to change and given the great support for the two-word version. We will continue to discuss periodically.Answer
Question from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 24, 2023
Is it "complements of the chef" or "compliments of the chef" ?
It's compliments of the chef.Answer
Question from Northport, Alabama, on Sept. 28, 2023
Is free-throw hyphenated, or not, in free-throw lane and free-throw line?
The “basketball” entry includes spellings of frequently used words, including “free-throw line” (hyphenated).
The “free throw lane” entry says, “a rectangular area under each basket between the free throw line and the end line ... ” (no hyphens in either).
Thank you!
The first entry you note is indeed a Stylebook entry. As you note, we use the hyphen. You can choose which version you prefer. Both are correct; they are just different styles.Answer
The second entry is actually from Webster's New World College Dictionary, which you can get as part of your Stylebook Online subscription. The dictionary doesn't use the hyphen.
Question from wyoming, Michigan, on Aug. 28, 2023
I see the entry for saute does not have an accent mark. But Webster's does. It's my understanding that accent marks are saved for names, primarily. I know entree is also one I see both ways. Which is correct for saute and which is correct pertaining to entree?
It's not a matter of correct vs. incorrect; it's a matter of style. AP uses accent and other diacritical marks only in people's names. Webster's New World College Dictionary uses them for some other words as well. Your choice on which you want to use.Answer