And it just goes to show you what a great resource aps twitter feed can be. The ap stylebook, the buzzfeed style guide, the economist style guide, and the chicago manual of style all recommend hyphenating ebook, as well as most other e words such as ereader and ecommerce its conceivable that over time, ebook may lose its hyphen. Because readers expect ly words or very to modify the word that follows, no hyphen is required. Generic terms like hot yoga and boot camp should be lowercase. When searching for height in the ap stylebook, it refers readers to the dimensions entry. Half an hour sounds infinitely better, and the ap entry is simply illustrating that half hour, if it comes up, gets a hyphen. In those instances where years or years old are not required, the figure is presumed to be years. The associated press stylebook recommends spelling out the numbers zero through nine and using numerals thereafteruntil one million is reached. In most cases, the apa style dictates that there is no hyphen after the prefix. The reds defeated the red sox 43, the giants scored a 126 football victory over the cardinals, the golfer had a 5 on the first hole but finished with a 2underpar score. Welcome to ask the editor, a forum on writing, style and phrasing issues that go beyond the pages of the ap stylebook. As the lead stylebook editor, paula froke, noted in an email, ap has been moving in this direction for years. We updated our hyphen guidance this year to say no hyphen is needed in a.
Ap compiles us elections style guide associated press. Instead of nineteen ninetyeight was when write the year 1998 was when. Key voting group encompassing about 42 percent of u. Our site uses a modified version of ap style, which is why the example reads 8 year old instead of eight year old. K12 years of school from kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 1846, ap today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. Ap style guidelines for hyphen usage john crouch 20170817. Jimmy carter outpolled gerald ford 40,827,292 to 39,146,157 vote.
The hyphen in sentence 3 is correct because we always use a hyphen in compound numbers between twentyone and ninetynine. Ap stylebook changes hyphen guidance, ushering in total chaos. On the other hand, the chicago manual of style 16th edn says. Jan 06, 2015 in chicago style, it is used for ranges of things such as years, ages, months, numbers, etc. On the other hand, the chicago manual of style says that a year beginning a sentence should be spelled out. Do not use a hyphen with a compound modifier after the noun. There are so many ap style changes against old longtime usage anymore that it is hard to keep track of the changes year to year. Use the word to not a hyphen in separating different totals listed together. Use a hyphen if the word that follows is capitalized. The style of the associated press is the gold standard for news writing. Despite its new age of frequent tweaks, the ap stylebook still presents as rather prim, and thats part of what many style geeks like me.
Ap would spell out numerals under 10, even for grade levels. Hyphens are often used to tell the ages of people and things. Chip minemyer aps evolving style guide still impacts. Jul 27, 2010 ap does not even acknowledge that the en dash exists. This is not necessary if you are dragging a video link directly into the story. Recently, i wrote about some changes to the ap stylebooks rules on hyphens. Sep 25, 2019 despite its new age of frequent tweaks, the ap stylebook still presents as rather prim, and thats part of what many style geeks like me like about it. No, its fine as is, and would be ungrammatical with hyphens only used to link words to form an ad hoc adjective, as in it was a year long event. Thus, we have spelled out twentyfive rather than using the numeral. While the ap stylebook admits that there is not necessarily a standard way to use them, and that most instances come own to personal style or taste, it does. In ap style, ly words mostly adverbs and very dont get hyphens as compound modifiers.
The front of the guide says there have been more than, ooops, over 200 changes to this stylebook, yet only a few dozen are detailed on that. Jun 04, 20 serving as an authority for working journalists on grammar, capitalizations, abbreviations, spelling and so much more, the ap stylebook can be found in almost every newsroom in the country. In running text, it is best to use words instead of an en dash or hyphen in. Jul 21, 2015 the associated press stylebook says that a calendar year beginning a sentence would be written as a numeral. Fifteen and twenty year mortgages having read both points of view, i. Mar 18, 2020 ap style writes health care as two words, no hyphen. A hyphen is usually used in apa style when two or more words modify a common noun and that noun comes after the modifiers, for example, 7point scale or clientcentered counseling. The material presented here outlines the apa rules for hyphen usage and will help clear up any confusion. The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new chapter on health and science. Jan 06, 2015 in running text, it is best to use words instead of an en dash or hyphen in ap style. Whats the cleanest way to write threeandahalf years. The choice between e book and ebook could be considered a. Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of ap style used in.
Here is a sampling of frequently asked questions, with examples of ap style used in answers. The associated press was founded more than 150 years ago and now has. Three and a half years no hyphens unless its an adjectivea threeandahalf year ordeal. This months workout, hyphens, part 3b, is the fourth and last segment on hyphenating compounds, taken from our famous hyphenation table at cmos 17, paragraph 7. Im trying to write 3 and a half year old, as in, he is a 3 and a half year old dog. And, as does the language, ap style evolves over time. Also, you cant start a sentence with numerals, according to your style guide. Ask the editor frequently asked style questions ap stylebook. Sep 18, 2017 how to insert a hyphen in any program. Chicago style and ap style differ when it comes to ages. In august, the ap stylebook published a backtoschool topical guide, which included some of the following new entries and recent changes.
Aug 17, 2017 hyphens join words together and should be used to help form a single idea from two words or avoid ambiguity in your writing. While the ap stylebook admits that there is not necessarily a standard way to use them, and that most instances come own to personal style or taste, it does say the fewer hyphens the better. In your example, it appears to be an adverbial phrase, in which case, i believe hyphens are not warranted. Always spell out measurements inches, feet, yards gallons, ounces, pounds etc. Use figures exclusively, placing a hyphen between the totals of the winning and losing teams. Three and a half years no hyphens unless its an adjectivea threeandahalfyear ordeal. We agree that, for instance, firsthalf run should be hyphenated, they wrote. And the ap stylebook kept wording it has used previously that says use of the hyphen is far from standardized and, as in the past, note.
Half an hour sounds infinitely better, and the ap entry is simply illustrating that halfhour, if it comes up, gets a hyphen. Founded in 1846, ap today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. Unfortunately, my copy of the franklin covey style guide agrees with this, although its not the most recent edition. Should it began a year and a half earlier be hyphenated. After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. On any given day, more than half the worlds population sees news from ap.
The 2019 edition of the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law includes more than 200 new or revised entries, with chapters covering data journalism, business, fashion, food, religion and sports terms, as well as media law, news values, punctuation, social media, polls and surveys and a new. They are not experts and are often paid spokespeople. I bet a lot of people, however, have changed half an hour to a half hour because ap mentions the latter but not the former. En dash according to cmos, en dashes which are half the length of the em dash specify any kind of range, which is why they properly appear in indexes when a range of pages is cited e. Use a hyphen with two or more words that express a single concept. Thus, we have spelled out twentyfive rather than using the numeral 25. Ap stylebook editor paula froke will talk with users via a twitter chat wednesday at 2. Always use figures before the measurement 8 inches, 10 feet, 2 ounces, 200 pounds, etc. Mar, 2015 both the ap stylebook and the buzzfeed style guide already recommend spelling email without the hyphen. When talking about length of time in ap style, use a numeral for 10 and above.
Associated press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. When the second part of a hyphenated expression is omitted, the hyphen is retained, followed by a space. A compound adjective comprises two or more adjectives strung together to modify a noun, such as lightblue sky or hardhearted person. Answers to questions about hyphens in references to age. Sep 25, 2019 and the ap stylebook kept wording it has used previously that says use of the hyphen is far from standardized and, as in the past, note that it can be a matter of taste, judgment and. The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per ap style. Americas two most influential style and usage guides have different approaches. These adjectival forms are usually hyphenated as well. Ebooks currently make up two percent of my book sales. I bet a lot of people, however, have changed half an hour to a halfhour because ap mentions the latter but not the former. If not listed here, use the first entry in websters new world college dictionary. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format.
In preparing the 11th edition of the blue book of grammar and punctuation, we thought long and hard about hyphens vs. We updated our hyphen guidance this year to say no hyphen is needed in a compound modifier if the modifier is commonly recognized. Both the ap stylebook and the buzzfeed style guide already recommend spelling email without the. Medical advice from celebrities or professional athletes should not be reported. Ap does not even acknowledge that the en dash exists. But in dialog or quoted speech, such as five and a half.
Dec 11, 2016 no, its fine as is, and would be ungrammatical with hyphens only used to link words to form an ad hoc adjective, as in it was a year long event. Ap stylebook rules for height, feet, inches gatehouse newsroom. This is the style guide that professional media use. A handy rule, whether writing about years, months, or any other period of time, is to use hyphens unless the period of time years, months, weeks, days is written in plural form. Per ways to write 2000 year old, i suspect it should be 3andahalf year old, but that reads like deathbyhyphen, even if it is correct. Cherokee style as well as spiral staircase style are perfectly acceptable and.
And the ap stylebook kept wording it has used previously that says use of the hyphen is far from standardized and, as in the past, note that it can be a matter of taste, judgment and. When referring to a time span, i never know when to use a dash to. Ap style guidelines for hyphen usage gatehouse newsroom. Ap style cheat sheet for wjeas writeoff contests and beyond student journalists should have at least these two sources available to answer basic style questions. Ap editor david minthorn fields questions of widest interest posed by subscribers to the online ap stylebook. Using hyphens in apa style in academic writing enago academy.
Associated press style basics journalists resource. A hyphen is optional in most cases, so the fewer hyphens the better. Colon capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. If the writer of your example sentence is following ap style, then 10 years later would be correct.
Ap sparks linguistic pandemonium with hyphen guidance update. The boy is six and a half but a sixandahalf year old boy half a dozen, half past six. See also ap style times, ap style time sequences, and is noon am or pm. While the ap stylebook admits that there is not necessarily a standard way to use them, and that most instances come own to personal style or. Chicago style is to use the word for ages 100 and lower, and ap style is to always use the numeral for ages. Authors were treated badly in the recent e book dispute. Ap style reminds us that halfmast can only happen on a ship. The topic of when to write numbers out and when to use numerals concerns and confounds a lot of people. Another common but in my view unjustifiable form of punctuation in unedited manuscripts is, for example, threeandahalfyear old, where the author omits the final hyphen as though old were a standalone noun in the context of the given age. Use a hyphen for the adjectival forms before nouns. Ap stylebook rules for height, feet, inches gatehouse. I know a hyphen or two is supposed to go in there somewhere.
Just hit the hyphen key on your keyboard, its on the top row between 0 and. We agree that, for instance, firsthalf run should be hyphenated. Late last month, the ap stylebookthat fusty old guide to grammar and. The doctor was more likely to have said 40 to 50 year old which, if so, should have been written 4050 year old.
However, chicago recommends rewording the sentence. If a word has the same spelling but different meanings. Use a hyphen only when omitting it would cause confusion. Serving as an authority for working journalists on grammar, capitalizations, abbreviations, spelling and so much more, the ap stylebook can be found in almost every newsroom in the country. Jul 06, 2017 when searching for height in the ap stylebook, it refers readers to the dimensions entry.
Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. In running text, it is best to use words instead of an en dash or hyphen in ap style. Our site uses a modified version of ap style, which is why the example reads 8yearold instead of eightyearold. In a march stylebook update, froke said, the ap noted the difference between. With covid19 absolutely dominating the news cycle and probably factoring into your writing in one way or another, its important to know the style guide rules around it. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. When multiple modifiers have a common base, the base can be omitted in all except the last modifier, but the hyphens should be retained. If ap video is available with a story, put ap video at the end of the eds.
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