AP Stylebook
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The AP Stylebook is widely used as a writing and editing reference in newsrooms, classrooms and corporate offices worldwide. We offer a full suite of products to help you stay in style, whether on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet.
We know plenty of people are still working this week. The AP newsroom doesn't shut down, either.
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December 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
We know plenty of people are still working this week. The AP newsroom doesn't shut down, either.
Boxing Day is the post-Christmas holiday on Dec. 26 in British Commonwealth countries.
The term came from the practice of giving gift boxes to employees and others.
The term came from the practice of giving gift boxes to employees and others.
December 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Boxing Day is the post-Christmas holiday on Dec. 26 in British Commonwealth countries.
The term came from the practice of giving gift boxes to employees and others.
The term came from the practice of giving gift boxes to employees and others.
AP style generally puts the titles of books, movies, plays, poems, albums, songs, operas, radio and television programs, lectures, speeches, and works of art in quotation marks.
Exceptions are the Bible, the Quran and other holy books, and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material.
Exceptions are the Bible, the Quran and other holy books, and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material.
December 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
AP style generally puts the titles of books, movies, plays, poems, albums, songs, operas, radio and television programs, lectures, speeches, and works of art in quotation marks.
Exceptions are the Bible, the Quran and other holy books, and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material.
Exceptions are the Bible, the Quran and other holy books, and books that are primarily catalogs of reference material.
Christmas has a language all its own. It's a time of year when carols are full of old words like hark, yon, deck and don.
December 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Christmas has a language all its own. It's a time of year when carols are full of old words like hark, yon, deck and don.
When you're writing your out-of-office message, AP Stylebook Online's Ask the Editor says to hyphenate out-of-office as a compound modifier.
December 23, 2025 at 9:42 PM
When you're writing your out-of-office message, AP Stylebook Online's Ask the Editor says to hyphenate out-of-office as a compound modifier.
Use figures with million, billion or trillion in all except casual uses, such as I'd like to win a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion. The government ran a deficit of more than $1 trillion.
Powerball jackpot climbs to $1.6 billion, among largest lottery prizes ever in U.S.
The Powerball jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.6 billion, making it one of the largest lottery prizes in U.S. history.
apnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Use figures with million, billion or trillion in all except casual uses, such as I'd like to win a billion dollars. But: The nation has 1 million citizens. I need $7 billion. The government ran a deficit of more than $1 trillion.
Are you getting ready for your New Year's resolution to build your professional skills and knowledge?
Check out our lineup of AP Learning courses for 2026. Learn from AP's experts and our special guests.
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Check out our lineup of AP Learning courses for 2026. Learn from AP's experts and our special guests.
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December 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Are you getting ready for your New Year's resolution to build your professional skills and knowledge?
Check out our lineup of AP Learning courses for 2026. Learn from AP's experts and our special guests.
www.ap.org/solutions/le...
Check out our lineup of AP Learning courses for 2026. Learn from AP's experts and our special guests.
www.ap.org/solutions/le...
Yule and Yuletide are Old English names for the Christmas season.
AP style uppercases them, which is an exception to Merriam-Webster's guidance.
AP style uppercases them, which is an exception to Merriam-Webster's guidance.
December 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Yule and Yuletide are Old English names for the Christmas season.
AP style uppercases them, which is an exception to Merriam-Webster's guidance.
AP style uppercases them, which is an exception to Merriam-Webster's guidance.
Avoid the journalese terms slay, slaying and slain. Use kill, killing or killed instead.
See the Stylebook's homicide, murder, manslaughter entry for more guidance.
See the Stylebook's homicide, murder, manslaughter entry for more guidance.
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Avoid the journalese terms slay, slaying and slain. Use kill, killing or killed instead.
See the Stylebook's homicide, murder, manslaughter entry for more guidance.
See the Stylebook's homicide, murder, manslaughter entry for more guidance.
FIFA is acceptable on first reference for Federation Internationale de Football Association. Refer to it as the international soccer governing body rather than spelling out the French acronym.
apnews.com/hub/fifa-wor...
apnews.com/hub/fifa-wor...
December 17, 2025 at 2:09 PM
FIFA is acceptable on first reference for Federation Internationale de Football Association. Refer to it as the international soccer governing body rather than spelling out the French acronym.
apnews.com/hub/fifa-wor...
apnews.com/hub/fifa-wor...
AP style hyphenates year-end as a noun, such as referring to the fiscal year-end, and as an adjective, as in a year-end financial analysis.
December 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
AP style hyphenates year-end as a noun, such as referring to the fiscal year-end, and as an adjective, as in a year-end financial analysis.
The term Affordable Care Act is acceptable on first reference for the health care overhaul that former U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010. On second reference, ACA and Obamacare are acceptable, but some readers may not be familiar with the terms.
Affordable Care Act enrollment is slightly ahead of last year so far, despite expiring subsidies
Initial new federal data shows the number of Americans signing up for Affordable Care Act health insurance for 2026 is moderately higher than it was at a similar time last year.
apnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The term Affordable Care Act is acceptable on first reference for the health care overhaul that former U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010. On second reference, ACA and Obamacare are acceptable, but some readers may not be familiar with the terms.
Do you need a gift for the writer or editor in your life? Buy a subscription to Stylebook Online. It's always the right size and never goes out of style.
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You can add the recipient's name on our checkout if you'd like your thoughtful gift to go straight to them.
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December 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Do you need a gift for the writer or editor in your life? Buy a subscription to Stylebook Online. It's always the right size and never goes out of style.
You can add the recipient's name on our checkout if you'd like your thoughtful gift to go straight to them.
store.stylebooks.com/apstylebooko...
You can add the recipient's name on our checkout if you'd like your thoughtful gift to go straight to them.
store.stylebooks.com/apstylebooko...
AP style uses the spelling Hanukkah for the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day commemoration of rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians.
Archaeologists uncover intact section of ancient Jerusalem wall from Hanukkah era
Archaeologists have uncovered the longest remains of an ancient wall that once encircled Jerusalem during the time of Hanukkah. The excavation was completed last week.
apnews.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
AP style uses the spelling Hanukkah for the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day commemoration of rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians.
If you're trying to train your favorite AI tool to proof for AP style, here's an easier option: Subscribe to AP StyleGuard Pro.
Our technology partners at Tansa have decades of experience creating proofing tools, and they get updates every time we add or change guidance.
Our technology partners at Tansa have decades of experience creating proofing tools, and they get updates every time we add or change guidance.
AP StyleGuard Pro style-checking tools
Whether you are new to AP style or you want help keeping up with changing guidance, let our style-checking tools help you write and edit. Get style-checking help for Microsoft Word, Outlook and…
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December 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
If you're trying to train your favorite AI tool to proof for AP style, here's an easier option: Subscribe to AP StyleGuard Pro.
Our technology partners at Tansa have decades of experience creating proofing tools, and they get updates every time we add or change guidance.
Our technology partners at Tansa have decades of experience creating proofing tools, and they get updates every time we add or change guidance.
If you're writing about Mother Nature, Old Man Winter or Father Time this time of year, capitalize these personifications.
What others do you capitalize?
What others do you capitalize?
December 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
If you're writing about Mother Nature, Old Man Winter or Father Time this time of year, capitalize these personifications.
What others do you capitalize?
What others do you capitalize?
Use Federal Reserve on first reference and the Fed on second reference for the central bank of the United States.
December 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Use Federal Reserve on first reference and the Fed on second reference for the central bank of the United States.
The Stylebook's addiction entry says, in part:
Avoid words like abuse or problem in favor of the word use with an appropriate modifier such as risky, unhealthy, excessive or heavy. Misuse is also acceptable. Don’t assume all people who engage in risky use of drugs or alcohol have an addiction.
Avoid words like abuse or problem in favor of the word use with an appropriate modifier such as risky, unhealthy, excessive or heavy. Misuse is also acceptable. Don’t assume all people who engage in risky use of drugs or alcohol have an addiction.
More people are addicted to marijuana, but fewer of them are seeking help, experts say
Cannabis use among young adults has reached historic levels, with nearly 18 million Americans using marijuana daily in 2022.
apnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The Stylebook's addiction entry says, in part:
Avoid words like abuse or problem in favor of the word use with an appropriate modifier such as risky, unhealthy, excessive or heavy. Misuse is also acceptable. Don’t assume all people who engage in risky use of drugs or alcohol have an addiction.
Avoid words like abuse or problem in favor of the word use with an appropriate modifier such as risky, unhealthy, excessive or heavy. Misuse is also acceptable. Don’t assume all people who engage in risky use of drugs or alcohol have an addiction.
We've just opened up registration for our 2026 AP Stylebook Workshops.
If you have 2025 training budget left, you can sign up now for early access to all the course resources. Then mark your calendar for the live webinars in the new year.
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If you have 2025 training budget left, you can sign up now for early access to all the course resources. Then mark your calendar for the live webinars in the new year.
store.stylebooks.com/ap-stylebook...
AP Stylebook Workshops
Join editors from The Associated Press for one or both engaging AP Stylebook Workshops in 2026, and you'll build your knowledge of AP style and your confidence in how to apply it to your work. In…
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December 3, 2025 at 5:12 PM
We've just opened up registration for our 2026 AP Stylebook Workshops.
If you have 2025 training budget left, you can sign up now for early access to all the course resources. Then mark your calendar for the live webinars in the new year.
store.stylebooks.com/ap-stylebook...
If you have 2025 training budget left, you can sign up now for early access to all the course resources. Then mark your calendar for the live webinars in the new year.
store.stylebooks.com/ap-stylebook...
Use the playoff or the national championship as applicable on second reference for the College Football Playoff.
December 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Use the playoff or the national championship as applicable on second reference for the College Football Playoff.
Sign up now for our new Digital Strategy and Content Creation workshop to learn how to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Live webinars start on Jan. 28 but you can access the online classroom immediately and get started talking with your peers.
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Live webinars start on Jan. 28 but you can access the online classroom immediately and get started talking with your peers.
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In this course, we'll cover the current state of the digital landscape, including the impact of AI, the importance of investing in loyal audiences and how to nurture the communities you create.
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December 2, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Sign up now for our new Digital Strategy and Content Creation workshop to learn how to navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Live webinars start on Jan. 28 but you can access the online classroom immediately and get started talking with your peers.
store.stylebooks.com/digital-stra...
Live webinars start on Jan. 28 but you can access the online classroom immediately and get started talking with your peers.
store.stylebooks.com/digital-stra...
As a reminder, AP style changed in 2019 to use the percent sign instead of spelling out the word percent.
We know that 100% of AP style fans don't agree with this change but it bubbled up as a user request and recognizes common usage.
We know that 100% of AP style fans don't agree with this change but it bubbled up as a user request and recognizes common usage.
US retail sales rose slightly in September, adding to months of big gains
Sales at U.S. retailers and restaurants rose slightly in September as resilient consumers moderated their spending after splurging over the summer.
apnews.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:40 PM
As a reminder, AP style changed in 2019 to use the percent sign instead of spelling out the word percent.
We know that 100% of AP style fans don't agree with this change but it bubbled up as a user request and recognizes common usage.
We know that 100% of AP style fans don't agree with this change but it bubbled up as a user request and recognizes common usage.
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, when U.S. retail stores traditionally launch the start of Christmas shopping.
November 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, when U.S. retail stores traditionally launch the start of Christmas shopping.
Foul means offensive, out of line. A fowl is a bird, especially the larger domestic birds used as food: chickens, ducks, turkeys.
November 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Foul means offensive, out of line. A fowl is a bird, especially the larger domestic birds used as food: chickens, ducks, turkeys.
Several years ago, the Stylebook advised that you heat your oven, because "preheat" is redundant.
That might be true linguistically, but we heard you. Common usage in cookbooks calls for preheating.
That might be true linguistically, but we heard you. Common usage in cookbooks calls for preheating.
November 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Several years ago, the Stylebook advised that you heat your oven, because "preheat" is redundant.
That might be true linguistically, but we heard you. Common usage in cookbooks calls for preheating.
That might be true linguistically, but we heard you. Common usage in cookbooks calls for preheating.