WE - AP vs MLA Style Lesson

AP (Associated Press) style is most commonly used to cite sources within the social sciences. It is this style that is used in news writing. AP style is considered essential to print journalism. Source Links to an external site.

Now, let's look at some of the more frequent AP style rules.

When writing a date, abbreviate month with more than five letters only if there is a specific date of the month with it.

Example: Dec. 3 is my sister's birthday./December 2008 was a busy month.

The rule says, abbreviate the words avenue, boulevard, and street, as well as compass directions, if there is a specific numerical address with them.

Example: 320 Cypress Ave./3400 W. Timberline Blvd./503 Elm St.

In most cases, use periods with abbreviations of two or fewer letters.  

Example: 6 a.m./101 N. Elm St.

In most cases, do not use periods with abbreviations of three or more letters-FFA.   Spell out the full organization on the first reference then abbreviate it on the following references. Do not put the abbreviations in parentheses after the first reference.

Unless the number follows a specific rule, spell out one through nine. Use numerals for 10 and over. Use numerals for ages, percentages, money, weights, and rankings.

Example: There were seven children in the class.

Example: 8 years old/15 percent/$15,098/No. 1, No. 2/6 pounds

Always use a person's first and last name the first time they are mentioned in a story. Abbreviate and capitalize titles such as Gov., Rep. and Sen. Before a name on the first reference.

Example: Gov. Mary Falli/Rep. Bobby Smith

Write out and lowercase formal titles, which are abbreviated before a name if they follow a name.

Example:   Mary Fallin, governor of Oklahoma

Don't abbreviate President or Superintendent, but lowercase them when they come after a name set off by commas.

First, abbreviate states, using the AP abbreviation, containing more than five letters if there is a specific city with it-Oklahoma State University is in Stillwater, Okla.

Never abbreviate states with five or fewer letters or the two states not connected to the U.S. 

Example: Idaho, Iowa, Main, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Alaska and Hawaii

The exact time when an event has occurred or will occur is unnecessary for most stories. Use figures, but spell out noon and midnight. Use a colon to separate hours from minutes, but do not use :00.

Example: 6 p.m./8:30 a.m

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