Writing style and usage guidelines because of the many publications, brochures, advertisements, news releases, web pages, and direct mail pieces produced by ball state university, the following writing style and usage guidelines have been developed to promote consistency throughout communication and marketing presentation. Abc store acceptable in all references to one of north carolinas staterun liquor stores academic courses capitalize formal class designations. If you cant paraphrase what the source is saying and still get the message across without them, consider finding a new source. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals. The gold standard of writing resources, originally published in 1918, the elements of style is indispensable to writers, readers, teachers, and anyone who wishes to express herself clearly with the written word. Jul, 2019 one of the first things a student in a beginning journalism course learns about is associated press style or ap style for short. If you write about computer technology, this guide is for you. Although it is sold as a guide for reporters, it has become the leading reference for most forms of publicfacing corporate. A photo caption should provide the reader basic information needed to understand a photograph and its relevance to the news. The associated press, a guide for foreign correspondents. Rodgers has 20plus years of experience in the newspaper business as a reporter, editorial writer, copy editor, copy desk chief, slot editor, assigning editor and page designer at newspapers in alaska, washington, oregon, california, arizona, japan and south korea.
All other months should always be completely spelled out. Leave the cutline changes to the section and copy editors. Photo captions are often the first elements of a publication to be read. As a result, writing with style doesnt read like a text book. Also, all months should be spelled out when they stand alone or are alone with a year. Ap stylebook, also known by its full name the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, is an english grammar style and usage guide created by american journalists working for or connected with the associated press to standardize mass communication. If you want to follow the writing style used by magazines, newspapers, editors and journalists, then you need to study up on associated press style, or ap style. The associated press stylebook remains the primary style reference for caption writers. The ap stylebook is a writing style guide used when writing for news media outlets. The ap stylebook is available as a book, website or smartphone app. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free.
The associated press style is the goto style for journalism and news writing. So unless the photo is going out as a standalone, you dont have to explain too. Writing photo captions and cutlines university of kansas. Why the first sentence of an ap style caption typically includes the first four ws. There is indeed a science and art behind writing a press release. She smiled, youll want to read this gatehouse newsroom post about how to properly use quotation marks in ap style stories then. However, ap style covers a large amount of less known rules to follow. The office of communications uses the below writing style guide along with the associated press ap stylebook and websters dictionary as the standard for writing web content, employee communications, news releases, broadcast information, articles and other materials. The associated press stylebook and briefing on media law official style guide of the associated press, a notforprofit news agency thats been around since 1846. The first sentence of the caption should follow this structure. Your style of writing can make or break your career if news release are deleted in journalists email inboxes.
Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Have you ever wondered or worried about which was correct. If you dont have all the information you need, get on the phone and get the information. Welcome to the microsoft writing style guide, your guide to writing style and terminology for all communicationwhether an app, a website, or a white paper. Most writing style guides contain information specifically about how to cite sources and format research correctly to reduce accusations of plagiarism. According to the ap style book, what are the guidelines for obscenities, profanities and vulgarities. Stylebook of the unc hussman school of journalism and.
View quick reference for ap style the first sentence of nearly all ap captions follows a simple formula. Details from associated press please reference your latest stylebook for details listed below. Editorial style for the ball state website uses elements of both the chicago manual of style and ap stylebook, and either guide is a good resource. Brand writing styles and guidelines ball state university. Ap style, otherwise known as associated press style, is typically used for news writing or journalismbased writing, and it may sometimes be used for magazines. As long as the original cutline is 100 percent accurate, the pj has a job the next day. Writing photo captions is an essential part of the news photographers job. Formal titles in ap style should be capitalized when they immediately precede one or more names. One of the first things a student in a beginning journalism course learns about is associated press style or ap style for short. Professional journalists and business communicators in the united states commonly write in associated press ap style. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style. Hilite pinnacle newspaper photojournalism yearbook 2015. A persuasive style of writing has some similarities to the summary style, but overall a book written this way argues either for or against a particular set of ideas and trends. When a month is used with a specific date, abbreviate only jan.
The ap stylebook and libel manual was written specifically for newspaper journalists. The second and perhaps third sentence should provide contextual information to help readers understand what they are looking at. For news releases, please refer to the associated press ap stylebook. Ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. How to write an associated press style press release. The lingofy proofing button appears in your browsers tool bar so you can check copy for local or ap style issues while using online writing platforms such as wordpress, blogger or constantcontact. Sep 19, 2012 ap style recommends spelling out state names in the body of stories effective may 1, 2014 and using abbreviations in datelines. Both are necessary for any writer to have and to know, in depth. Luckily, there are other organizations that have tackled the complexity of writing about mental health. Firefighters brought the stubborn blaze under control early this morning.
Hilite pinnacle newspaper photojournalism yearbook 20152016. The lingofy proofing button appears in your browsers tool bar so you can check copy for local or ap style issues while using online writing platforms such as word. Students in mejo 557, advanced editing, are writing guest posts for this site this semester. In the past we discussed how to correctly use ap style title case, and now were here to tackle the often confused topic of ap style numbers. Perhaps the most practical method of looking at book manuscripts is with a. The lieutenant governor, gavin newsom, was serving in the. Mar 19, 2019 sensible is probably the highest praise that can be given to a style guide. The major differences between writing style guides. Datelines on stories should contain a city name, entirely in capital letters, followed in most cases by the name of the state, county, or territory where the city is located.
Popular writing style books meet your next favorite book. Textbook writing 101 the chronicle of higher education. There are quite a few rules in the ap stylebook for state names and ap style state abbreviations. Most writing style guides contain information specifically about how to cite sources and format research correctly to. Meredith radford is a junior in the unc hussman school of journalism and media, with a double major in journalism and political science. In this post, we will summarize all of the ap stylebook state abbreviations rules. With a focus on a converged style of media writing, and converting that style into real work, this. Do not use story slugs or writers name in the overline. This semester, he is enrolled in survey of american authors. There are many ways at looking at book writing styles.
The associated press recommends that captions be no more than two sentences. Ap style tips on photo captions writing visual storytelling. Jun 17, 2010 the first sentence of the caption should follow this structure. Writing for the mass media offers clear writing, simple organization, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students information about media writing and opportunities to develop their skills as professional writers. The major differences between writing style guides working. National geographic style manual online since 1995 and frequently updated by a team of editors, this is an alphabetically arranged guide to preferred national geographic society style and usage. The cutlines for wild art should provide the same basic information that a story does. But in general mention of a course of study, do not capitalize unless it is a proper noun. Tips to writing a perfect photo cutline the balance small.
Lucass style joseph epstein, new criterion, june 2011 lost for almost forty years, style has acquired the status of a legend. Ap style is simply a standardized way of writing everything from dates to street addresses to job titles. When a title stands alone or is offset from a name by commas, it should be lowercase. If you write for other venues, such as the book publishing industry, you will need the chicago style manual, as that is the other style manual used by writers. View quick reference for ap style the first sentence of. Below are some rules to keep in mind when writing and editing captions.
With a focus on a converged style of media writing, and converting that style into real work, this ninth edition. The associated press, the ap copy book, and ap writing handbook. Such things as the five ws who, what, when, where and why are good to remember when writing such cutlines. When writing cutlines for portraits, dont get tricky and get in trouble. Some observers might view style as dependent on country of origin, while others could link the writing to a literary giant such as hemingway or twain. For advances the overline is the word advance and the release date. Nov 06, 2015 if you want to follow the writing style used by magazines, newspapers, editors and journalists, then you need to study up on associated press style, or ap style. Choose the correct ap style sentences which may or may not agree with broadcast style. Laurel dalrymple left and susan vavrick watch the newscast.
If they wish to change something, it becomes their problem. Writing photo captions international journalists network. In the past we discussed how to correctly use ap style title case, and now were here to tackle the often confused topic of. The writing style guide is designed to save you time. Sep 25, 20 the elements of style, by william strunk, jr. News writers handbook update journalism education association. The best book on the art of writing that i know is f. Loved by some of the greatest modern authors and acclaimed by critics, this guide to recognising and writing stylish prose was written by a cambridge don and. Additional sentences usually one sentence can explain the why, helping the reader understand the photo in its proper context by describing why the action, situation or content of. You can quickly find answers to these questionsand most of your stylerelated questionsin this writing style guide. Use parentheses, not commas, to identify whos who in the photo a departure from aps style for caption directionals.
The ap stylebook has a few simple rules for using quotation marks in ap style stories. Writing style and usage guidelines ball state university. Photographer unknown, circa 1850 photo of nature or natural phenomenon. The dod captioning style guide is designed to supplement the associated press stylebook reference b and pertains speci. 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. In ap style you should capitalize the names of months in all of their uses. Usage guidelines have changed from previous editions of the style and usage guide. Top 8 free online style guides in english thoughtco. Ap style state abbreviations differ from their corresponding united states postal service abbreviations, provided in parentheses. My college news room had a saying based off the phrase, you are what you eat. Drum major elizabeth jones leads the 120th annual veterans day parade down main street in cooper, wyoming. Proofpoint style diverges from ap and merriamwebster proofpoint style always takes priority. When writing one cutline for multiple photos, a directional note inside parentheses.
Describe in the present tense who is pictured and what is going on within the photo. If a states name is standing alone or in conjunction with a city or town in your text, spell out the entire states name. What is the best way to learn ap style writing for beginners. Jul 10, 2004 when writing cutlines for portraits, dont get tricky and get in trouble. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. As with any content npr produces, we follow a style guide. For libraries associated with specific departments and programs, follow the style used in campus listings. If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and. The easiest and most common mistake when creating a cutline is to let it run on far too long.
A central idea should govern every book, magazine article, advertisement, and news story. Campus health services formerly the student health service. The first publicly available edition of ap stylebook was published in 1953 under the title the associated press style book. Schnelbach and christopher scott wyatt, the tameri stylebook is based on the associated press stylebook, which is. Today, lots of people are called upon to write about technology. Mar 16, 2018 writing captions in most photo captions, the first sentence identifies the people and place in the photograph, and the date and location where it was taken. Stovall, writing for the mass media, 9th edition pearson. Without question, every writers personal library should include a copy. We need a simple, straightforward style guide that everyone. That was more than 30 years ago and i still pull trimble off the shelf when i need to teach certain concepts or just check my own writing. The writer takes a point of view and then expounds on the issues through her argument. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free download. In most cases, the photo accompanies an article or other text, and that text will tell the full story.
Michael smith 2017 dog steals flounder from liverpool openair market. It should be written in a consistent, concise format that allows news. Today it gratifies me when students say my book talks to them and they really like that its not too heavy to carry. As you become more experienced, you may even find other hidden goodies, like course listings or ihsaa school mascots or other fun resources. A clear and effective introduction to media writing writing for the mass media offers clear writing, simple organization, abundant exercises, and precise examples that give students information about media writing and opportunities to develop their skills as professional writers. Ap style is the standard for writing news release and other content for media in the united states. The ap style guide needs detailed recommendations on discussing mental illness in order for that to happen. Stylebook of the unc hussman school of journalism and media. Some cities are so widely known that they are capable of standing alone in a dateline, without the name of a state for additional reference. Choose the correct ap style sentences which may or may. These are nprs photo caption guidelines npr training. Apr 14, 2020 mental health of any kind is something that should be written about with care, accuracy and consistency. Its just a this book was the main text for my first composition class as an english major at byu.
Most people who are familiar with ap style know the common rules such as which months are abbreviated, how datelines are used and when to spell out numbers. Its often used by news organizations, magazines, and web publications, but brands often use it to form the basis of their own style guides, too. Ap style was developed and is maintained by the associated press, the worlds oldest news service. Jan 12, 2016 as with any content npr produces, we follow a style guide. Read from top news sources after perusing the ap style guide.
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