Notice what doesnt appear on that list of apostrophe uses. This is covered more in the lesson apostrophe errors with plurals. It attempts to provide guidance, rather than blackandwhite rules. Im going to focus on the difference between how the associated press stylebook and the chicago manual of style handle possessives for words ending in s or.
Founded in 1846, ap today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. Most singular nouns are made possessive with an apostrophe s this is actually the base of the apostrophe rule and why most lessons start there. Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. Roy peter clark settles the possessive apostrophe debate. Apostrophe rules for possessives are confusing because common practices vary. What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules. Need to customize associated press style for your company. May 07, 2009 the associated press was founded more than 150 years ago and now has thousands of employees working in more than a hundred countries for a readership that numbers in the millions. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Sometimes, its called the grocers apostrophe because of how frequently it is spotted in grocery store advertisements 3 oranges for a dollar. Using an unnecessary apostrophe to form the plural of a noun is a very common mistake. Please check the style guide of whatever format youre using to make sure youre in line with their recommendations. I have two bachelors degrees and one masters degree. Ebooks currently make up two percent of my book sales.
In ap style, spell out whole numbers up to and including nine. We took at look at the ap stylebooks section on possessions possessives and exorcised some demons coming up with these guidelines. We took at look at the ap stylebook s section on possessions possessives and exorcised some demons coming up with these guidelines. The general rule is that the possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding an apostrophe and s, whether the singular noun ends in s or not. Mar, 2015 its conceivable that over time, e book may lose its hyphen. It had to be easy for reporters and editors to use and also produce. Ap style also aims to avoid stereotypes and unintentionally offensive language. To form the possessive of a noun that ends in s, ap style has separate rules for proper names and generic nouns. Except for writers who abide by associated press guidelines, apostrophe rules for possessive proper nouns are virtually identical to those for possessive common nouns. If possession is ninetenths of the law, just imagine how important correctly signifying it in your writing is. You must register and have a current subscription to access ap stylebook online. Also, i follow the ap style book, which by the way does publish regularly new editions to address changing times and its impact on the usage of the. Associated press style basics journalists resource. So our first tough issuehow to make words that end with s possessivedoesnt actually have an answer.
In chicago style, use an apostrophes if singular and just an apostrophe if plural. Italicized words are still iffy for wire transmission ap stories, so book titles are enclosed in quote marks. Mary norriss thoughts on pesky possessives the new yorker. Therefore, in the example above, the correct usage would be adamss 20 work. The ap stylebook, widely used in journalism and corporate writing, has favored the bare apostrophe. Jan 30, 2008 also, i follow the ap style book, which by the way does publish regularly new editions to address changing times and its impact on the usage of the english language. If someone is quoted as saying, im too old to go back to school, the age is relevant. The best ap style cheat sheet every writer needs free download. The grammatical use of punctuation is fairly settled.
To subscribe to the associated press stylebook online, or to find out about purchasing hard copies of the book, start here. Nonacademic styles, such as ap, suggest simply adding an apostrophe to the end of a word that ends in s. Oct 28, 2019 so it puzzles me that the ap stylebook, the most influential guide for journalists, argues that a simple apostrophe suffices after proper nouns ending in s. Ap style states that you should use an apostrophe in bachelors degree and masters degree. A good dictionary may also be able to offer you some guidance. Its conceivable that over time, ebook may lose its hyphen. If the common noun is plural, both styles use just an apostrophe. The apostrophe is one of the more beguiling punctuation marks, so much so that the british have a term one appropriate for this article for such a mark erroneously inserted. Jun 19, 2019 ap style had a few helpful reminders on how years should be written. In fact, grammar and style guides reflect some differences of opinion on the question of possessive forms. Its mobile optimized so you can use it on your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Oct 03, 2019 most clients in the b2b world will base their style on either ap or chicago style. Apostrophes to show the plural of abbreviations and awkward. When it comes to punctuation, the ap stylebook gets this wrong.
No exception is made depending on whether singular nouns preceding and following the apostrophe end and start with s, respectively. For questions not covered by this book, use the plural that websters new world college dictionary lists as most. For proper names like james, ap says, add an apostrophe only. Ap style is kansas chicago manual of style apostrophe rules. 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. No matter which style guide you use, add only the apostrophe to plural proper nouns that end in s. There are some instances when you use an apostrophe for plurals, even in the ap style as and bs, for example. We know journalists are busy, and it can be difficult to keep up with recent ap stylebook changes. As the ap style book writes, names not commonly before the public should not be reduced to acronyms solely to save a few words.
Both the ap stylebook and the buzzfeed style guide already recommend spelling email without the hyphen. The double quote mark comes next, because double quotation marks enclose single quotation marks. In fact, the associated press stylebook ap style doesnt allow decades to be written as words. Using apostrophes to show the plurals of abbreviations and awkward plurals the first thing to make clear before we start this lesson is that apostrophes are not normally used for forming plurals. Your style of writing can make or break your career if news release are deleted in journalists email inboxes. For example, the high school reunion will take place on may 14, 2024, in san diego. When referencing a month, day, and year, the year should be set off with commas. Aug 01, 2018 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. Simple guidelines on apostrophes in possessives appear below, though if your company or department has its own established preferences for possessive formation. Ap style is the standard for writing news release and other content for media in the united states. If the noun is plural and ends in s, add just an apostrophe the beatles greatest hits. A common mistake people make is to include apostrophes when pluralizing a number or an abbreviation. Add apostrophe s if singular, and add an apostrophe if plural. Jun 15, 2009 as the ap style book writes, names not commonly before the public should not be reduced to acronyms solely to save a few words.
Journalism 1 ap style book learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Per apa style, the answer is that the possessive of a singular name is formed by adding an apostrophe and an s, even when the name ends in s see p. Learn the major differences between chicago and ap style guides to assist. Yeah, dlipkin, i wouldnt mind if we purged the expression from formal writing. For proper nouns, use an apostrophe only if following ap style. The ap stylebook says to make reference of age when it is deemed relevant to the situation.
She smiled, youll want to read this gatehouse newsroom post about how to properly use quotation marks in ap style stories then. The ap style as its known in the trade is quite different from the new york times style or chicago manual of style. Associated press style, used by most newspapers, is slightly different. Apostrophes are for contractions and for showing possession and thats it. Apostrophes and proper nouns grammar and punctuation. However, all plural nouns are treated the same as in ap style. In ap style, you use a lone apostrophe to make singular nouns and names that end with s possessive, and in chicago style, most of the time you add an apostrophe and an s, with a few rare exceptions. There is a reason this is called a punctuation guide. Book style is simultaneously more complex and more consistent. We took at look at the ap stylebooks section on possessions. Its updated throughout the year and valuable onlineonly resources, including ask the editor, topical guides and pronunciation guide, expand on the print books guidance. The ap stylebook is available as a book, website or smartphone app. The associated press stylebook provides an az guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals and many other questions of language usage.
Generally, you should use ages in for profiles, obituaries, significant career milestones, and achievements unusual for the age. The associated press style is the goto style for journalism and news writing. Associated press style consulting apostrophe catastrophe llc. Justice thomas, whose name ends with an s, seems to favor ap style, which recommends leaving off the extra s. There is an apostrophe when you say it like, bachelors, masters, but not. Authors were treated badly in the recent ebook dispute. Ap stylebook online is a searchable, customizable resource for writers and editors. Authors were treated badly in the recent e book dispute. Aug 12, 2019 justice thomas, whose name ends with an s, seems to favor ap style, which recommends leaving off the extra s. So it puzzles me that the ap stylebook, the most influential guide for journalists, argues that a simple apostrophe suffices after proper nouns ending in s.
Apostrophes are generally used in contractions and to indicate the possessive case, but they are not used to form plurals of numbers and abbreviations in apa style. Sep 04, 2015 to form the possessive of a noun that ends in s, ap style has separate rules for proper names and generic nouns. Add apostrophe s unless the next word begins with s. Tarp stands for troubled asset relief program, so writing the tarp program was controversial is redundant. If youre new to news writing or switching from one to another, youll want to keep this ap cheat sheet handy and. Some usage books and style guides will tell you to use an apostrophe s for all singular nouns, whether they end in s or not. Apostrophe in literature is an arrangement of words addressing a nonexistent person or an abstract idea in such a way as if it were present and capable of understanding feelings. Capitalize chapter when used with a numeral in reference to a section of a book or legal code. Apostrophe catastrophe llc conducts associated press style consulting or trains communicators on how to apply style rules meant for newspaper reporters to hightech companies both for technical and corporate content. Separate entries in this book give plurals for troublesome words and guidance on whether certain words should be used with singular or plural verbs and pronouns. No apostrophes, an exception to websters new world college dictionary guideline under apostrophe. In the united states, the leading style guides are the chicago manual of style and the associated press.
For instance, writing the 1960s when referring to that entire decade is. 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. As mentioned above, this is the comma that appears before a conjunction such as and or or in a series. The associated press was founded more than 150 years ago and now has thousands of employees working in more than a hundred countries for a readership that numbers in the millions. Ap style had a few helpful reminders on how years should be written. For my money, ill keep the s in charless book, both for consistency and because i say it. Chicago manual prefers the s, but indicates that it is acceptable especially in journalism to omit it.
Most clients in the b2b world will base their style on either ap or chicago style. The ap stylebook has a few simple rules for using quotation marks in ap style stories. Justice souter seems to prefer the recommendations of the chicago manual of style, which says to add the apostrophes to almost all singular nouns and names that end with s. 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. Achilles heel, agnes book, ceres rites, descartes theories, dickens novels, euripides dramas, hercules labors, jesus life, jules seat, kansas schools, moses law, socrates life, tennessee williams plays, xerxes armies. Ap style is designed to address the challenges of the organizations large size and readership. Sep 15, 2016 if possession is ninetenths of the law, just imagine how important correctly signifying it in your writing is. Style rules examples academic degrees use an apostrophe and spell out academic degrees. Ap reporters write fast, but their stylebook moves slow. Mistaking a stylebook for a rule book baltimore sun. English literature is replete with instances of apostrophe. Oct 26, 2017 the double quote mark comes next, because double quotation marks enclose single quotation marks. Using an apostrophe to form a plural is usually a grammatical howler. The basics ap style study guide flashcards quizlet.
So i will flatter myself into thinking that something i wrote in 2010 foreshadowed this. Guard against following an acronym with a word that appears in the acronym itself. Years dont, though the 1980s or, simply, the 80s were crazy. With very few exceptions, apostrophes do not make nouns plural. Register to view your products, order status, shipment trackings and manage your account settings. Aug 30, 2007 there are some instances when you use an apostrophe for plurals, even in the ap style as and bs, for example. For cases like these, its best to check a comprehensive style guide, such as the chicago manual or the ap stylebook its dos and donts, according to the ap. For slide presentations of ap style basics, go here. I dont know if this will help, but for chapter style, ap says.