Elizabeth Birge

Professor @wpunj_edu | former staff @DailyKos, @StarLedger, @ChicagoTribune | Freelance Writer | Retweets are not endorsements | Opinions are my own

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

We have created a separate entry for "Native Americans, Indigenous people/peoples."
Previously, the entry was included as part of the book’s race-related coverage entry.
Why did we move it?
Racial issues are vital to consider when writing about these identities. But identity as Native American or Indigenous peoples goes beyond race, reaching into topics of sovereignty and self-determination of tribal nations and citizens. This move reflects that broader classification.
We announced this change at ACES: The Society for Editing on Friday. This guidance is live on AP Stylebook Online now.

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

We updated our style for telephone numbers in 2024 to drop parentheses.
We now recommend the form: 212-621-1500.
For international numbers use 011 (from the United States), the country code, the city code and the telephone number: 011-44-20-7535-1515.
Use hyphens, not periods. No parentheses.
The form for toll-free numbers: 800-111-1000.
If extension numbers are needed, use a comma to separate the main number from the extension: 212-621-1500, Ext. 2.

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March Madness is capitalized in all references to the yearly college basketball championships for men and women.
Both terms are capitalized in NCAA Tournament, which is acceptable in all references to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's championships.
These capitalized popular names are acceptable: Sweet 16 for regional playoffs, Elite Eight for regional finals and Final Four for national semifinals.

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An embassy is the official office of an ambassador in a foreign country and the office that handles the political relations of one nation with another.
A consulate, the office of a consul in a foreign city, handles the commercial affairs and personal needs of citizens of the appointing country.
Capitalize with the name of a nation; lowercase without it: the U.S. Embassy, the embassy.

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Capitalize House of Representatives when referring to a specific governmental body, such as the U.S. House of Representatives, the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Capitalize shortened references that delete the words of Representatives: the U.S. House, the Massachusetts House.
Retain capitalization if U.S. or the name of a state is dropped but the reference is to a specific body.
For example: The House has adjourned for the year.

[Elizabeth Birge @ProfBirge]

Brendan Kuty, WPUNJ grad, Yankee beat reporter, rocking his WP sweatshirt! @wpunj_edu @WPCommDept

[Brendan Kuty 🧟‍♂️ @BrendanKutyNJ]

Quick thoughts here on Cody Bellinger returning to the Yankees.

This always made the most sense.

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

The Stylebook's entry on historical periods and events advises capitalizing the names of widely recognized epochs in anthropology, archaeology, geology and history: the Bronze Age, the Dark Ages, the Middle Ages, the Pliocene Epoch.
Capitalize also widely recognized popular names for the periods and events: the Atomic Age, the Boston Tea Party, the Civil War, the Exodus (of the Israelites from Egypt), the Great Depression, Prohibition.
Following this logic, we changed our guidance in 2023 to capitalize the Civil Rights Movement.

[Elizabeth Birge @ProfBirge]

https://t.co/f6nouV3K5a

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

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.
Do not go beyond two decimal places. 7.51 million people, $256 billion, 7,542,500 people, $2,565,750,000. Decimals are preferred where practical: 1.5 million. Not: 1 1/2 million.
Note that a hyphen is not used to join the figures and the word million or billion, even in this type of phrase: The president submitted a $300 billion budget.
In headlines, abbreviate only millions, billions: $5M lawsuit, $1.6B prize.
https://t.co/ftm3kA5iN4

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

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.
AP Stylebook Online subscribers have free access to Merriam-Webster content through the end of the year. We recently added a Merriam-Webster blog post titled Archaic Words We Know from Christmas Songs.
Need conversation fodder with your family? How about the origins of the words tidings and merry?
https://t.co/zhfNPwByyz

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

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.
This is a slight change from the Stylebook’s previous guidance, reflecting the fact that now, 15 years later, the terms might not be as commonplace for some readers.
https://t.co/Th0IabQwg8

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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.
https://t.co/xMjipCEYu8

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Use the playoff or the national championship as applicable on second reference for the College Football Playoff.

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Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving, when U.S. retail stores traditionally launch the start of Christmas shopping.

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AP style advises one L in cancel, canceled and canceling, but two Ls in cancellation.
https://t.co/n6nAV92s2i

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

Use NEW YORK in datelines for New York City , not the name of an individual community or borough such as Flushing or Queens. Identify the borough in the body of the story if pertinent.
https://t.co/hkkOKg9VPc

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

Good editors don't just fix typos and punctuation.
They consider whether the writing is clear, concise and accurate. Is it getting its point across for its intended audience?
AP Stylebook Workshop 201: Refine Your Content will explore how to make your copy more compelling.
The first live session this morning. Don't miss it!
https://t.co/3RbzN4gyuQ

[APStylebook @APStylebook]

AP style says to use single quote marks, never double quote marks, in headlines.
So while we put the names of most books, movies, plays, poems, albums, songs, operas, radio and television programs, lectures, speeches, and works of art in quotation marks in body copy, we use single quotes when writing headlines.
https://t.co/gW4jPtRQ2s

[Elizabeth Birge @ProfBirge]

@JomboyMedia Yogi, Stottlemyre Sr.

[Elizabeth Birge @ProfBirge]

@Yankees You know it. @YankeesNerd