The document provides guidelines for Associated Press (AP) style rules regarding punctuation of quotations, identifying people, capitalization, money, numbers, time, and dates. Key points include using quotation marks around direct quotes and punctuation inside the quotes; using full names on first reference and last names on subsequent references; capitalizing proper nouns but not directions or seasons; using figures for sums under $1 million and spelling out cents; and spelling out numbers under 10 and using figures for numbers 10 and above.

1. AP STYLE RULES
The basics.

2. Quotation marks
• Direct quotes between quotation marks.
• Punctuation inside the quotes.
• “I could really use a drink,” the professor said. “Something cool and
refreshing.”
• Use single quotes for a quote-inside-a-quote.
• “Then he said, „Hasta la vista, baby,‟ and shot his gun,” Timmy said.

3. Identifying people
• Use full name on first reference.
• Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter announced Wednesday that he will retire
following the 2014 season.
• Use last name on second reference.
• Jeter will continue to be a very rich man even after he stops drawing
paychecks.
• Mr./Mrs./Ms. not necessary. Use “Dr.” if an M.D.

4. Capitalization
• Titles are not capitalized unless they go before a person‟s
name.
• President Barack Obama
• Obama, the president, …
• Proper nouns are capitalized.
• The Adirondacks. Madison Square Garden. Amtrak.
• Seasons, class years, directions (north, etc.), are not.
• We went south for the winter.
• I‟ll be a senior in the fall.

5. Money
• Put the $ before the amount. Use figures for sums under
$1 million.
• $4.25
• $2.5 billion (not $2,500,000,000)
• Cents is spelled out when alone.
• You owe me 50 cents.

6. Numbers
• Spell out numbers under 10.
• I have two kids. I wrecked three shirts.
• Use figures for numbers 10 and above.
• More than 1,000 people came to the protest.
• Ordinals: first-ninth; 10th-above
• The snowboarder came in first after an avalanche claimed the rest
of the competitors.
• Nice guys finish 151st.
• Welcome to the 21st century.
• Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence (except
years.)
• Twenty of us flew to Cancun for the weekend.

7. Time
• Use a.m./p.m.
• Police said the robbery happened at 9 p.m. Thursday.
• The plane, which departed at 10:34 a.m., crashed shortly after.
• No “:00” necessary
• Noon/midnight – not 12 a.m./p.m.

8. Dates
• Spell out days
• He left the apartment on Thursday to buy detergent.
• Abbreviate certain months only when used as part of a full
date.
• Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.
• March, April, May, June, July
• My birthday is April 27.
• Class won‟t be held on Monday, Feb. 17.
• Year not necessary, except for clarity.
• The rally will be held on March 1.
• The rally will be held on March 1, 2015.