The document provides an overview of using copyediting symbols and AP style guidelines to edit stories. It discusses the job of a copy editor in revising stories for accuracy, flow, and style. Key aspects covered include common copyediting symbols, the purpose and contents of the AP Stylebook, and common rules like numerals, dates, titles, and punctuation. The objective is for students to practice using these tools to edit a sample story.

1. Today's
Objective: Use
copyediting
symbols to
revise and edit
stories. Define
AP Style and
practice using
an AP Stylebook
COPYEDITING SYMBOLS
& AP STYLE

2.  http://gorillavid.com/958lokcn91q5
 `
LINK TO EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND
Today's Objective: Use copyediting symbols to
revise and edit stories. Define AP Style and
practice using an AP Stylebook.

3. Rewrite the following quote to correct spelling, punctuation
and style rules. Hint: There are 6 errors.
Quote:
I hope we make it to play-offs this year. I think our team is
really strong.” principle Tom jones exclaimed.
“I hope we make it to the playoffs this year,” Principal Tom
Jones said. “I think our team is really strong.”
WARM-UP 11/11

4.  To watch for mistakes
 To check facts for accuracy
 Check that names are spelled correctly
 Check that numbers are right
 Check for misspelled words or for the wrong word choice
 Check for attribution
 Make sure that stories are easy to read and have good flow
 Check that stories follow AP style
THE JOB OF A COPY EDITOR

5.  Even a small mistake can lead a reader to doubt the
accuracy of the newspaper.
WHY IS COPYEDITING IMPORTANT?

6. COPYEDITING SYMBOLS

7.  Put out by the Associated Press
 Considered “the Bible of the newspaper industry”
 First Stylebook was produced in 1953 and was a booklet of
60 pages
 1977 – Stylebook underwent a major revision
 “Part dictionary, encyclopedia, textbook”
AP STYLEBOOK

8.  When & how to use punctuation marks
 About sports
 What words to capitalize
 The difference between affect and effect
 Media law (Fair use and Freedom of Information Act)
THINGS THE AP STYLEBOOK TELLS US

9.  Organized alphabetically
 Find the category
 Example:
The newspaper is called The Eagle Angle.
The newspaper is called The Eagle Angle.
Which is correct?
HOW TO USE AN AP STYLEBOOK

10. Memorize
these
rules!
COMMON AP STYLE
RULES

11.  For time or location:
 Spell out first through ninth
 Starting with 10th, use figures
 Note that the “th” is not a subscript
Exceptions:
 Addresses Example: 7th Street
ORDINALS (UNDER NUMERALS)

12.  Spell out whole numbers below 10
 One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine
 Use figures for 10 and above
 10, 20, 100
 Spell out all numbers at beginning of sentences, but reword if
at all possible to not start sentence with a number
 Follow these rules for percentages also, but ALWAYS spell out
percent. Do not use %.
WHOLE NUMBERS (UNDER NUMERALS)

13.  Always use figures, without st, nd, rd or th.
 Always capitalize the names of months.
 When a month is used with a SPECIFIC DATE, abbreviate only Jan., Feb.,
Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec.
 Spell out all months when used alone or with a year alone.
 Examples:
 Today is Monday, Oct. 3.
 This is the month of October.
 When a phrase lists a month, day and year, set off year with commas.
 On Oct. 3, 2011, we learned about AP style.
DATES (UNDER DATES & MONTHS)

14.  a.m.
 p.m.
 Avoid redundancies.
 Examples: 8 a.m. in the morning should just read 8 a.m.
TIME

15.  Do NOT put a comma before a conjunction (and/or) in a
series.
 Example:
 Today we discussed numbers, dates and commas.
THIRD COMMA IN A SERIES

16.  It’s is a contraction. It means “it is”.
 Examples of correct uses would be:
 It’s raining outside.
 It’s the first Monday of the month.
 It’s almost the end of the period.
 Its is possessive.
 Examples of correct uses include:
 The company lost its assets.
 The team lost its starting quarterback.
Its VS. IT’S

17.  Lowercase and spell out titles when they are not used with an
individual’s name.
 The principal decided to reduce the length of lunches.
 Lowercase and spell out titles when they are set off from a name
by commas.
 The principal, Steve Payne, moved back into his former position.
 Capitalize FORMAL titles when they are used before a person’s
name.
 Formal titles generally denote authority, a professional activity
or an academic activity.
 “We need the election,” Superintendent Ken Helvey said.
 Titles that serve as occupational descriptions are NOT formal
titles and should be lowercased.
 The store is run by business teacher Cheryl Lee.
 “I am really excited about the new band hall,” senior John Doe said.
 “It was a great game,” head coach Tom Westerberg said.
TITLES

18.  This can be tricky, but assume that your readers know
everything you write about is for Allen High, so you don’t write
Allen, Allen High School or AHS in your stories.
 For example, read the following sentence:
 The new AHS band hall is 9,200 square feet.
 You would take out AHS, so the sentence should just read:
 The new band hall is 9,200 square feet.
ALLEN OR ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL

19.  It’s simple – DON’T USE THEM!
EXCLAMATION POINTS!

20.  Go to the AHS homepage.
 Go to Mrs. Wiesner’s website under Faculty Web Sites.
 Click on the “Newspaper Page”
 Click on the link to “AP Style Quiz”
 Record your answers & the category under which you found
the answer on a separate sheet of paper to turn in. Write out
the answer, not the answer choice.
AP STYLE QUIZ

21. AP Style Quiz – Group A
 Go to the AHS
homepage.
 Go to Mrs. Wiesner’s
website under Faculty
Web Sites.
 Click on the link to
“Journalism Quizzes”
 Select the AP Style quiz
with today’s date.
 You will record your
answers on a separate
sheet of paper to turn in.
Copyediting Exercise – Group B
 Complete Editing Exercise
#21, using the appropriate
copyediting symbols.
 Eliminate any unnecessary
words or sentences.
 Take out any sentences
that aren’t objective.
 Look for misspelled words.
 Check for journalistic style
– LQTQTQC, new
paragraphs for direct
quotes.
PRACTICE WITH COPYEDITING & AP STYLE

22. With more than half of the team failing the first six weeks,
the freshman football team will struggle even harder to
improve on its 0-6 record.
“We’re getting better each week,” Coach Bubba Stevensson
said. “More kids are moving to the front and being leaders.
We hope to be able to score a touchdown next game.”
With few players on the team, many must play offense and
defense.
“We’re improving,” Stevensson said. “They’ll do all right.”
The team enters the last part of the year without an
experienced quarterback but with standout fullback Jim
Jones.
(Need a direct quote from Jones here.)
The team won’t forfeit any games, though.
“We will be playing with or without players,” Stevensson
said.
EDITING EXERCISE 21