This document provides 14 style guidelines for proper writing according to The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. It addresses topics such as addresses, datelines, states, cities and states in text, acronyms, time, the Church's name, BYU, composition titles, compound modifiers, identifying students, months, money, and numbers. The guidelines provide examples for correctly formatting each of these elements according to AP style.

1. 14 style problems14 style problems
Introduction toIntroduction to “The Associated“The Associated
Press Stylebook and Briefing onPress Stylebook and Briefing on
Media Law”Media Law”

4. 1. Addresses1. Addresses
Utah addressesUtah addresses
130130 E.E. 700 South700 South (Abbreviate first(Abbreviate first
coordinate N. S. E. W.)coordinate N. S. E. W.)
150 E. North Temple150 E. North Temple
2646 E. University2646 E. University Ave.Ave., but University, but University
Avenue (without street number) (SeeAvenue (without street number) (See
“addresses”“addresses” in Stylebook).in Stylebook).
The car crashed at the intersection of 200The car crashed at the intersection of 200
South and 600 WestSouth and 600 West

5. 2. Datelines2. Datelines
 Use no dateline for stories generated in ProvoUse no dateline for stories generated in Provo
this includes most labs and homeworkthis includes most labs and homework
assignments unless otherwise noted.assignments unless otherwise noted.
 Check to see if aCheck to see if a city stands alone in a datelinecity stands alone in a dateline..
If it does, it also stands alone in text.If it does, it also stands alone in text.
 Never use date.Never use date.
 Example: DALLAS -- or NEPHI, UtahExample: DALLAS -- or NEPHI, Utah

6. 3. States3. States
 Spell out the names of the 50 states when theySpell out the names of the 50 states when they
stand alone in textual material.stand alone in textual material.
 Abbreviate the names of 42 states when theyAbbreviate the names of 42 states when they
appear in datelines or in the text with a cityappear in datelines or in the text with a city
(unless the city stands alone in datelines and(unless the city stands alone in datelines and
would not require a state in either a dateline or awould not require a state in either a dateline or a
textual reference).textual reference).
 Always spell out Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa,Always spell out Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa,
Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah even with a city.Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah even with a city.

7. 3. States3. States
 Do not use the two-letter postalDo not use the two-letter postal
abbreviationabbreviation for states in stories. Pleasefor states in stories. Please
see of abbreviations undersee of abbreviations under “state names”“state names”
in stylebook or page 454 in text book.in stylebook or page 454 in text book.
 Examples: Birmingham, Ala.; Tucson,Examples: Birmingham, Ala.; Tucson,
Ariz.; Little Rock, Ark.; Trenton, N.J.;Ariz.; Little Rock, Ark.; Trenton, N.J.;
Scranton, Pa.; Richmond, Va.; Tacoma,Scranton, Pa.; Richmond, Va.; Tacoma,
Wash.; Racine, Wis.; and Cheyenne, Wyo.Wash.; Racine, Wis.; and Cheyenne, Wyo.

8. 4. Cities and states in text4. Cities and states in text
(Example: City stands alone in datelines)(Example: City stands alone in datelines)
Protesters crowded streets inProtesters crowded streets in Salt Lake CitySalt Lake City during the anti-during the anti-
war protest.war protest.
(Example: City needs a state in datelines)(Example: City needs a state in datelines)
The race track burned inThe race track burned in Evanston, WyomingEvanston, Wyoming
The governor was fromThe governor was from Belmont, MassachusettsBelmont, Massachusetts
(Example: City needs a state in datelines) Students who(Example: City needs a state in datelines) Students who
attend school inattend school in Columbus, Ohio,Columbus, Ohio, will be required towill be required to
wear uniforms.wear uniforms.
There is little snow this year inThere is little snow this year in Boise, Idaho.Boise, Idaho.
RECENT AP STYLE CHANGE – ALL STATES SPELLEDRECENT AP STYLE CHANGE – ALL STATES SPELLED
OUTOUT

9. 5. Acronyms5. Acronyms
 Use only when the acronym is readilyUse only when the acronym is readily
recognized. Even then they should be reservedrecognized. Even then they should be reserved
for second references. For example, FBI, CIAfor second references. For example, FBI, CIA
and IRS.and IRS.
 Never do this:Never do this: The Stressed AssociatedThe Stressed Associated
Students for Peace (SASP) protested today atStudents for Peace (SASP) protested today at
the Wilkinson Center. Use a term such asthe Wilkinson Center. Use a term such as
“stressed students” on second reference.“stressed students” on second reference.

10. 6. Time6. Time
 SeeSee “time of day” and “times” in AP Stylebook.“time of day” and “times” in AP Stylebook.
 Use figures except for noon and midnight. Use aUse figures except for noon and midnight. Use a
colon to separate hours from minutes (ifcolon to separate hours from minutes (if
needed).needed).
 1111 a.m.a.m., 1, 1 p.m.p.m., 3:30, 3:30 p.m.p.m.
 Avoid redundancies such asAvoid redundancies such as 10 p.m. tonight10 p.m. tonight or 6or 6
a.m. this morning. Instead it can be 6 thisa.m. this morning. Instead it can be 6 this
morning or 6 a.m. or 10 tonight or 10 p.m.morning or 6 a.m. or 10 tonight or 10 p.m.

11. 7. Church7. Church’s name’s name
 TThe Church of Jesus Christ ofhe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-dayLatter-day SaintsSaints
(note the capital(note the capital “T” on The and hyphen and“T” on The and hyphen and
lower case “d” in Latter-day)lower case “d” in Latter-day)
 TThe Church of Jesus Christ is style for secondhe Church of Jesus Christ is style for second
reference. Only use Mormon church (note lowerreference. Only use Mormon church (note lower
casecase “c”) in quotes.“c”) in quotes.
 Note AP style, but not class style, is: MormonNote AP style, but not class style, is: Mormon
church acceptable in references except whenchurch acceptable in references except when
story is dealing primarily with church activities.story is dealing primarily with church activities.

12. 8. BYU8. BYU
 BYU acceptable on all references forBYU acceptable on all references for
class and student publications.class and student publications.

13. 9. Composition titles9. Composition titles
 See AP stylebookSee AP stylebook “composition titles.”“composition titles.” Do notDo not
italicize names of newspapers or magazines.italicize names of newspapers or magazines.
Capitalize and put in quotes titles of books,Capitalize and put in quotes titles of books,
movies, television shows and musical works.movies, television shows and musical works.
 Example:Example: “Grapes of Wrath,” “Lord of the Rings,”“Grapes of Wrath,” “Lord of the Rings,”
“The Messiah,” “Friends,” and “Six Feet From“The Messiah,” “Friends,” and “Six Feet From
the Edge” and The Boston Globe.the Edge” and The Boston Globe.

14. 10. Compound modifiers10. Compound modifiers
(adjectives)(adjectives)
 compound adjectives or compoundcompound adjectives or compound
modifiers (See hyphen entry inmodifiers (See hyphen entry in
punctuation chapter)punctuation chapter)
 Example:Example:
 30-year-old man30-year-old man
 would-be dictatorwould-be dictator
 No hyphen for adjectives ending in lyNo hyphen for adjectives ending in ly
 locally owned newspaperlocally owned newspaper

15. 11. Identifying students11. Identifying students
Identify students by name, age, class standing, hometown and major.Identify students by name, age, class standing, hometown and major.
 Example:Example:
 Bob Rogers, 20, a sophomore from Chicago majoring in English.Bob Rogers, 20, a sophomore from Chicago majoring in English.
 Avoid placing the hometown after the major, because it often makesAvoid placing the hometown after the major, because it often makes
it sound as if the discipline being studied exists only in theit sound as if the discipline being studied exists only in the
hometown.hometown.
 Bad example:Bad example:
 Bob Rogers, a sophomore majoring in psychology from Chicago.Bob Rogers, a sophomore majoring in psychology from Chicago.
 Note: most majors, except languages, are not capitalized.Note: most majors, except languages, are not capitalized.
 Example: Wendy Wilson, 19, a junior from Nampa, Idaho, majoringExample: Wendy Wilson, 19, a junior from Nampa, Idaho, majoring
in communications.in communications.
 Joan Price, 21, a junior from Washington D.C., majoring inJoan Price, 21, a junior from Washington D.C., majoring in
Japanese.Japanese.

16. 12. Months12. Months
 SeeSee “months,” “dates” and “years” in AP“months,” “dates” and “years” in AP
Stylebook. Remember abbreviations.Stylebook. Remember abbreviations.
 When a month is used with a specificWhen a month is used with a specific
date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug.,date, abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug.,
Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out whenSept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out when
using alone, or with a year alone.using alone, or with a year alone.
 Examples:Examples: January 2001January 2001,, Jan. 18Jan. 18, Feb. 2, Feb. 2
or August.or August.

17. 13. Money13. Money
 $1$1
 $1.50$1.50
 $1.5 million (use million after $999,999)$1.5 million (use million after $999,999)
 5 cents5 cents
 10 cents10 cents
 Wrong: City officials spentWrong: City officials spent one million dollarsone million dollars..
 Correct: City officials spentCorrect: City officials spent $1 million$1 million..

18. 14. Numbers14. Numbers
 Spell outSpell out one through nineone through nine and firstand first
through ninth. Spell out numbers whenthrough ninth. Spell out numbers when
they begin a sentence.they begin a sentence.
 1,000, 14,000, 25,0001,000, 14,000, 25,000
 1 million1 million