Coronavirus topical guide associated press stylebook. A style guide for the 2020 elections, based on the ap stylebook and common usage in ap stories. For the style and spelling of words not found in ap or gpo, see. Do not capitalize a word or phrase just because you are going to turn it into an acronym, such as cognitive behavior therapy cbt. It is not an easily enforceable law, but the federal government is. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. For example, after the coup, the country will need a new constitution. Some governmental style guidelines call for federal to be capitalized whenever it refers to a function or part of the federal government of the united states. Its just a government, which, like those in all countries, has some official bodies that act and operate in the name of government. The manual has come to be widely recognized by writers and editors both within and outside the federal government as an important editorial. Formal titles in ap style should be capitalized when they immediately precede. Examples include persons in the military, government officials. Do not capitalize words like federal, government, or agency unless it is. Dont capitalize state when using it as a common noun she visited the new england states last month.
Capitalize proper nouns for people, places, and agency names. Colon capitalize the first word after a colon only if it is a proper noun or the start of a complete sentence. A subreddit for questions and discussions about grammar, language, style, conventions, and punctuation. White, and the associated press stylebook and libel.
Dear editors of the chicago manual of style and the associated press stylebook we the undersigned are a coalition of academic scholars and authors in the field of religious studies, who have done research into contemporary paganism, and written books on the subject. However, in most contexts it is capitalized only in the titles of agencies like the federal bureau of investigation and the federal reserve. Here is the general guideline when writing out the title of governor in ap style ap style governor. Capitalizing titles of people and groups daily writing tips. All major words in titles including small words, such as is and it. In ap style, governor is always abbreviated and capitalized when it is part of a formal titleeven inside quotations. After each bullet, capitalize the first letter and use periods at the end of each item. Answers to style questions not addressed here can be found in standard style reference books, specifically. Sep 25, 2018 ensure that the name of the government author you use in the intext citation matches the name of the author in the reference list entry exactly.
Jun 02, 2016 the times used to capitalize federal in phrases like a federal judge, and even government when referring to the national government. Lewis university office of marketing and communications. The government of the united states of americathe american government would be left without capitalizing because you are speaking then in general terms. Oct 31, 2014 the associated press has compiled a list of u. If an article the, a, an is the first or last word in a title, capitalize it. Capitalize county if it is an integral part of a specific bodys name even without the proper noun. Web according to the ap stylebook, capitalize web only when you use. Once a year, federal employees have an opportunity to choose a.
The name of a group is capitalized when it is the full name. These rules are the exact same for apa style, the only difference being that ap style does not recommend the use of title case for newspaper headlines, but rather sentence case. If you are referring to an official document such as the united states constitution, yes, capitalize it. Capitalize, but dont put quote marks around or italicize books. Federal capitalization common errors in english usage and. All you need to know about titles in ap style gatehouse. The guidance encompasses the democratic and republican conventions to nominate presidential candidates. So you would only capitalize federal when you use it in the name of a federal agency, an act, or some other proper noun. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Nij publications adhere to the associated press stylebook, with exceptions noted in this. Since 1894, the gpo style manual has served as a guide to the style and form of federal government printing and publishing. Capitalize adjectives derived from words that exist only as proper nouns.
The first word after a colon unless it begins an independent clause. The 2016 edition of the gpo style manual is the first revision to be issued under gpos new name, u. Federal capitalization common errors in english usage. As noted earlier, epa has an online subscription to the ap book on our intranet. If it refers to a governmental body that uses it as part of its name, such as federal trade commission, it would be capitalized. It covers such topics as the decimal point, abbreviations, capital letters, punctuation marks, hyphenation, spelling, frequently misused or confused words and canadian geographical names. Within text, use italics for the titles of books, online publications. Dec 30, 2016 the stylebook tells reporters to note the federal governments fiscal year starts three months ahead of the calendar year. The word federal when used generically as an adjective would not be capitalized. The federal highway administration has some longheld style rules, some of which are in appendix d on the preparation of reports to congress, and in examples shown below. Writing principles usagov platform style guide usagov. If you are nonspecifically referring to a constitution document, you dont capitalize the word. Capitalize the names of the state and city legislative bodies when they are part of the full name.
Associated press style is to use dashes, not bullets, for lists that follow a colon. Chicago manual of style, 14th edition, united states government printing office style manual, 2000, the elements of styleby william strunk and e. Government printing office style manual 2016 is used for internal communication. Government printing office gpo style manual, an authoritative source of information about issues that are specific to writing for the federal government merriamwebsters collegiate dictionary, eias preferred dictionary other sources consulted in the preparation of eias writing style guide. Election terminology, writing with context and cliches to avoid are included. Capitalize proper nouns and the short form of proper nouns. Capitalize a word once it is defined in a document equivalent to a proper noun.
Since ap is not an academic writing format, it does not require intext or reference page citations. See the airline, airlines entry for its use in carriers names. State farm insurance, the state lands commission, the state and consumer services agency. For the style and spelling of words not found in ap or gpo, see websters new world college dictionary. Associated press is a writing style used for news and editorial writing. Yes, if the first part of a hyphenated word is capitalized, capitalize the second part too e.
Spiralbound book, updated each spring 2019 ap stylebook. The stylebook tells reporters to note the federal governments fiscal year starts three months ahead of the calendar year. Terms and definitions are from the ap stylebook or based on common usage in ap news reports. Writing style sba brand guide small business administration. When writing about the federal government in its official capacity using the term as an official title, you should capitalize both federal and government. Most examples here are taken and condensed from these style books. Ap style title case has a few easy rules that will help showcase your title. A persons title is capitalized when it precedes the name and is therefore seen as part of the name. Avoid using acronyms or jargon that may be unfamiliar to the general public or those outside your agency. Certain organizations and government agencies are so well known by initials.
The department prefers bullets, but punctuate them per ap style. Do not use the long form in one spot and the short form in the other. Should government be capitalized in, the government. Sep 16, 2017 if you are nonspecifically referring to a constitution document, you dont capitalize the word. Government and democracy, okay, because it is part of a title. May 22, 2016 some governmental style guidelines call for federal to be capitalized whenever it refers to a function or part of the federal government of the united states. Dont capitalize common words for emphasis or importance. Once the title occurs, further references to the person holding the title appear in lowercase.
However, the titles of works, such as television shows, are written in specific ways in ap style text. Capitalization of governmental words grammar and punctuation. Capitalize only the official and complete names of colleges, schools, departments, divisions and offices. Acronyms are capitalized to show they are acronyms, not because the terms that form them are necessarily. Capitalization of city and state compiled by marla sharp, rpr, clr, ccrr, csr page 2of 6 bad grammargood punctuation capitalization. This section can be used as a primer and a quick reference, not a replacement to the gpo or ap style books. Abbreviations abbreviate junior or senior after a name, but dont use a comma. Lowercase for a political philosophy, capitalize in a formal name. The office of communications uses the below writing style guide along with the associated press ap stylebook and websters dictionary as the standard for writing web content, employee communications, news releases, broadcast information, articles and other materials. Writing style sba marketing and promotional materials follow the associated press stylebook and briefing on media law, though we do have a few exceptions that are noted in this guide. Shorthand for the formal title of the health care overhaul that former president barack obama signed into law in 2010.
The associated press stylebook has this entry for federal use a capital letter for the architectural style and for corporate or governmental bodies that use the word as part of their formal names. Company and corporation are not abbreviated in names of federal government units. When you reference government directly as its own entity then you would capitalize it. If it were in the title of a course to be taken, such as u. Many other useful reference books are available from bookstores. For rules on style, consult the latest edition of the u.
Abbreviate and capitalize company, corporation, incorporated, limited and. Here is the general guideline when writing out the title of governor in ap style. An exception is that you can introduce an abbreviation for the government agency in the text if you will be referring to it. The chicago manual of style online is the venerable, timetested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. Regarding the capitalization of federal government. However, in most contexts it is capitalized only in the titles of agencies like the federal bureau of investigation and. Ap style federal home ap style ap style federal use a capital letter for the architectural style and for corporate or governmental bodies that use the word as part of their formal names. For external communication we use the associated press stylebook 2017 for all public documents and materials, excluding correspondence from the administrator and deputy administrator. Capitalize and spell the word out when part of a formal street name. Capitalize all job titles or official titles of federal officials before or after the persons. The canadian style gives concise answers to questions concerning written english in the canadian context. 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. Reducing the size of federal government is essential, he says. The times used to capitalize federal in phrases like a federal judge, and even government when referring to the national government.
Names of most websites and apps are capitalized without quotes. Ap compiles us elections style guide associated press. Top 10 ap style guide 2016edits university blog service. Capitalize as part of a formal title before a name. Now, if you are using it to refer to how a persons character makeup or societys makeup, always use lowercase letters unless of course its at the beginning of a. Words such as honors, baccalaureate, masters degree, federal, government and state should not be capitalized unless used as part of an official name or title. Ap style federal use a capital letter for the architectural style and for corporate or governmental bodies that use the word as part of their formal names. Capitalize the first word, last word and all words that are more than four letters in length of titles of articles, chapters, episodes, etc. The term is acceptable on first reference, but should be explained later in the story. Aug, 2012 the associated press has compiled a list of u. May 29, 2008 nor is it when it is referred to as the federal government or the us government or the us federal government. Generally speaking, the word federal should be lowercase unless its part of a title or an organizations name federal assistance the federal government federal rules of civil procedure federal trade commission. Stylebook key this updated and revised version of the associated press stylebook has been organized like a dictionary.
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