As content development manager at Comprise, I’ve seen my fair share of cringeworthy AP style errors. You know — the seemingly small mistakes that make journalists roll their eyes or, worse yet, make fun of you with their colleagues. One of our public relations team’s greatest fears is a screenshot of a pitch we sent tweeted out by reporters we work with.
Serving as our agency’s resident AP style nerd and likely one of the very few members of our team who owns a physical copy of the “Associated Press Stylebook,” I get it. Following all of the rules can be tricky. But balancing the art of effective communication with the science behind the Associated Press’ writing and editing reference can help you better tell your story.
Why AP Style Matters
Before diving into the hall of shame, let’s discuss why AP style is preferred for grammar and citations in news writing. Simply put, AP style helps you speak the same language as journalists. And trust me, reporters appreciate it when you make their job easier. (We’ve had outlets compliment how well we follow the AP’s grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviation and other rules!)
Most companies don’t have a formalized writing style, so adhering to the style guide most newspapers, magazines and other media outlets use creates consistency across various publications and platforms. AP style writing can ensure that your carefully crafted message isn’t lost in translation.
Nothing screams “amateur hour” louder than a press release riddled with basic AP style errors. Let’s dive into the most common AP style mistakes I see in my work.
What are the Most Common AP Style Errors?
Capitalizing Job Titles
Hey, we all want our CEOs to feel important, but capitalizing and spelling out their job title when it’s not directly before their name is unnecessary — and a little much.
- Correct: Doyle Albee, president and CEO of Comprise, said …
- Incorrect: Doyle Albee, Comprise’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said …
- Correct: President and CEO Doyle Albee said …
- Incorrect: Comprise President and CEO, Doyle Albee, said …
Remember: AP style job titles are lowercase when they follow a name or stand alone. Save those capital letters for when they really count.
Quote Attribution
One of the most common AP style errors I see is people attributing quotes before the actual quotation. How often does a spokesperson introduce their quotation in a press release with a fluffy sentence about the news? Way too often, in my opinion.
- Correct: “This move underscores our mission to redefine the future of work,” [CEO Name] said.
- Incorrect: Underscoring his company’s mission to redefine the future of work, [CEO Name] said …
Look, we’re not writing a suspense novel. No need to build up to the quote. Attribution after — or in the middle of a quote — is perfectly fine. Just let the quote, which is often the most subjective part of your announcement, speak for itself.
Oxford Commas
Ah, the dreaded Oxford comma. The pineapple on pizza of punctuation. Beloved by some, despised by others (myself included) and largely forbidden, per AP style. That’s right — in AP style, we don’t use a comma before the conjunction in most simple series.
- Correct: The American flag is red, white and blue.
- Incorrect: The American flag is red, white, and blue.
For some of you who are well trained in Chicago or Manual style, this might feel wrong or look weird. But those are the breaks in the world of AP style.
Formatting Titles, per AP Style
I see you, trying to make your press release look fancy with italicized titles. Please stop. AP style uses quotation marks for the titles of books, movies, TV shows and other compositions. Even newspaper and magazine names don’t get special treatment — no quotes, no italics.
- Correct: Have you read “The Associated Press Stylebook”?
- Incorrect: Have you read The Associated Press Stylebook?
Save the italics for your personal blog.
AP Style Numbers
Where do I even begin? AP style has numerous rules about numbers, for lack of a better term. But here’s the basic gist: Spell out numbers one through nine (or if a number appears at the beginning of a sentence), and use figures for 10 and above.
- Correct: She has three cats and 11 dogs.
- Incorrect: She has 3 cats and eleven dogs.
Of course, there are exceptions. Because why make writing easy, right? For example, use figures for ages, percentages and dimensions.
Headlines
Much like job titles, not every word deserves a capital letter in your headline. Overzealous capitalizers are great for blog titles, but the stylebook’s entry on headlines notes that we only capitalize the first word and proper nouns in news story headlines. An exception? The first word after a colon is always uppercase in headlines.
- Correct: Company X launches new product
- Incorrect: Company X Launches New Product
Your headline is not a royal proclamation. Tone down the caps lock, and you’ll look better to reporters.
Dates
When it comes to dates, AP style keeps things clean and simple. No “th,” “nd” or “rd” is necessary for the day, and most months are abbreviated (Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec.).
- Correct: The event will be held on Jan. 21.
- Incorrect: The event will be held on January 21st.
And, pretty please, don’t abbreviate months when they stand alone or with a year. “March 2020 was an interesting month” is fine, but “Mar., 2020 was an interesting month” is not. Got it?
Need Help with the Nuance?
Silly as it sounds, mastering AP style is like learning a new written language. It takes time, practice and a lot of patience. But the effort is worth it. Adhering to AP style will not only make journalists more likely to use your content but also make your brand seem more polished.
When in doubt about any of these rules, consult the online version of the stylebook. Better yet, hire an agency like ours that lives and breathes this stuff. Sometimes, you need professional help to navigate the treachery of modern communications.
And the next time you craft a press release, please double-check against these common AP style errors. Your reputation — and my sanity — will thank you!
