The Industry Standard for Clarity and Consistency
AP style is the writing standard developed by the Associated Press. Originally created for AP’s own journalism, AP style is now widely used by news organizations, magazines, and other media outlets globally.
The latest guidelines for AP style are detailed in the Associated Press Stylebook. But if you don’t have access to it, our editors are experts in AP style, so you can rely on us to review your work with precision.
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Dates and Numerals in AP Style Writing
AP style stipulates following specific rules for presenting dates and numerals. When referring to a date, you should:
- Use figures but no suffix for the days of the month
- Abbreviate January, February, August, September, October, November, and December when you use them with a specific date. Use the full names for the remaining months
- Always spell out month names when they’re used alone or with a year only
For example, you’d express the following as:
The meeting is scheduled for Jan. 15.
When referring to numerals while using AP style, spell out one through nine and use figures for 10 and above. This rule changes slightly when you’re referring to ages, percentages, or dimensions, for which figures are always used:
She is 5 years old.
The report showed a 3% increase.
The room measured 6 feet by 8 feet.
Citing Sources in AP Style Writing
When you’re citing sources in AP style, you typically place the attribution within the text, following the quote or information to which you’re referring. AP style doesn’t use formal in-text citations as other styles do. Instead, you simply mention the source or individual directly:
“It is crucial to adapt to changing technology in business,” said Lazinski.
If you mention the source before presenting the quote, the format changes slightly. You don’t need to repeat the attribution after the quote:
Lazinski said, “It is crucial to adapt to changing technology in business.”
Unlike other citation styles, AP style focuses on clarity and readability, making the method ideal for journalistic writing.
Punctuation in AP Style Writing
In AP style, punctuation use must follow specific rules for clarity and consistency. For example, always use quotation marks around direct quotes, with punctuation marks placed inside the closing quotation mark:
She said, “It’s important to stay informed.”
When attributing quotes, a comma should precede the attribution:
“It’s essential to adapt,” said Johnson.
In AP style, you place periods and commas inside the quotation marks, and you place dashes, semicolons, and colons outside unless they’re part of the quoted material. Additionally, AP style avoids the Oxford comma unless its use is necessary for clarity:
The report covers sales, marketing and finance.
Referencing Styles And Systems
Our expert editors can work with a range of referencing styles, including:
