AP Stylebook
The Associated Press Stylebook (generally called the AP Stylebook), alternatively titled The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, is a style and usage guide for American English grammar created by American journalists working for or connected with the Associated Press journalism cooperative based in New York City. The Stylebook offers a basic reference to American English grammar, punctuation, and principles of reporting, including many definitions and rules for usage as well as styles for capitalization, abbreviation, spelling, and numerals.
Author
- AP Editors (1909–1952)
- G. P. Winkler (1953–1970)
- Howard Angione (1977)
- Angione & E.A. Powell (1980)
- An., Pow. & C.W. French (1984)
- French (1986)
- French & Norm Goldstein (1988)
- Goldstein (1992–2007)
- AP Editors (since 2008)
The Associate Press Rules Regulations and General Orders
United States
English[a]
Updated biennially
1909 (1st internal ed.)
1953 (1st public ed.)
1977 (1st public modern ed.)
2020 (latest public modern ed.)
640 (PB)
619 (SB)
978-1-541647-57-2 (PB)
978-0-917360-69-5 (SB)
The first publicly available edition of the book was published in 1953. The first modern edition was published in August 1977 by Lorenz Press. Afterwards, various paperback editions were published by different publishers, including, among others, Turtleback Books, Penguin's Laurel Press, Pearson's Addison-Wesley, and Hachette's Perseus Books and Basic Books. Recent editions are released in several formats, including paperback and flat-lying spiral-bound editions, as well as a digital e-book edition and an online subscription version. Additionally, the AP Stylebook also provides English grammar recommendations through social media, including Twitter,[1] Facebook,[2] Pinterest,[3] and Instagram.[4]
From 1977 to 2005, more than two million copies of the AP Stylebook have been sold worldwide, with that number climbing to 2.5 million by 2011.[5][6] Writers in broadcasting, news, magazine publishing, marketing departments and public relations firms traditionally adopt and apply AP grammar and punctuation styles.
Title[edit]
From 1909, when the first company-wide stylebook-like guide was released internally under the title: "The Associate Press Rules Regulations and General Orders", and until 1953, the stylebook was published under different titles including, among others, Instructions for Correspondents of the Associated Press, The Associated Press. Regulations Traffic Department, A Guide for Filing Editors. The Associated Press, A Guide for Foreign Correspondents. The Associated Press, A Guide for Writers. The Associated Press, The AP Copy Book, and AP Writing Handbook.
By the end of WWII, pressures from a growing number of non-journalistic business sectors, already referencing copied or confiscated copies of the guide for years, greatly increased the stylebook's demand. The first publicly available edition of AP Stylebook was published in 1953 under the title "The Associated Press Style Book". Since 1953, the stylebook has been published under different titles, including Writing for The AP; AP Stylebook; and The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.[7]
Some journalists have referred to The AP Stylebook as the 'journalist bible'.[8]
In 2000, the guide was renamed The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law and the paperback edition has been published under this title since then.[9][10] Some editions, such as the spiral-bound and e-book editions, use the shorter title The Associated Press Stylebook on their covers.
Influence on American English[edit]
The influence of the AP and similar news service styles has reached beyond the news writing community.[32][33] Many other North American sectors disseminating information to the public began to adopt news styles as early as the late 1800s. Many other sectors now also have developed their own similar style guides and also continue to reference the AP Stylebook for general American grammar, more than any other style guide available.[34][35]
Edition[edit]
Edition number: English edition[edit]
The first publicly available English edition of the book was released in 1953.[14] However, all editions prior to 1977 are not included in the editions count and the first modern edition is considered to be the August 1977 edition released for the first time by Lorenz Press. The latest, 2020 version, is the 55th edition and can be used until[36] 2022. The Associated Press has reduced the frequency in print publication due to the popularity of the online version of the AP Stylebook. The print version is expected to be available, unless otherwise stated, biennially.[37]
Edition number: Spanish edition[edit]
Due to the rising influence of the Spanish language worldwide, in November 2012 Associated Press added, in addition to American English, its first ever Spanish edition of its stylebook.[38][39] The Spanish edition is separate from the English edition and has a different website, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts.[40][41] Unlike the English edition which currently has both online and print versions, the Spanish edition only has an online edition. The Spanish edition does not have an 'edition number' since it only exists as an online service.
Revision process[edit]
From 1980 to 1984 the English edition was updated biennially; then from 1985 to 2020, the English edition was updated annually, usually in May, at which time edits and new entries were added to keep the stylebook up to date with technological and cultural changes. As of the middle of 2023, the most recent edition is the 2022-2024 edition (56th edition).[42][43]
In 2005, dozens of new or revised entries were added, including "Sept. 11", "e.g.", "i.e.", "FedEx" and "Midwest region".[6]
In 2008, about 200 new or revised entries were added, including "iPhone", "anti-virus", "outsourcing", "podcast", "text messaging", "social networking", "high-definition" and "Wikipedia".[44]
In 2009, about 60 new or revised entries were added, including "Twitter", "baba ghanoush" and "texting".[45]
In 2013, about 90 new or revised entries were added, including "Benedictine", "Grand Marnier", "madeleine" and "upside-down cake", "chichi" and "froufrou".[15]
In 2019, about 200 new or revised entries were added, including "budtender", "deepfake" and "cryptocurrency".[46]
The 2020–2022 edition was released on May 21, 2020. About 90 new or revised technology-related entries were added, including "internet privacy", "digital wallet" / "mobile wallet", "smart devices", and "lidar". A new chapter was added about digital security for journalists.[47][48]
The 2022–2024 edition includes more than 300 new and revised entries, including a new chapter on "inclusive storytelling", accepting of "they/them/their" singular pronouns, revised guidance on the use of the term "female", and new entries for "critical race theory", "anti-vaxxer", and others.