AP Style Rules: COVID-19, One Year Later
We know journalists are busy, and it can be difficult to keep up with recent AP Style rules and changes. So we’ve done the work for you, rounding up a few of the recent significant — and just plain interesting — updates to the AP Stylebook.
It’s time for another quarterly roundup of timely AP Style rule reminders. And since National Grammar Day took place March 4, we’re sharing some of our favorite tweets from that day throughout the post.
It's #NationalGrammarDay! Regardless of your Oxford comma opinions, “Grammar is the greatest joy in life, don't you find?” ― Lemony Snicket pic.twitter.com/VRk9MwPVqc
— Beyond Bylines (@BeyondBylines) March 4, 2021
💉 COVID-19: One year later
It’s been more than a year since the WHO declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Here are a few important style guide reminders for the latest developments around it:
- Since we’re a year into the outbreak, don’t use the terms new coronavirus or novel coronavirus unless needed for context.
- The term coronavirus is OK in references to the pandemic. COVID-19 refers to the disease.
- Vaccines are the products that stimulate the body’s immune system. Vaccination is the act of giving a vaccine. Immunization and vaccination can generally be used interchangeably.
- People who do not fully recover from COVID-19 and experience lingering symptoms are called long-haulers. It can be referred to as long-haul COVID-19 or long COVID-19.
- Superspreader is one word. Do not include a hyphen.
- Use a hyphen in mask-wearing and hand-washing. Do not include a hyphen in contact tracing and distance learning.
- Curbside pickup is a noun, but pick up is two words when used as a verb.
We covered other AP Style rules for COVID-19 in our March and June roundups from last year.
🏀 Sports
Capitalize March Madness when referencing the annual college basketball tournament. Curious about other sporting events? Check out our 2021 sports calendar to plan your coverage.
Lowercase esports in reference to competitive multiplayer gaming. eSports and e-sports should only be used if part of a formal name.
Unless it’s written differently in an event name or formal title, motor sports is two words. The same goes for water sports.
🗳️ President
Capitalize president when used as a formal title before one or more names: President Joe Biden, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.
Lowercase it when used alone: She is running for president. The president spoke on Monday in the Rose Garden.
Presidents Day does not have an apostrophe.
Happy #NationalGrammarDay.
How many of you read this in their voice? ✋ pic.twitter.com/big5jMEDFy— David Crowder (@crowdermusic) March 3, 2021
📜 Impeachment
During the impeachment of former President Donald Trump in February, @APStylebook shared a few rule reminders:
- Impeachment is a political process, not a legal one. It’s the equivalent of an indictment – an indication that there’s enough evidence to warrant a trial.
- Always capitalize references to the U.S. Constitution, even if the “U.S.” modifier isn’t included. For other states and nations, only capitalize it if the name of the state or nation is included: the Canadian Constitution; the state constitution. Lowercase constitutional.
- The section of the Constitution that says the Senate “shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments” is Article 1, Section 3.
- Impeachment conviction requires a supermajority, two-thirds of senators voting.
🥪 Food
Here are a few random, but helpful, food reminders:
- PB&J is acceptable in all references, but if you do want to spell it out, don’t use hyphens. BLT is OK as well!
- A gourmand is a person who likes good food and tends to eat to excess. A gourmet is a person who likes fine food and is an excellent judge of food and drink.
- When writing a recipe, always use figures for ingredient amounts.
- Use a hyphen in fast-food.
🎰 Betting
Use figures and a hyphen when referencing betting odds. For example, the odds were 3-1.
Although “to” generally isn’t necessary, if you do need it, include hyphens: 4-to-1 odds.
✊🏾 Black Lives Matter
On the first reference, use Black Lives Matter or the Black Lives Matter movement. BLM is OK for the second reference.
As neither “all lives matter” nor “blue lives matter” is a formal movement, do not capitalize them. Enclose them in quotes.
Capitalize #BlackLivesMatter. Helpful tip: Always capitalize each word in a hashtag – it will help screen readers understand it.
🎭 Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, a day of merrymaking, takes place on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday – the first day of Lent. It’s also referred to as Fat Tuesday.
Instead of the normal parades and parties, this year looked a little different due to the pandemic. House floats sprouted up across the city.
My past life! 🤣🤣🤣 #NationalGrammarDay pic.twitter.com/34lr4dGLrc
— Raymanology (@raymanology) March 5, 2021
📕 And in case you missed it…
Dictionary.com added 450 new entries in March that reflect the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and other major news stories from 2020.
Additions and updates include BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), overpolice, doomscrolling, sponcon, and deepfake.
Subscribe to Beyond Bylines to get media trends, journalist interviews, blogger profiles, and more sent right to your inbox.
[blog_subscription_form]
Rocky Parker works as the manager of Audience Relations at PR Newswire. Check out her previous posts for Beyond Bylines. When she’s not working, Rocky typically can be found cooking, binge-watching a new show, or playing with her puppy, Hudson.
I don’t think the title of your enticle matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the enticle. https://accounts.binance.com/en/register-person?ref=P9L9FQKY
I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
I very delighted to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for as well saved to fav
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites
I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good. https://www.binance.com/kz/register?ref=DB40ITMB
naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
There is definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all the points you made
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites
Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
I very delighted to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for as well saved to fav
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.
I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article.