Ask the Editor
Last Seven DaysQuestion from Jacksonville, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2022
Topside is one word. Should pier side also be one word?
Answer
I'd use pier-side, since (unlike topside), dictionaries don't list pierside as a word.
Question from Alexandria, Virginia, on Jan. 18, 2022
Googling the term "minority-serving institutions" I see that "minority-serving" is usually hyphenated. Should the same format be followed for "Hispanic serving institutions?" Thank you.
Answer
Yes.
Question from St. Peter, Minnesota, on Jan. 18, 2022
When writing of a Facebook post, should Post also be capitalized?
Answer
No, Post shouldn't be capitalized,
Question from Long Valley, New Jersey, on Jan. 18, 2022
When a name of an event (GAUNTLET OF POLO) or magazine title (GOLF) is all caps, should it be kept in all caps when referring to it in editorial?
Answer
We don't use all-caps in such cases.
Question from Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 18, 2022
More often I am seeing green house gas emissions referenced as GHG emissions on the first reference. Does AP make an exception for this phrase, or should it still be defined on the first use? Thanks!
Answer
We define it on first use. We don't use GHG at all. Of course, if it makes sense to do otherwise for your specific audience, that's fine.
Question from Houston, Texas, on Jan. 18, 2022
In the U.S., is it appropriate to use "in the future" or "in future," as I have heard it expressed mostly in the UK I believe.
Answer
In the future, at least in the U.S.
Answer
Yes, it's an exception for readability.
Question from Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 18, 2022
In situations where rewording isn't possible, what would be the possessive of a school like St. Mary's -- St. Mary's options are limited or St. Mary's' options are limited? How about possessive of the plural of a single letter: The Oakland A's options are limited or the Oakland A's' options are limited?
Answer
St. Mary's options are limited. McDonald's fries are good. The A's options are limited.
Answer
It's the proper name of the game. Outside of the proper name, it should be lowercase. The previous answer was confusing and I will delete it.
Question from Baltimore, Maryland, on Jan. 17, 2022
I'm reviewing an article that talks about lumber, specifically referencing "a 2X6 fir" and a "2X8 in oak" multiple times. I see that two-by-four is its own term. But for less standard dimensions, like the ones noted here, I wanted to see if AP's guidance had changed. Should they be spelled out (two-by-six, as indicated in this 2012 post: https://www.apstylebook.com/ask_the_editors/13665) or made numeric (e.g., 2-by-6) per the general dimensions guidance?
Answer
A Stylebook colleague says:
It would seem that by rights, they should all be numerals, because they are dimensions. But two-by-fours are a kind of name for a certain size of wood -- they’re not even two inches by four inches. Which goes for all similarly labeled pieces of lumber, as well, like two-by-sixes and two-by-eights. I think of these as familiar concepts, not dimensions, so it makes sense to spell them out. Especially when your say someone looked like he was hit over the head with a two-by-four.
It would seem that by rights, they should all be numerals, because they are dimensions. But two-by-fours are a kind of name for a certain size of wood -- they’re not even two inches by four inches. Which goes for all similarly labeled pieces of lumber, as well, like two-by-sixes and two-by-eights. I think of these as familiar concepts, not dimensions, so it makes sense to spell them out. Especially when your say someone looked like he was hit over the head with a two-by-four.
If I were writing instructions for building a house, I’d more explicitly use dimensions, and say you needed so many pieces of wood that are 2”x4”x8’.
Some quick research indicates there’s such a thing as two-by-12s, though that probably comes up pretty rarely in writing. To be weirdly consistent (at least to our rules for non-dimensional numbers) I’d probably go with two-by-12s.
Question from Portland, Oregon, on Jan. 17, 2022
They strive for a low client/employee ratio.
or
They strive for a low client-employee ratio.
Thanks!
or
They strive for a low client-employee ratio.
Thanks!
Answer
The latter.
Question from Tucson, Arizona, on Jan. 16, 2022
Should it be most high-profile person, or highest-profile person?
Answer
Either is fine.
Answer
This is one of the many ways in which mountain biking differs from my cycling disciplines (track, gravel, road). In my world, we don't use the term and I've never mulled it! But now that you ask: I'd go with manualing, in keeping with canceling and traveling.
Question from West Newton, Massachusetts, on Jan. 14, 2022
I am unsure how where to put the comma in the following fragment of a longer sentence. Should it be a) "This makes him a ‘unicorn’,” OR b) "This makes him a ‘unicorn,’” ?
Answer
"This makes him a ‘unicorn’,”
Question from Winter Park, Florida, on Jan. 14, 2022
If you're writing about someone making a last-ditch attempt at something, and you call it a Hail Mary, would you put it in quotes because it's not literally referring to a Hail Mary in football (or the prayer, of course)?
Answer
No quote marks. Just Hail Mary is fine.
Question from Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 14, 2022
What is the AP accepted plural for "kindness?"
Answer
We generally wouldn't use a plural.
Question from Austin, on Jan. 14, 2022
Is principle used correctly in this sentence? Many thanks! "This guidebook was created to communicate principles, ideas and actions to further advance process safety performance."
Answer
Yes, that's right.
Question from Phoenix, Arizona, on Jan. 14, 2022
If you are using "she holds a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University" should you also include the word "degree" - She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from... I know you would use lowercase master's degree but this is a more formal bio.
Answer
No need for the word degree. You can use it if you want. But the meaning is clear without it.
Question from Alexandria, Virginia, on Jan. 14, 2022
Good Morning. When it comes to "further" or farther," would you search for something that's "further down the list" or "farther down the list"? One could argue that a list is a place, so "farther" would suit. Thank you.
Answer
How about lower on the list?! I do see your argument. I'm tempted to say either further or farther works in this case. It depends on whether you mean the literal, physical list, or a more conceptual list. Since you'll get arguments whatever you do, I'd rather just rephrase and escape the issue altogether.
farther, further
Farther refers to physical distance: He walked farther into the woods.
Further refers to an extension of time or degree: She will look further into the mystery.
Question from Greensboro, North Carolina, on Jan. 14, 2022
I understand what it’s like when you hear the words, “You have cancer” and what that entails.
or
I understand what it's like when you hear the words "you have cancer" and what that entails.
or
I understand what it's like when you hear the words, "You have cancer." I know what that entails.
or
I understand what it's like when you hear the words "you have cancer" and what that entails.
or
I understand what it's like when you hear the words, "You have cancer." I know what that entails.
Answer
Either of these is correct. But do you need the part about knowing what that entails? You've already said you understand it. There's probably a better, more specific way of saying the second part.
I understand what it's like when you hear the words, "You have cancer." I know what that entails.
I understand what it's like when you hear the words "you have cancer." I know what that entails.
I understand what it's like when you hear the words, "You have cancer." I know what that entails.
I understand what it's like when you hear the words "you have cancer." I know what that entails.
Question from Madison, Wisconsin, on Jan. 14, 2022
Hello AP. Would you recommend capitalizing "Register of Deeds" when using a general reference for the ROD office within a local municipality?
Sentence in question is:
The easement should be recorded with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located.
Thank you!
Sentence in question is:
The easement should be recorded with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located.
Thank you!
Answer
Yes, I'd capitalize it.
Question from San Angelo, Texas, on Jan. 13, 2022
Cyber secure or cyber-secure? I know it needs a hyphen as a modifier but I'm unsure if it that applies at the end of a sentence.
E.g. to help our community become more cyber secure
E.g. to help our community become more cyber secure
Answer
We'd prefer not to use the term, and instead use more words to spell out what you mean. If you have it use it, use the hyphen.
Question from Summit, New Jersey, on Jan. 13, 2022
Do the terms "latter" and "former" only refer to two items? Is it incorrect to use it for more than two items? Example: I like vanilla, strawberry and chocolate, but the latter is my favorite.
Answer
There is debate on that issue. Some say the terms should be used only for two items; others note that common usage has evolved to be OK with more than two in a series. We don't have formal guidance on this. I'd say it depends on whether you prefer to be old-school or not.
Question from on Jan. 13, 2022
What is the AP's stance on making the pronoun "one" possessive?
As in "... living ones values."
Is it "ones" (no apostrophe, like the possessive pronoun "his") or is it "one's" (WITH an apostrophe, like the possessive noun "men's") ?
Thanks!
As in "... living ones values."
Is it "ones" (no apostrophe, like the possessive pronoun "his") or is it "one's" (WITH an apostrophe, like the possessive noun "men's") ?
Thanks!
Answer
one's values
Question from Mount Laurel, New Jersey, on Jan. 13, 2022
Which is correct? Getting "boosted" or "boostered" (for the COVID-19 vaccine).
Answer
Boosted is the common parlance.
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