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Last Seven DaysQuestion from Chicago, on Feb. 6, 2023
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Question from Bethesda, Maryland, on Feb. 5, 2023
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academically and socially daunting?
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Question from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, on Feb. 4, 2023
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Question from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 3, 2023
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Adding to that this week:
To use a different example specific to your question: The Fed hiked its benchmark rate 0.5 percentage point.
We don't have specific guidance on reading for TV, but there are many cases when broadcast writers use a variation for copy that is read aloud. Something like: The Fed hiked its benchmark rate half a percentage point.
Question from Bellevue, Washington, on Feb. 3, 2023
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Question from Lakeland, Florida, on Feb. 3, 2023
A quick question from a longtime fan: How is lunchmeat/lunch meat spelled? Webster's says it's one word, but in this AP entry for bologna, it's spelled as two words: Associated Press Stylebook (apstylebook.com).
Thank you!
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Question from Shinjuku, on Feb. 3, 2023
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Question from Pouslbo, Washington, on Feb. 2, 2023
Also, should Tribe or Nation (vs tribe or nation) be used as a standalone proper noun when referring to a specific tribal government on second reference?
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On later references, we lowercase tribe and nation.
Here's one of the relevant sections of the race-related coverage entry:
tribe Refers to a sovereign political entity, communities sharing a common ancestry, culture or language, and a social group of linked families who may be part of an ethnic group. Capitalize the word tribe when part of a formal name of sovereign political entities, or communities sharing a common ancestry, culture or language. Identify tribes by the political identity specified by the tribe, nation or community: the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, the Cherokee Nation. The term ethnic group is preferred when referring to ethnicity or ethnic violence.
Question from Bethesda, Md., on Feb. 2, 2023
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Question from Half Moon Bay, CA, California, on Feb. 2, 2023
Here's are two example sentences:
Empower your teams with skills development.
To meet changing business needs, organizations should have skills development on demand.
Also, I believe skills should always be plural in the term skills gap. Is that correct?
Can you please advise?
Thanks!
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Question from London, on Feb. 2, 2023
Can we get an official ruling from the GOAT of style guides? ;-) Thanks!
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Already considered the GOAT — greatest of all time — Brady finally walked away from the NFL on Wednesday following the most difficult, emotionally draining season in his life.
In a story about Messi: Competition is fierce when it comes to determining the greatest of all time, or the GOAT, as it has come to be known. It can come down to the smallest of margins that separate players of such brilliance.
The term GOAT has been known to show up in AP sports headlines, without an explanation immediately attached. Usually it's in the story but sometimes not.
We do love being the GOAT of style guides!
Question from Washington, District of Columbia, on Feb. 2, 2023
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
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I can't speak to the thinking of the editors in 2008 who use the hyphen for the treaty. I suspect it was the predominant use.
Question from Tacoma, Washington, on Feb. 2, 2023
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Question from New York, New York, on Feb. 1, 2023
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Question from Seattle, Washington, on Feb. 1, 2023
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Question from APO, Armed Forces, on Feb. 1, 2023
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Question from Waunakee, Wisconsin, on Jan. 31, 2023
In addition to these basic criteria, it is important to understand the wide diversity of wetlands.
I wasn't sure if this is correct or if AP would recommend this be changed to read: "In addition to this basic criteria ..."
Thanks!
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Question from Lansing, Michigan, on Jan. 31, 2023
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CAPS, PERIODS: Use capital letters and periods according to the listings in this book. For words not in this book, use the first-listed abbreviation in Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Generally, omit periods in acronyms unless the result would spell an unrelated word. But use periods in most two-letter abbreviations: U.S., U.N., U.K., B.A., B.C. (AP, a trademark, is an exception. Also, no periods in GI, ID and EU, among others.) In headlines, do not use periods in abbreviations, unless required for clarity.
Question from Casper, Wyoming, on Jan. 31, 2023
Which sentence is correct for years:
The genus lived from the late Jurassic, about 160 million years ago, to the Miocene, 5 million years ago. OR The genus lived from the late Jurassic, about 160 million years ago, to the Miocene, five million years ago?
Thank you!
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