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Ready to lowercase ‘internet’ and ‘web’

by Lauren Easton, director of media relations on April 2, 2016
During a panel at the American Copy Editors Society national conference in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, it was announced that the 2016 AP Stylebook will lowercase the words ‘internet’ and ‘web.’
The changes will take effect when the new print edition of the Stylebook is published on June 1.

Previewing the new edition at the ACES conference, Standards Editor Thomas Kent highlighted a few of the added entries, including the shortest Stylebook item, ‘L,’ now acceptable when referring to the Chicago Transit Authority train system.

The 2016 AP Stylebook will include more than 240 new and modified entries, some of which have already been released to AP Stylebook Online subscribers. Some of the additions presented at the meeting include:

prostitute – Avoid terms like child, underage or teenage prostitute, except in quotations or in referring to criminal charges that may use these terms. The phrasing can suggest that a child is voluntarily trading sex for money. Minors are not able to consent.

exponential growth – Used when something has grown by increasing amounts. For instance, a population might increase by 5 percent from 1980 to 1990, 10 percent from 1990 to 2000 and 15 percent from 2000 to 2010. Not simply a synonym for a large increase.

accident, crash – Generally acceptable for automobile and other collisions and wrecks. However, when negligence is claimed or proven, avoid accident, which can be read by some as a term exonerating the person responsible. In such cases, use crash, collision or other terms. See collide, collision.

L – The name of the Chicago train system. Not El.

mezcal – Clear liquor from Mexico made from a variety of agave plants.

Uniqlo– A Japanese retailer of casual wear.

normcore– A fashion trend that combines “normal” and “hardcore” and is characterized by unpretentious, unisex, average dressing.

The AP Stylebook is the definitive resource for journalists and a must-have reference for writers, editors students and professionals. It provides fundamental guidelines for spelling, language, punctuation, usage and journalistic style.

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