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Last Seven Days

Question from Casper, Wyoming, on Oct. 7, 2025

Hello!

I have a question regarding dates. Should this sentence read: "To learn more about the piece itself, come to the museum before January 1st." OR "To learn more about the piece itself, come to the museum before January 1." I think it should be: "To learn more about the piece itself, come to the museum before Jan. 1." Thanks!

Answer

You are correct: "To learn more about the piece itself, come to the museum before Jan. 1." 
Here's a helpful guide: https://apstylebook.com/ap_stylebook/months

Question from Merelbeke-Melle, Belgium, on Oct. 6, 2025

I am translating a book about scientific research. In the captions of graphics, figures and tables, the (Belgian) editor suggests capitalizing the captions, as in "The Hourglass Model as Applied to the Agrifood Market. Free Translation and Illustration by ILVO." This looks utterly wrong to me. What is the AP style for captions under graphics of this kind?

Answer

I'll admit I don't know about these specific terms, but a little online research suggests that "hourglass model" and "agrifood market" are commonly used without serving as part of an official title. In this case, I would not capitalize. 

Question from Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 5, 2025

Is the word subreddit treated as a common noun (and thus in lowercase), unless referring to a specific subreddit (e.g.,  Dodgers Subreddit, Libraries Subreddit)? 

Answer

That's correct - we capitalize Reddit as the name of the platform, but lowercase subreddit because it isn't a proper noun. I agree that if the title of the subreddit is Dodgers Subreddit, I'd capitalize. 
https://www.apstylebook.com/ap_stylebook/reddit?sconvid=19647

Question from Washington D.C., on Oct. 5, 2025

what is the rule for cursing / vulgarity when quoting? Because I'm drafting a story and need to quote someone and he says "fucking" and "crap" how do i handle that without changing his quote? 

Answer

We don't usually use obscenities and vulgarities. Occasionally, it is important to a news story that the reader understand what word was used. In that case, we typically handle it like this:

If the obscenity involved is particularly offensive but the story requires making clear what the word was, replace the letters of the offensive word with hyphens, using only an initial letter: f---, s---.

As always: Consider your audience.

https://www.apstylebook.com/ap_stylebook/obscenities-profanities-vulgarities?sconvid=16515

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