In AP Style, the names of months are capitalized, with specific rules for when to abbreviate them. Only six months, Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., and Dec., can be abbreviated when paired with a specific date, while the rest must be spelled out.
The first and foremost point to remember is that you should capitalize the names of months.
For example,
June 15
August 2017
Jan. 5
Abbreviate: You can abbreviate the following months.
• Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec.
These months can be abbreviated when a specific date (figure) is mentioned. Otherwise, you should spell out the whole word.
For example,
• It’s Feb. 3
• Today is Friday, Feb. 3, 2017
• My favorite month is November.
Don’t Abbreviate: You cannot abbreviate the following months.
• March, April, May, June, and July. For example, June 10, May 15, etc.
Check Out: What Is The Abbreviation For Months?
Important Point to Remember:
If you are referring a month with a year (i.e. no specific date) then, none of the month should be abbreviated. Plus, you don’t have to set off commas with the year.
For example,
• It’s February 2017.
• Waiting for October 2018.
When to Abbreviate Month Names in AP Style
In AP Style, abbreviating month names is acceptable, but it’s important to know when and how to use them. Months can be abbreviated only when they are followed by a specific date (a number). The months that can be abbreviated are:
- January becomes Jan.
- February becomes Feb.
- August becomes Aug.
- September becomes Sept.
- October becomes Oct.
- December becomes Dec.
These months should be abbreviated only in cases where they are paired with a numerical date. For example:
- Correct: “The meeting will be held on Jan. 5.”
- Correct: “He graduated in Sept. 2019.”
Do not abbreviate the months when there is no specific date attached. For example:
- Incorrect: “In Jan., we saw a significant increase in sales.”
- Correct: “In January, we saw a significant increase in sales.”
Months That Should Never Be Abbreviated
There are five months in AP Style that should never be abbreviated, regardless of the context. These months should always be written out in full:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
These months are relatively short and are considered to be easily recognizable, so there is no need for abbreviation. For example:
- Correct: “The event will take place in March.”
- Correct: “We are planning a vacation in July.”
Avoid abbreviating these months under any circumstances:
- Incorrect: “The conference will be held in Mar.“
- Correct: “The conference will be held in March.”
Formatting Months with Years in AP Style
When a month is paired with a year but not a specific date, do not abbreviate the month name. The year should always follow the month, and no commas are used between them.
For example:
- Correct: “We will start the project in February 2023.”
- Correct: “She moved to the city in October 2019.”
However, if the month is paired with a specific date, the month should be abbreviated, and the date should come immediately after. For example:
- Correct: “The conference will be held on Feb. 10, 2023.”
- Correct: “The report is due by Oct. 15, 2022.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Month Names
Abbreviating Months That Should Not Be Abbreviated
A common mistake is attempting to abbreviate months like March, April, June, and July, which should always be written out in full. For example:
Incorrect: “The festival will take place in Jun.“
Correct: “The festival will take place in June.”
Using Commas with Years When the Month Isn’t Abbreviated
Another mistake is placing a comma between the month and year when there’s no specific date. This is incorrect in AP Style. You should not use commas when only the month and year are mentioned.
Incorrect: “We are launching the campaign in February, 2023.”
Correct: “We are launching the campaign in February 2023.”
Inconsistent Use of Abbreviations
When writing about months, it’s important to be consistent. If you decide to abbreviate the month (e.g., Jan.), do so for every instance where it is used with a date. Don’t mix abbreviations and full names within the same document unless the context requires it.
Incorrect: “We met in March and the event will be held in Sept.“
Correct: “We met in March and the event will be held in Sept.“
Abbreviating Months in Headlines or Subheadings Without a Date
Avoid abbreviating months in headlines unless a specific date is mentioned. If you’re referring to just the month in the headline, always spell it out. For example:
Incorrect: “New Features Released in Sept. Update”
Correct: “New Features Released in September Update”
What Did You Learn?
We learned that months like January, February, August, September, October, and December can be abbreviated when paired with a specific date, while others, like March, April, June, and July, must always be written out. Additionally, months paired with years should not be abbreviated