AP Style Guide

In AP (Associated Press) style, a dateline appears at the very start of a news story to tell readers where and, traditionally, when the story originated. It is written with the city name in all capital letters, followed by the state or country (when needed), and then an em dash leading into the first sentence for example, “CHICAGO The city council voted today…” Major, well-known cities like NEW YORK, LONDON, and PARIS stand alone without a state or country, as they appear on AP’s list of “standalone” datelines. Smaller or less familiar cities are followed by the state (AP-abbreviated) or nation for example, “SPRINGFIELD, Ill.” or “NICE, France.” The city name is capitalized, while the state or country uses normal capitalization. So the key rule to remember: put the originating city in all caps, add the state or country only when clarity requires it, and separate the dateline from the story with an em dash.

AP Style datelines are used to specify the location and date at the beginning of a news article. The city is capitalized, followed by the state or country, with specific rules for abbreviations and cities that stand alone without state names.

What AP Style Datelines Suggests?

Dateline is a line at the beginning of a news article that depicts when and where the article has been written.

According to AP Style, datelines that include the name of the city should be written in capital letters. Mostly, the city is followed by the state in which that particular city is located.

For example,

1. BOGOTA, Colombia, June 29

However, the AP Style mentions some cities, after which you don’t have to write out the name of its state. Those cities are,

• ATLANTA
• BALTIMORE
• BOSTON
• CHICAGO
• CINCINNATI
• CLEVELAND
• DALLAS
• DENVER
• DETROIT
• HONOLULU
• HOUSTON
• INDIANAPOLIS
• LAS VEGAS
• LOS ANGELES
• MIAMI
• MILWAUKEE
• MINNEAPOLIS
• NEW ORLEANS
• NEW YORK
• OKLAHOMA CITY
• PHILADELPHIA
• PHOENIX
• PITTSBURGH
• ST. LOUIS
• SALT LAKE CITY
• SAN ANTONIO
• SAN DIEGO
• SAN FRANCISCO
• SEATTLE
• WASHINGTON

International Locations

AP Style suggests that the international locations such as AMSTERDAM, BAGHDAD, BANGKOK, BEIJING, BEIRUT, BERLIN, BRUSSELS, CAIRO, DJIBOUTI, DUBLIN, GENEVA, GIBRALTAR, GUATEMALA CITY, HAVANA, HELSINKI, HONG KONG, ISLAMABAD, MEXICO CITY, MILAN, MONACO, MONTREAL, MOSCOW, MUNICH, NEW DELHI, PANAMA CITY, PARIS, PRAGUE, QUEBEC CITY, RIO DE JANEIRO, ROME, SAN MARINO, SAO PAULO, SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, ISTANBUL, JERUSALEM, JOHANNESBURG, KUWAIT CITY, LONDON, LUXEMBOURG, MACAU, MADRID, STOCKHOLM, SYDNEY, TOKYO, TORONTO, VATICAN CITY, VIENNA, and ZURICH always stand alone in datelines.

Use of Abbreviations

You should abbreviate the following state names in datelines.

• Alabama: Ala.
• Arizona: Ariz.
• Arkansas: Ark.
• California: Calif.
• Colorado: Colo.
• Connecticut: Conn.
• Delaware: Del.
• Florida: Fla.
• Georgia: Ga.
• Illinois: Ill.
• Indiana: Ind.
• Kansas: Kan.
• Kentucky: Ky.
• Louisiana: La.
• Maryland: Md.
• Massachusetts: Mass.
• Michigan: Mich.
• Minnesota: Minn.
• Mississippi: Miss
• Missouri: Mo.
• Montana: Mont.
• Nebraska: Neb.
• Nevada: Nev.
• New Hampshire: N.H.
• New Jersey: N.J.
• New Mexico: N.M.
• New York: N.Y.
• North Carolina: N.C.
• North Dakota: N.D.
• Oklahoma: Okla.
• Oregon: Ore.
• Pennsylvania: Pa.
• Rhode Island: R.I.
• South Carolina: S.C.
• South Dakota: S.D.
• Tennessee: Tenn.
• Vermont: Vt.
• Virginia: Va.
• Washington: Wash.
• West Virginia: W.Va.
• Wisconsin: Wis.
• Wyoming: Wyo.

When to Use Abbreviations in Datelines

In AP Style, abbreviations are commonly used in datelines for U.S. states, but they are not used universally. The main purpose of abbreviations is to make the dateline more concise while maintaining clarity. Here’s how and when to use abbreviations:

1. Abbreviating U.S. States

In a dateline, state names are abbreviated when they appear after a city. These abbreviations should be used only when the city and state are listed together. There are specific abbreviations for U.S. states, and AP Style dictates which states should be abbreviated.

For example:

• MESA, Ariz. (Arizona is abbreviated as “Ariz.”)
• BOSTON, Mass. (Massachusetts is abbreviated as “Mass.”)
• LOS ANGELES, Calif. (California is abbreviated as “Calif.”)
• TAMPA, Fla. (Florida is abbreviated as “Fla.”)

Check Out: How To Write United States in AP Style?

2. States That Should Never Be Abbreviated

Eight U.S. states are exceptions to this rule and should never be abbreviated in a dateline, whether they appear alone or with a city. These are: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah.

For example:

• DALLAS, Texas (Texas is never abbreviated)
• DES MOINES, Iowa (Iowa is never abbreviated)

3. Abbreviating Cities and States in Datelines

Remember, abbreviations should only be used in datelines when the city and state are together. If a state name appears by itself or with a year, it should always be written out in full.

For example:

• WASHINGTON (state) – Washington is not abbreviated in the body text of a news article.
• DENVER, Colo. (Colorado is abbreviated as “Colo.”)

4. The Use of Country Names

For international cities, no abbreviations are used in datelines. Cities like Paris, Tokyo, or Beijing do not require state or country abbreviations in the dateline.

Check Out: How To Write State Names In AP Style.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with AP Style Datelines

Datelines are one of the most crucial parts of journalistic writing, as they establish the location and time context of the article. However, several mistakes can undermine the clarity and professionalism of the dateline. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:

1. Using the Wrong State Abbreviations

One of the most common mistakes is using incorrect or outdated state abbreviations. AP Style has specific abbreviations for states, and using the wrong abbreviation can confuse the reader. For example:

• Incorrect: BOSTON, MA (MA is for Massachusetts, but it’s not in AP Style)
• Correct: BOSTON, Mass.

2. Forgetting to Capitalize the City Name

The name of the city in a dateline should always be capitalized. A common mistake is to write the city name in lowercase or improper case.

• Incorrect: miami, Fla.
• Correct: MIAMI, Fla.

3. Omitting Commas in the Dateline

Another frequent mistake is failing to place the proper commas. In AP Style, there are specific rules for punctuation in datelines. A comma should always be placed between the city and the state abbreviation, as well as after the state.

• Incorrect: MIAMI Fla. June 29
• Correct: MIAMI, Fla., June 29

4. Using Full State Names When Not Required

While full state names should be used when they appear alone or with a year, the dateline format requires abbreviations for most U.S. states. A mistake is to use the full name of a state when it should be abbreviated.

• Incorrect: TAMPA, Florida, June 29
• Correct: TAMPA, Fla., June 29

5. Abbreviating States That Shouldn’t Be Abbreviated

The eight U.S. states that should never be abbreviated—Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas, and Utah—should be spelled out in a dateline. A common mistake is to abbreviate them.

• Incorrect: ANCHORAGE, AK, June 29 (should be “Alaska”)
• Correct: ANCHORAGE, Alaska, June 29

6. Incorrect Punctuation in International Datelines

In AP Style, international cities are listed with no state abbreviation, but writers may mistakenly add unnecessary commas or abbreviations after the city name. Always remember that international cities stand alone without a state name or abbreviation.

• Incorrect: LONDON, U.K. (Don’t abbreviate the country in this case)
• Correct: LONDON, June 29

What Did You Learn?

Key points to remember include capitalizing city names, using state abbreviations when appropriate, and recognizing the exceptions for certain U.S. states and international locations.

In AP (Associated Press) style, dates are written using figures without ordinal suffixes so you write “July 4” rather than “July 4th” or “the fourth of July.” When a specific date is given, the longer months are abbreviated (Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.), while March, April, May, June, and July are always spelled out in full for example, “The deadline is Dec. 15” but “The deadline is June 15.” For a full month-day-year date, place a comma both before and after the year when it appears mid-sentence — for example, “The event on Dec. 15, 2024, was a success.” When only a month and year are used, no comma is needed (December 2024), and a month standing alone is always spelled out completely. So the key AP rules to remember: use numerals with no “th” or “st,” abbreviate long months only with a specific date, and set off the year with commas in a full date.

AP Style dictates specific rules for writing dates to maintain consistency and clarity. This includes using numerals for dates without ordinal suffixes and following guidelines for abbreviating months and referring to decades.

How To Write Dates in AP Style

According to AP Style, you should not use ordinal numbers for dates. You should always use figures or numerals (i.e. without st, nd, th, or rd).

For example,

• July 10th (Wrong)

• July 10 (Correct)

Furthermore, if a specific date is mentioned, then you can abbreviate the following months.

• Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec.

However, March, April, May, June and July should not be abbreviated.

For example,

1. Today is Friday, Feb. 3, 2017

2. It’s February 2017

3. July 3, 2017

4. Dec. 4

5. January is one of my favorite months.

Furthermore, you cannot use an apostrophe in references like 1900s or 1600s etc. However, an apostrophe is only needed in the references like ‘90s or ‘80s.

For example,

• The decade of the Gregorian calendar began in the 1900s.

• The ‘80s were the famous time because it was about peace and love.

When to Use Figures for Dates in AP Style

In AP Style, dates should always be written using figures, without the addition of ordinal indicators like “st,” “nd,” “rd,” or “th.” For example, you should write “July 10” instead of “July 10th.”

The use of figures ensures clarity and consistency in written content. Additionally, when referring to months with specific days, abbreviate months like January, February, August, September, October, November, and December only when the day is included. For example:

• Correct: “The event is scheduled for Dec. 5.”
• Incorrect: “The event is scheduled for Dec. 5th.”

When a specific date is mentioned, always use figures for the day of the month, and keep the month and year in full form unless the month is abbreviated according to AP rules.

Formatting Date Ranges in AP Style

When writing date ranges in AP Style, the format should remain straightforward, avoiding unnecessary words or punctuation. If referencing a range of dates that includes months, use the full names or abbreviations where applicable, but without adding extra words. There are several rules to follow:

Use an en dash (–) between the start and end dates, without spaces around it.

• For example: “The conference will run from June 1–5.”

If referencing a year or a range of years, do not add extra words like “from” or “to” unless necessary.

• For example: “The company was founded in 2000–2005.”

When the start and end years are the same, only include the year in the range.

• For example: “The event takes place July 5–7, 2023.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Dates

There are several common mistakes that writers often make when following AP Style for dates. Here are some to watch out for:

• Using ordinal numbers: AP Style strictly avoids the use of ordinal numbers (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) when writing dates. Always use the numeral without a suffix, such as “July 4” instead of “July 4th.”
• Abbreviating months incorrectly: Not all months should be abbreviated. AP Style allows for the abbreviations of January, February, August, September, October, November, and December when a specific date is mentioned, but March, April, May, June, and July should never be abbreviated.
  • Correct: “Feb. 14”
  • Incorrect: “Febuary 14”
• Incorrect handling of decades: When writing about decades or centuries, avoid using an apostrophe unless referring to a shortened form, like “the ’90s.” For example:
  • Correct: “The 1990s were a transformative decade.”
  • Incorrect: “The 1900’s were a transformative decade.”
• Including unnecessary commas in date ranges: When writing date ranges, do not include commas or words like “from” or “to” unless needed.
  • Correct: “The exhibit will run from June 1 to June 5.”
  • Incorrect: “The exhibit will run from June 1, to June 5.”

Check Out: How Do We Write Numbers In AP Style?

What Did You Learn?

From using numerals without ordinal suffixes to knowing when and how to abbreviate months, following these guidelines ensures your writing aligns with journalistic standards.

In AP (Associated Press) style, the general, informal reference to a degree uses an apostrophe and a lowercase letter: write “bachelor’s degree” and “master’s degree,” not “Bachelor’s Degree” or “bachelors degree.” Note the possessive apostrophe is required (bachelor’s, not bachelors). When referring to a degree in a specific field, AP style keeps it lowercase too for example, “a bachelor’s degree in history” rather than capitalizing the subject. AP generally discourages the use of abbreviations like B.A. or B.S. in running text, preferring the spelled-out form; abbreviations are only used when there’s a clear need, such as in a list with many names, and even then AP sets them without periods in some house variations. So the key rule to remember: write “bachelor’s degree” in lowercase with an apostrophe, spell it out in normal text, and keep the field of study lowercase as well.

In AP Style, degree titles like “bachelor’s degree” are written in lowercase, and abbreviations for degrees should be avoided. It’s important to follow specific capitalization and phrasing rules when referencing academic degrees.

What AP Style Suggests?

According to AP Style, you should avoid using abbreviations for bachelor’s degree. You have to keep a few points to write down degrees.

If you are writing ‘bachelor’s degree’ or ‘bachelor’s’, then you don’t have to capitalize these terms. Both terms are acceptable with lowercase letters.

For example,

• She worked hard for 8 years and got two bachelor’s degrees.

However, if you will write ‘bachelor degrees’, then it will be taken as a wrong phrase. For example,

• She worked hard for 8 years and got two bachelor degrees. (Wrong)

One more point to remember:

You don’t need to add apostrophes in Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. However, you should capitalize these terms. For example,

• She has a Bachelor of Arts degree. (Correct)

• She has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree. (Wrong)

Capitalization Rules for Academic Degrees in AP Style

In AP Style, the names of academic degrees, such as “bachelor’s degree” or “master’s degree,” are not capitalized unless they directly follow a person’s name. The key rule is to capitalize degree titles only when they are part of a formal title or are being used after a person’s name.

Examples:

• She earned a bachelor’s degree in history.
• He has a master’s degree in economics.
• Dr. John Smith, Ph.D., is our guest speaker today.

However, when you are writing “bachelor’s” or “master’s” alone (without the specific degree type or field), it remains lowercase.

Example:

• She received two bachelor’s degrees, one in biology and another in psychology.

When to Use Full Degree Titles vs. Abbreviations

AP Style suggests using the full name of a degree in most cases and advises against abbreviating degree names like “B.A.” or “M.A.”. Abbreviations should only be used when they are necessary for brevity or space, and even then, “B.A.” or “M.A.” should be used sparingly.

For undergraduate degrees, always spell out “bachelor’s degree” and never abbreviate it to “B.A.” in text. The same rule applies for “master’s degree” (no abbreviating to “M.A.”) unless space is extremely limited.

Examples:

• He received his bachelor’s degree in English.
• She holds a master’s degree in business administration.

Abbreviations like “M.D.” (Doctor of Medicine) or “Ph.D.” (Doctor of Philosophy) are acceptable in certain contexts when referencing highly specialized degrees.

Example:

• Dr. Jane Doe, M.D., spoke at the conference.

Check Out: How Do We Write Academic Titles In AP Style?

Writing Degree Titles in Headlines and Subheadings

In headlines or subheadings, degree titles are generally treated with the same rules as in regular text—capitalize them only when they directly follow a name. When used as a noun (e.g., “She earned a bachelor’s degree”), the title is lowercase. The exception is for the more formal titles such as “Dr.” or “Prof.” when they precede a person’s name.

Examples in Headlines:

• Dr. John Smith, Ph.D., to Speak at Graduation Ceremony
• She Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology

Here, “Dr.” and “Ph.D.” are capitalized because they appear directly before the person’s name. The “bachelor’s degree” is lowercase because it is used as a noun and not part of a title.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Degree Titles in AP Style

Common mistakes often arise from improper capitalization and incorrect phrasing when writing academic degrees in AP Style. Some of the frequent errors include:

1. Using unnecessary apostrophes: Avoid writing “Bachelor’s of Arts” or “Bachelor’s degree” when referencing a degree. The term “Bachelor of Arts” is the correct phrasing. The apostrophe in “Bachelor’s” should only be used when referring to a possession, such as in “She has a bachelor’s degree.”
2. Incorrect use of abbreviations: Many writers mistakenly abbreviate “Bachelor of Arts” as “B.A.” or “Master of Science” as “M.S.” unless absolutely necessary. In most cases, it’s better to spell the degree out to avoid confusion.
3. Confusing academic titles with degrees: Titles like “Dr.” or “Prof.” should be used before a person’s name to refer to their academic status, while the degree itself follows a specific format. For example, it is correct to say, “Dr. Emily Thompson, Ph.D.,” not “Dr. Emily Thompson, Ph.D. in physics.

What Did You Learn?

Understanding how to write academic degrees according to AP Style is essential for maintaining clarity and consistency in your writing.

Key points include capitalizing specific degree titles when they directly follow a person’s name, avoiding abbreviations unless necessary, and correctly spelling out degrees like “bachelor’s degree” or “master’s degree” in most contexts.

In AP (Associated Press) style, the rule for United States depends on whether it’s used as a noun or an adjective. As a noun, it is always spelled out for example, “He traveled across the United States.” As an adjective (modifying another noun), AP style uses the abbreviation “U.S.” with periods for example, “U.S. foreign policy” or “the U.S. economy.” Note that AP keeps the periods in U.S. (unlike some other style guides that drop them), and the same applies to U.N. and U.K. When US appears in a headline, however, AP drops the periods (US). The abbreviation “USA” is generally reserved for special contexts like sports or quotations, not regular text. So the key rule to remember: spell out “United States” as a noun, use “U.S.” with periods as an adjective, and drop the periods only in headlines.

In AP Style, “United States” is written out as a noun, while “U.S.” is used as an adjective within sentences. In headlines, “US” is preferred without periods for brevity and clarity.

What AP Style US Suggests?

The word United States can be used as a noun or an adjective within sentences.

1. If you are using ‘United States’ as a noun, you should capitalize it by giving a space between ‘United’ and ‘States’.

For example,

• There are a few top universities in the United States.

2. You can use U.S. (as an adjective) without any spaces between both letters. For example,

• A U.S. citizen asked me to join his local company.

Note: According to AP Style, you should use US (with no periods and space) in headlines. For example,

• US postal employee charged… (Firstcoastnews.com)

Why AP Style Differs for “United States” in Headlines and Text

AP Style simplifies “United States” to “US” in headlines to save space and improve readability, which is especially useful in news articles where headlines must be brief and impactful.

Omitting the periods in “US” also aligns with general headline formatting rules, which favor minimal punctuation to avoid visual clutter. For example:

• In text: “The U.S. economy saw significant growth last quarter.”
• In a headline: “US Economy Sees Major Growth Last Quarter”

Common Mistakes to Avoid with “United States” in AP Style

One common error is mixing up “United States” as a noun with “U.S.” as an adjective. In AP Style, “United States” should be spelled out when it serves as a noun, while “U.S.” is used in an adjectival context. For example:

• Incorrect: “A United States company opened a new branch.”
• Correct: “A U.S. company opened a new branch.”

Another mistake is using “U.S.” in headlines, which goes against AP Style. Headlines should instead use “US” without periods for brevity and a cleaner look. For instance:

• Incorrect: “U.S. Education Policy Changes Announced”
• Correct: “US Education Policy Changes Announced”

Finally, writers sometimes mistakenly add spaces between “U” and “S” when abbreviating, which should be avoided. Always write “U.S.” as one continuous abbreviation when it functions as an adjective.

Additional AP Style Tips for Writing Country Names

In AP Style, country names are typically spelled out fully within text, with abbreviations reserved for only a few specific countries, such as “U.K.” and “U.S.” Additionally, it does not use periods with most country abbreviations in headlines, as seen with “UK” and “US.”

For countries with widely recognized abbreviations (such as “UK” for United Kingdom), AP Style allows their use sparingly and only when contextually clear. When discussing certain countries in longer texts, writers should opt to spell out the name at least on the first reference. Here are a few examples:

• Text: “Trade between the United Kingdom and the United States is strong.”
• Headline: “UK and US Trade Hits Record High”

Check Out: Find Out The Abbreviation For Country.

What Did You Learn?

Key points include using “United States” as a noun, “U.S.” as an adjective, and “US” in headlines without periods. By understanding these distinctions and applying additional tips for country names, you can create clean, polished content that aligns with industry standards.

In AP Style, titles follow specific rules regarding capitalization, placement, and punctuation, depending on their formality and position relative to a name. Proper use of titles enhances clarity and professionalism in journalistic writing.

A title is an identifying name. There are a few rules to write down the titles. Continue reading the post to get those important points.

What AP Style Titles Suggests?

1. Capitalization: If there is a formal or professional title, you should capitalize the title that should precede a person’s name.

For example,

• I have an appointment with Dean Smith Leo.

2. Lowercase: If the titles are not formal, come after the name or are set off by commas then, you should remember to write those titles in lowercase letters.

For example,

• The professor asked us to prepare a presentation on the given topic.
• James Oliver, former president of the institute, will be joining us today.
• The chairman of an American company, Jacob Jack, left us.

3. Academic Titles: Abbreviated academic titles (like, B.A., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., M.B.A., etc.) can be used when they are important to the text. These titles should be placed after full names and it is necessary to place a comma between the name and the academic titles.

For example,

• Jacob Jack, M.S.

• James Oliver, Ph.D.

4. The titles Mr., Mrs., Ms., Col., Gen., Maj., Rep., etc. come before a name like, Mrs. Smith, Dr. John etc.

5. Titles of books, compositions, movies, magazines, etc. should be written in quotations and are capitalized.

For example,

• You should read “The Hobbit”.

Understanding Formal vs. Informal Titles in AP Style

In AP Style, formal titles convey a recognized position of authority or professional rank (such as “President,” “Governor,” “Professor”), whereas informal titles are general descriptors (such as “teacher,” “coach,” or “author”).

Formal titles are typically capitalized when placed directly before a person’s name, which highlights the authority or significance of the position in official contexts. For instance:

• Formal: “Mayor John Smith announced the new policy.”
• Informal: “John Smith, the city’s mayor, announced the new policy.”

When to Capitalize Titles Before a Name

AP Style recommends capitalizing formal titles when they appear immediately before a person’s name, as it signifies the person’s official role.

This rule applies to recognized titles of authority, such as “President,” “Senator,” “Dean,” and “General.” However, if the title is long or contains multiple words, it’s usually better to use a lowercase version after the name. Examples include:

• Correct: “President Susan Harris will attend the meeting.”
• Correct: “General Michael Green led the operation.”

When using titles like “former” or “deceased” before a name, remember to lowercase the title, as it’s no longer an active position. For example:

• Correct: “former President John Doe”

Avoid capitalizing titles used generically (e.g., “the president spoke”) to maintain clarity.

Using Lowercase for Titles After a Name

When a title appears after a person’s name, AP Style specifies that it should be lowercase, as it’s considered a descriptive detail rather than a direct formal title.

Lowercasing titles after a name is essential for consistency, even if the title is significant. Examples include:

• Correct: “David Chen, the company’s chief financial officer, announced the results.”
• Correct: “Jane Doe, professor of biology, led the research study.”

This rule also applies to titles set off by commas in a sentence, emphasizing that the title is additional information rather than the focus of the sentence.

Check Out: How Do We Write Academic Titles In AP Style?

How to Format Titles in Headlines and Subheadings

In AP Style, titles in headlines are treated slightly differently. Major words in a headline should be capitalized, but shorter words like articles, prepositions, and conjunctions are usually in lowercase unless they are the first word.

AP Style also avoids the use of periods in most abbreviations in headlines, so titles like “U.S.” would appear as “US” instead.

For example:

• Correct: “Mayor Proposes New Tax Plan” (major words capitalized, short prepositions in lowercase)
• Correct: “US Health Official Announces New Guidelines” (periods omitted in “US”)

In headlines, readability and conciseness are key. Ensure that titles in headlines remain clear without unnecessary words, punctuation, or symbols, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essential information.

What Did You Learn?

Following these AP Style guidelines makes your writing polished, credible, and easy to follow in both professional and media contexts.