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.

Formatting a press release in AP Style involves following a structured format to effectively convey essential information to the media. Key elements include a compelling headline, a concise summary of the news, and clear contact information.

Press release is a written official statement about a particular matter forwarded by its promoters to the media for coverage.

You should be efficient in formatting a press realease. As you know that AP Style is the best formatting guide to format a press release. So, it is better to choose this particular style for making your press release efficient and productive.

Understanding the Purpose of a Press Release

A press release is a formal statement issued by a company or individual to inform the media and public about a specific event, announcement, or development.

The goal is to provide concise, newsworthy information that will attract media attention, ensuring accurate and wide-reaching coverage.

The Importance of AP Style in Press Releases

Using AP Style in press releases lends credibility and consistency to your message. AP Style is the industry standard for journalistic writing, ensuring that your release meets professional media expectations.

Following AP Style improves readability, making it easier for journalists to incorporate your content directly into their stories.

What AP Style Suggests?

The first and foremost point is to ask yourself that the information you got has value in it or not, or is it productive or not?

Now, follow the following steps to learn how to format a press release.

1. If you want your press release to be published immediately, you can write “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” in bold letters at the top left-hand side.

2. After this, you need to write your headline. You should capitalize the first letter of each major word that does not include conjunctions or articles. Your headline should be of one phrase or sentence. After headline, you can write a sub-headline but that is optional. Your sub-headline can be longer than your headline. You just have to expand your headline in your sub-headline.

3. After headline and sub-headline, you should write your city and state, along with the date. For example, ‘Miami, Fla. Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017′.

4. The next step is to write out your text that should not be a story. Remember that you are providing an authentic information to the editor or journalist. So, you have to be very specific while writing your text.

• Your press release should not be more than 400-500 words.

• You should cover the 5 W’s (i.e. Who, What, Why, Where, and When) and it should be your first paragraph. Write all important details.

• Always write in third person. Use of ‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘you’ is unacceptable.

5. After that, you should provide your company’s contact information such as your name, email address, contact number, address. This information will help them to contact you if they want to ask any further questions.

6. At the bottom, you should mention the word ‘END’ that will ensure the reader the end of your press release.

Note: Always use Times New Roman as font face for your press release.

For more information, read our AP Style Numbers and AP Style Titles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Press Releases

Common errors in press releases include:

• excessive length,
• lack of clarity,
• and failing to cover essential details like the 5 W’s (Who, What, Why, Where, and When).

Avoid overly promotional language, as press releases should inform, not sell. Always proofread for grammar and format to maintain professionalism and credibility.

What Did You Learn?

By understanding the purpose of a press release, adhering to AP Style guidelines, and avoiding common mistakes, you can craft a clear, professional statement that resonates with journalists and audiences alike.

Remember to keep it concise, cover the essential 5 W’s, and ensure your contact information is accessible. With these tips, your press releases will be well-prepared to make a strong impression in today’s competitive media landscape.

AP Style guidelines for writing time recommend using figures, lowercase abbreviations (a.m. and p.m.), and omitting unnecessary zeros. These conventions ensure clarity and consistency when specifying times in writing.

Usually, in most of the areas, you do not need to write down the exact time. But there comes some important occasions, for which, you have to specify the time of day.

What AP Style Time Suggests?

1. In the areas where you have to mention the time of day, you should use figures for that. If you are referring noon or midnight then, you have to spell out the whole word (i.e. noon or midnight).

2. You should not capitalize the abbreviations a.m. (for ante meridiem) and p.m. ( for post meridiem).

For example,

• The event will be held at 10 a.m.

3. You should avoid using unnecessary zeroes. Like,

10:00 p.m. (Wrong)

10 p.m. (Correct)

4. Use a.m. or p.m. only once within a sentence. For instance, “7:45 – 10 a.m.”

5. If the time goes from morning into the evening or from the evening into the morning, you should mention both a.m. and p.m. For instance, “7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.”

6. You have noticed that you should use a colon to separate hours from minutes. Like, 7:45 a.m.

7. If you are referring the units of measurement in time sequences the. You should spell out the whole words i.e. “2 hours, 10 minutes, 20 seconds.”

When to Include the Exact Time in Writing

Typically, AP Style only requires specific times for events or occasions where timing is critical, such as press conferences, meetings, or scheduled broadcasts.

For general contexts, time can often be omitted to keep writing concise and relevant.

Avoiding Unnecessary Zeros in Time Notation

When writing times in AP Style, omit “:00” to simplify the reading. For instance, write “5 p.m.” rather than “5:00 p.m.” unless specific minutes are essential for clarity. This keeps the time clear and to the point.

Formatting Time Ranges with a.m. and p.m.

For time ranges that remain within either the morning or evening, only mention “a.m.” or “p.m.” once, as in “10 – 11:30 a.m.” For ranges that cross from morning to evening, include both, like “8 a.m. – 3 p.m.”

This approach avoids redundancy and improves readability.

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

Common Errors to Avoid in AP Style Time Formatting

• Avoid common mistakes like capitalizing “A.M.” or “P.M.” and adding unnecessary zeros (e.g., “7:00 a.m.”).
• Remember to spell out “noon” and “midnight” rather than using “12 p.m.” or “12 a.m.,” as these can cause confusion.
• Double-check for these details to maintain a professional AP Style format.

What Did You Learn?

Mastering AP Style time formatting is essential for clear and professional communication.

By knowing when to include exact times, avoiding unnecessary zeros, and formatting time ranges appropriately, you ensure that your writing is both precise and easy to follow. Avoiding common errors, such as incorrect capitalization and misuse of “noon” or “midnight”, will help maintain a polished, credible presentation.

With these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to write time accurately and consistently in AP Style, enhancing the readability and professionalism of your work.