2016 Updates to the AP Stylebook
Mignon Fogarty
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2016 Updates to the AP Stylebook
A couple of weeks ago at the American Copy Editors Society annual meeting in Portland, the Associated Press announced a few major and recent changes to the AP Stylebook.
‘Internet’ and ‘Web’ are Lowercase
The one you are most likely to have already heard is that starting June 1, 2016, Associated Press writers will no longer capitalize the words internet and web. The words website, webcam, webcast, and webmaster were already lowercase in AP style, and web will remain capitalized in World Wide Web, but now, when you’re following AP style and you use web all by itself, it’s lowercase.
At the meeting, they explained that their rationale for making the change to not capitalizing internet is that the internet is not a person, place, or trademark; and that they found that the big reasons people continued to capitalize it was simply because AP style (or dictionaries) said to.
But the AP editors also announced some other changes at the meeting that didn’t get quite as much attention as the changes to web and internet.
‘Accident’ Versus ‘Crash’
For example, the AP editors say it’s OK to use the words accident or crash to refer to a car wreck or other collision, but they warn writers to use care when “negligence is claimed or proven.” In that case, they say to avoid the word accident because it implies nobody is at fault. If negligence is claimed or proven, it’s better to use crash or collision or some other term.
‘Claimed’ Versus ‘Said’
Claimed is a word that you should avoid almost all the time. The AP editors note that saying someone “claimed something” implies doubt. (Oh, Squiggly claimed aliens stole the chocolate, but we’re not so sure.) It’s better to simply use said, although if there really is doubt—for example, when two sides really do disagree—then claimed can be OK.
‘Alleged Victim’
The same problem exists with the phrase alleged victim—it implies doubt or skepticism that someone is really a victim, so the AP recommends using just victim or complainant. (Complainant sounds really awkward though; I would try to avoid that one.)
Do Not Use ‘Spree’ to Describe a Killing
The editors also advised not to use the word spree to describe a killing—people can still go on shopping sprees, but no more writing about people going on killing sprees.
‘Notorious’
Notorious is another word that the AP has decided needs special care. Notorious can have a positive or negative connotation. Some people think notorious means “famous in a bad way,” and other people think it means simply “famous,” so the AP recommends making sure your context makes it clear what you mean when you use the words notorious and notoriety.
I think infamous is a good alternative if context isn’t helping and you want to be sure people know you mean someone has a bad reputation.
‘IM’ing’ and ‘IM’d’
Another change is that they clarified how to use IM (the abbreviation for instant message) as a verb. The same way they recommend using an apostrophe in OK’d and OK’ing, they recommend using an apostrophe in IM’d and IM’ing.
‘Dashcam’ Is One Word
The AP also added some new words to the Stylebook. Dashcam is a new entry and that is one word, not two.
‘Voicemail’ Is One Word
Like dashcam, voicemail is also now one word.
‘Normcore’ Is a New Word
Normcore is a new entry. The word is a portmanteau or blend of normal and hardcore, and AP defines it as a fashion trend that “is characterized by unpretentious, unisex, average dressing.”
‘Ride Booking’ Not ‘Ride Sharing’
When you’re writing about Uber, Lyft, and other such services, the AP says to call them ride hailing or ride booking services, not ride sharing services, which makes sense because when you think about it, if they were sharing their ride, you wouldn’t have to pay for it. You really are just booking or hailing a ride.
Those are some of the big changes and interesting additions, but the AP added about 250 entries, so if you rely on AP style, make sure you have access to the full update or new edition, which comes out in print in June.
Image courtesy of Thomas McGee of WinePress of Words.