Squirrels/Missing: Writing With (AP) Style

On first reference, you use a first and last name: John Smith. But what do you do on a second and subsequent references?

Here is AP Style, under names:

In general, use only last names on second reference.

So if you mention John Smith in the first reference, it should be just Smith from that point on.

But what if there is more than one person with the same last name? AP Style has that covered, too. Also under names:

When it is necessary to distinguish between two people who use the same last name, as in married couples or brothers and sisters, use the first and last name.


Also, does punctuation go inside a quote, like this:

"I rule," Omar said.


or outside, like this:

"I rule", Omar said.

It's the former.  Punctuation goes inside a quote.

Now, let's talk about titles.

If someone's title precedes their name, then you capitalize: East Lansing Athletic Director Hugh Baker

If someone's title follows their name, then it's lower-case: Hugh Baker, East Lansing athletic director

Also, titles in most cases should not be included after a first reference. You may start out by saying Professor Laura Ruffenboch, but in subsequent references it's just Ruffenboch, minus the professor and Laura.


If you're referring to an organization by formal title, then it's usually caps: the East Lansing School Board

However, on second reference -- once you've established what group you're referring to -- you can use a generic title in lower-case: the school board

And if you break up the title or rearrange the sequence in an informal way, then drop to lower-case: the school board in East Lansing

Moving on, on first reference, is it Sergeant Manuel Cortez, or Sgt. Manuel Cortez?

It's Sgt. I know, because I looked in AP Style, under military titles.

On second reference, is it Sgt. Cortez, or just Cortez?

It's the latter. Under the same:

In subsequent references, do not continue using the title before a name. Use only the last name.
Also, some of you referred to Jason Abare as Jason in second references. Is that okay under AP style rules? No. This is what it says under names:

In general, use last names only on second reference.

Some of you were all over the board in whether to write a number as a digit or a word. Here's the most basic AP guideline, in your style book under numerals: In general "Spell out whole numbers below 10, use figures for 10 and above."

So two should be two, not 2. And 10 should be 10, not ten.

So then, is this correct to start a sentence, under AP Style rules?

Twenty-two . . .

Actually, that IS correct number use. This is under the numerals heading:

Spell out a numeral at the beginning of a sentence. Now, there are situations where you have a number that would be very awkward to spell out. Like with very large numbers, like 48,384. I would suggest not using such a number at the start of a sentence. Or start such a sentence with attribution so the number conflict doesn't matter (e.g., "According to the U.S. Justice Department, 48,384 . . . ).

Some of you faced a dilemma here with whether to change 3 to 1 to three to one, if used inside of a quote. Here's the general rule of thumb:

If the quote was spoken to you in an oral interview, then it's perfectly okay to change words to adhere to AP style, since it doesn't change what was spoken. If you are quoting a document, then you need to replicate how the document actually readers, whether it conforms with AP Style or not.

In this instance, since you did not know if the quotes were spoken or written, I noted the AP style rule but did not dock you for it.

Now, when the girl was referring to "my Mom," should "mom" be lower-case or upper-case?

It's lower-case. AP Style, under mom:

Uppercase only when the noun substitutes for a name as a term of address: Hi, Mom!

Did anyone think to look under "mom"?

Moving on, was it U.S. Justice Department or U.S. Justice Dept.? Did it depend on whether it was a first reference or a second reference? What does it say in AP Style under department?

Finally, is it Alzheimers disease or Alzheimer's disease? Did anybody look in AP Style under Alzheimer's disease?

I would strongly suggest you review AP Style headings under titles and numerals and names and department. And Alzheimer's disease wouldn't hurt.