Module Overview:
Today is the last day of covering AP style basics! Great job making it this far, everyone!
My plan for each of you today is to learn how to correctly use directions and regions, as well as abbreviations and acronyms in AP style. Like the last few concepts you studied, many students new to writing in AP style commonly make mistakes with these concepts, so be sure to listen and follow along.
After watching the lecture and completing the corresponding reading, you will have a discussion post and a quiz about AP style to complete. All together, this should take you a few hours to do.
Remember, if you have any questions or concerns, please send me an email or message through Canvas and I will respond to it as soon as I can.
Module Objectives:
- Finish our discussion of AP style.
- Learn how to correctly use directions and regions when writing in AP style.
- Learn how to correctly abbreviations or acronyms in AP style.
COMMON STYLE GUIDELINES
The Associated Press Stylebook provides an A-Z guide to issues such as capitalization, abbreviation, punctuation, spelling, numerals and many other questions of language usage. What follows are summaries of some of the most common style rules.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Some widely known abbreviations are required in certain situations, while others are acceptable but not required in some contexts. For example, Dr., Gov., Lt. Gov., Rep., the Rev. and Sen. are required before a person’s full name when they occur outside a direct quotation. Please note, that medical and political titles only need to be used on first reference when they appear outside of a direct quote. For courtesy titles, use these on second reference or when specifically requested. Other acronyms and abbreviations are acceptable but not required (i.e. FBI, CIA, GOP). The context should govern such decisions.
As a general rule, though, you should avoid what the Associated Press Stylebook calls “alphabet soup.” Consult the Associated Press Stylebook for specific cases.
Addresses
For numbered addresses, always use figures. Abbreviate Ave., Blvd., and St. and directional cues when used with a numbered address. Always spell out other words such as alley, drive and road. If the street name or directional cue is used without a numbered address, it should be capitalized and spelled out. If a street name is a number, spell out First through Ninth and use figures for 10th and higher. Here are some examples of correctly formatted addresses: 101 N. Grant St., Northwestern Avenue, South Ninth Street, 102 S. 10th St., 605 Woodside Drive.
States and Cities
When the name of a state name appears in the body of a text, spell it out. When the name of a city and state are used together, the name of the state should be abbreviated (except for Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah). States should also be abbreviated when used as part of a short-form political affiliation. Examples: He was travelling to Nashville, Tenn. The peace accord was signed in Dayton, Ohio. The storm began in Indiana and moved west toward Peoria, Ill.
Here is how each state is abbreviated in AP style (with the postal code abbreviations in parentheses):
| State Abbreviations | |
| Ala. (AL) | Neb. (NE) |
| Ariz. (AZ) | Nev. (NV) |
| Ark. (AR) | N.H. (NH) |
| Calif. (CA) | N.J. (NJ) |
| Colo. (CO) | N.M. (NM) |
| Conn. (CT) | N.Y. (NY) |
| Del. (DE) | N.C. (NC) |
| Fla. (FL) | N.D. (ND) |
| Ga. (GA) | Okla. (OK) |
| Ill. (IL) | Ore. (OR) |
| Ind. (IN) | Pa. (PA) |
| Kan. (KS) | R.I. (RI) |
| Ky. (KY) | S.C. (SC) |
| La. (LA) | S.D. (SD) |
| Md. (MD) | Tenn. (TN) |
| Mass. (MA) | Vt. (VT) |
| Mich. (MI) | Va. (VA) |
| Minn. (MN) | Wash. (WA) |
| Miss. (MS) | W.Va. (WV) |
| Mo. (MO) | Wis. (WI) |
| Mont. (MT) | Wyo. (WY) |
You will notice that eight states are missing from this list. That is because Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah are never abbreviated.
AP style does not require the name of a state to accompany the names of the following 30 cities:
| Cities Not Requiring State Names | |
| Atlanta | Phoenix |
| Baltimore | Pittsburgh |
| Boston | St. Louis |
| Chicago | Salt Lake City |
| Cincinnati | San Antonio |
| Cleveland | San Diego |
| Dallas | San Francisco |
| Denver | Seattle |
| Detroit | Washington |
| Honolulu | |
| Houston | |
| Indianapolis | |
| Las Vegas | |
| Los Angeles | |
| Miami | |
| Milwaukee | |
| Minneapolis | |
| New Orleans | |
| New York | |
| Oklahoma City | |
| Philadelphia |
Hayden Coombs 