By: Elizabeth Hamilton
As a practicing public relations professional at Central Michigan University, understanding the Associated Press style may seem like an arduous task.
Associated Press style is the go-to English style and usage guide for journalism and news writing.
I am the Director of Publications for the Public Relations Student Society of America at CMU. Before leaving this position on May 7, it is essential to help fellow public relations professionals grasp the rules of understanding the AP style.
The first thing any journalist or public relations professional should do is purchase the latest edition of the Associated Press Stylebook or subscribe online.
The AP Stylebook is considered the industry “bible.” For more than 50 years, journalists have turned to the AP stylebook for everything from style rules to trusted best practices. The style guide dictates rules for grammar and punctuation, styles for numbers, capitalization, acronyms, abbreviations and more.
Second, writing consistently in AP style is not possible to achieve overnight. Even some of the greatest AP style gurus look up the rules now and then.
Understanding AP style takes constant practice and then some. Will Anderson, who has a doctorate in Instructional Technology, and is a Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts professor at CMU, said, “During the summer, I try to dedicate an hour or so every day to writing. I encourage each student to write at least 750 words a day. Becoming a good writer and finding what formulas work takes time and persistence.”
Next, pretend you are writing for print in the 1950s.
Although it may seem bizarre, it is critical to remember a time when writing space was limited, and it was costly for news outlets to correct errors. Keep in mind you are not writing a ten-page paper for an English class. Avoid using unnecessary filler words like “this” or “that” to make every imaginary penny count.
Finally, test your knowledge.
Continuing to challenge yourself will be a tremendous help. There are thousands of free online quizzes available. Taking AP style quizzes online allows you to practice specific categories such as capitalization, numbers, punctuations, titles and more. Now, you can target any unfamiliar areas needing extra attention.
If you are struggling with AP style, do not get discouraged. Becoming a good writer takes time, practice and effort. Utilize every chance to write, and you will see improvements in your writing.