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AP Style

Page history last edited by Carol Hemmerly 12 years, 5 months ago

AP Style Reference Sheets

 

 

Words and phrases to avoid in journalistic writing

 

In stories 

 a lot

a variety of

all the hard word paid off

appears to be …

basically

believes

definitely

done

etc. (the abbreviation)

everybody

everyone

everyone had a good time

extremely

feels

goals and purposes for anything

 great

great deal

like no other

many

most adjectives and adverbs (if a word ends in –ly or –y, it is most likely an adverb and should be avoided) 

 most of the first and second person pronouns—we, our, you, your, I, me—except in quotes

nice

numerous

rather

really

passion

says (for attribution instead of said—or anything else except said. Likewise, no stated, commented, smiled, laughed …)

seems to be

several

some

sort of

spirit (The team shows its spirit …)

2011, 2012, 2013 (any year within 12 months of the publication date)

school’s name or initials

stuff

there is, there are, it is, it was—particularly at the beginnings of sentences

thing/things

this year

under the direction of …

unlike any other

various

very

when asked about …

zeroes in times (for minutes)—10:00 should be 10 a.m. or 10 p.m.

 

In quotes

“We were like a family” (in sports stories)

“It is/was fun”—or any quote that uses “fun”

“We have spirit”

 

in captions/cutlines

looking on (whatever that means)

left to right—in captions for groups and teams

pictured above or below (or whereever)

posing for the camera

smiling for the camera

 

omit whenever possible

a

an

the

that

 

 

 

 

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