I have written briefly (very briefly) about a few of the differences between what we learned about grammar in school and what AP Style dictates. I would like to share a little bit more about this topic. (I apologize now if this gets a little random or starts to sound like a rant.)
My topic for today is capitalization in titles/headlines. I always was taught that you should capitalize the first letter of every word in a title, excluding articles (a, an, the – unless it is the first word in the title) and prepositions (to, of, etc.). AP Style says that you should only capitalize the first letter of the first word in the title. Let me give you an example to show you the difference in a clear and concise manner:
A Story Told by a Blind Man (how I learned it)
A story told by a blind man (AP Style)
Why does AP Style have to change all of the rules that we had to learn and relearn every year? I don’t know, and it upsets me just as much as it upsets you! I really am happy using the rules that I have been using for the past 15 years, but I follow AP when necessary (online). I suggest you do the same (or risk looking outdated and uneducated).
Showing posts with label AP style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AP style. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Commas in a series
Today’s tip is a little strange – I’m going to clarify the difference between a rule that I learned in school and one I have learned in AP style (used online).
We always learned that in a series of three objects or more, you’re supposed to use commas like so:
I like to eat cookies, cake, and ice cream.
In this example a comma follows both of the first two items. AP style, however, does not use the last comma (the comma right before the ‘and’).
He likes to eat pizza, wings and fries.
I have to admit that, in this case, I hate AP style. I still follow the first example in most of my writing, creative or academic, as that is what I have been doing since elementary school. However, if it is going to be published online, follow AP style.
Another difference between what they beat into our brains in school and what I learned copy editing for an online magazine is the number of spaces that go between one sentence and the next. In school we learned that after a period you ALWAYS use two spaces. However, online writers (and those that simply are putting something online) should only use one space after a period. It’s strange to me, but that’s what is correct.
We always learned that in a series of three objects or more, you’re supposed to use commas like so:
I like to eat cookies, cake, and ice cream.
In this example a comma follows both of the first two items. AP style, however, does not use the last comma (the comma right before the ‘and’).
He likes to eat pizza, wings and fries.
I have to admit that, in this case, I hate AP style. I still follow the first example in most of my writing, creative or academic, as that is what I have been doing since elementary school. However, if it is going to be published online, follow AP style.
Another difference between what they beat into our brains in school and what I learned copy editing for an online magazine is the number of spaces that go between one sentence and the next. In school we learned that after a period you ALWAYS use two spaces. However, online writers (and those that simply are putting something online) should only use one space after a period. It’s strange to me, but that’s what is correct.
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