Writing Dates in AP Style

When it comes to writing dates, the Associated Press (AP) style guide is often used by journalists and media professionals. This style guide provides specific rules and guidelines to ensure consistent and accurate date formatting. Understanding how to write dates in AP style can help writers maintain a standard and professional approach in their work.

Key Takeaways:

• Writing dates in AP style is important for maintaining consistency and professionalism.
• AP style follows a specific format, including month abbreviations and numerical dates.
• Use hyphens to separate the month, day, and year in AP style.
• Times should be written in lowercase and use the appropriate time zone abbreviation.

Formatting Dates in AP Style

When formatting dates in AP style, it is important to follow specific guidelines to ensure consistency across all written materials. According to the AP style guide, dates should be written with the month (abbreviated), day, and year. For example, March 14, 2022, should be written as “Mar. 14, 2022.” It is crucial to include a period after the abbreviated month and a comma after the day.

Abbreviating Months

In AP style, months are abbreviated to save space and enhance readability. The following table provides a list of the standard month abbreviations:

Including Day and Year

In AP style, dates are typically written with the day followed by a comma and the year. For instance, “Jan. 1, 2022,” is the correct format for writing a specific date. When omitting the day and writing a month and year only, separate them with a comma. For example, “Mar. 2022.” It is crucial to maintain consistency in date formatting within a piece of writing or publication.

Writing Times in AP Style

Writing times in AP style requires a specific format and the use of lowercase letters. In AP style, times should be expressed using numerals and lowercase letters. For example, “5 p.m.” is the correct format for writing the time. It is also important to include the appropriate time zone abbreviation, such as “EST” or “PST,” when necessary. Consistent and accurate time representation is crucial in journalistic writing.

Tables

Table 1: Month Abbreviations

Table 2: Day and Year Examples

Table 3: Time Examples

In conclusion, writing dates in AP style is crucial for maintaining consistency and professionalism in journalistic writing or media-related work. By following the specific guidelines for formatting dates and times, writers can ensure clear and accurate communication of information. So next time you need to write a date in your article or blog post, remember to utilize AP style for a polished and standardized approach to date formatting.

Common Misconceptions

Properly Writing Dates in AP Style

There are various misconceptions that people have when it comes to writing dates in AP style. Understanding the correct format is important to maintain consistency and accuracy in news writing. Let’s examine some of the common misconceptions:

• A date must always include the day of the week: In AP style, it is not necessary to include the day of the week in a date unless it is relevant to the context or the story. Including the day of the week in every date can clutter the text and make it harder for readers to discern the actual date.
• All dates must be written in numerals: While numerals are often used for clarity and brevity, AP style allows for the use of month names and written-out dates. For example, “May 1, 2022” or “first of May” are both acceptable in AP style.
• Always use commas to separate the day and year: In AP style, a comma is not used to separate the day and year. For example, it is correct to write “May 1, 2022” but not “May 1, 2022.”

Using the Month Abbreviation

Another common misconception is the use of month abbreviations in AP style. Here are some important points to keep in mind:

• Always use the three-letter abbreviation for months: In AP style, it is essential to use the three-letter abbreviation for months. For example, use “Jan” for January, “Feb” for February, and so on. The exception is for long-form news stories or features, where the full month name may be used.
• Do not include a period after the month abbreviation: In AP style, a period is not used after the three-letter month abbreviation. For example, write “May” instead of “May.”
• Capitalize the first letter of the month abbreviation: The first letter of the month abbreviation should always be capitalized. For example, write “Dec” for December, not “dec.”

Date Order

Another point of confusion is the order in which to write dates. Here’s what you need to know:

• Month, day, year: AP style follows the month, day, year format. For example, “May 1, 2022.” This is different from the day, month, year format used in some other countries, such as “1 May 2022.”
• Use a comma to separate the day and year: In AP style, a comma is used to separate the day and year, as mentioned earlier. For example, write “May 1, 2022.”.
• No need for ordinal indicators: AP style does not use ordinal indicators (such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd) when writing dates. Simply use the numeric form without the suffix. For example, write “May 1, 2022” instead of “May 1st, 2022.”

Seasons and Time Zones

Seasons and time zones can also cause confusion when writing dates in AP style. Here are some clarifications:

• Capitalizing seasons is not necessary: In AP style, seasons should not be capitalized unless they are part of a proper noun. For example, write “spring” or “summer,” not “Spring” or “Summer.”
• Use GMT or UTC for time zones: Instead of using specific time zones, such as “EST” or “PST,” AP style recommends using GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) or UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) for clarity and international understanding.
• Use four-digit years: AP style requires the use of four-digit years to avoid ambiguity. For example, write “May 1, 2022,” not “May 1, 22.”

Writing Dates in AP Style

Writing dates in the Associated Press (AP) style follows a specific format to ensure consistency and clarity in journalistic writing. This article explores various aspects of writing dates in AP style and provides practical examples to enhance understanding. Each table below highlights a specific point or element related to writing dates in AP style.

Using Numerals for Dates

Table: Comparative Usage of Numerals and Words for Dates

Abbreviating Months

Table: Abbreviations for Months in AP Style

Including the Year

Table: Writing the Year in AP Style

Writing Time of Day

Table: Writing Time of Day in AP Style

Indicating Time Zones

Table: Time Zone Abbreviations in AP Style

Writing Dates with Days

Table: Ambiguous and Unambiguous Date Formats

Omitting Leading Zeroes

Table: Leading Zeroes in Dates

Using Commas in Dates

Table: Commas in Dates

Including Leap Year Dates

Table: Handling Leap Year Dates

Writing dates in AP style requires attention to detail and adherence to specific guidelines. By following these guidelines, journalists ensure consistency and clarity in their date references. Understanding the proper formatting of dates in AP style is essential for conveying accurate information to readers.

Mastering the art of writing dates in AP style allows journalists to effectively communicate the chronology of events with precision. Whether it’s using numerals over words, abbreviating months, or indicating time zones, adopting AP style for dates enhances the professionalism and credibility of journalistic writing. By incorporating the insights presented in this article, writers can confidently navigate the nuances of AP style when dealing with dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I write dates in AP style?

A: In AP style, the date should be written as follows: “Month Day, Year.” The month should be abbreviated with the first three letters (e.g., Jan., Feb., Mar.). For example, “Jan. 1, 2022.”

Q: Should I use ordinal numbers in AP style when writing dates?

A: No, ordinal numbers (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd) should not be used in AP style when writing dates. Instead, use the cardinal numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3) to denote the date. For example, “Jan. 1” instead of “Jan. 1st.”

Q: Do I need to include commas in the date format?

A: No, commas are not used in AP style when writing dates. The date format should not include any additional punctuation marks, such as commas. For example, “Jan 1 2022” instead of “Jan, 1, 2022.”

Q: Can I write the date as a numerical value in AP style?

A: Yes, you can write the date as a numerical value in AP style. However, it is recommended to use the abbreviated month format followed by the day and year, as mentioned earlier. For example, “Jan. 1, 2022” instead of “1/1/2022.”

Q: How should I write dates when mentioning a range?

A: When writing a range of dates in AP style, use the word “to” to separate the starting and ending dates. For example, “Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, 2022.”

Q: Are there any exceptions when writing the month in AP style?

A: Yes, there are a few exceptions. The months of March, April, May, June, and July should not be abbreviated in AP style. All other months should be abbreviated with the first three letters. For example, “March 1, 2022” instead of “Mar. 1, 2022.”

Q: How should I write the day of the week in AP style?

A: The day of the week should be written in full when using AP style. For example, “Thursday, Jan. 1, 2022.”

Q: Should I capitalize the “th” or “st” in ordinal numbers when writing dates?

A: No, in AP style, the “th” or “st” should be written in lowercase when denoting ordinal numbers in dates. For example, “Jan. 5th, 2022” instead of “Jan. 5TH, 2022.”

Q: Is it necessary to include the year in every date reference?

A: In AP style, if the year is the same as the current or the referenced year, you can omit the year in subsequent references within the same article. However, if there is a possibility of confusion or when referring to future dates, it is best to include the year.

Q: Can I use lowercase letters for the month abbreviation in AP style?

A: No, when abbreviating months in AP style, use uppercase letters for the first three letters of the month. For example, “Jan. 1, 2022” instead of “jan. 1, 2022.”