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{{Short description|Book on English usage by Associated Press}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox book
| name              = AP Stylebook
| title_orig        = The Associate Press Rules Regulations and General Orders
| image             = AP Stylebook, 57th Edition.png
| caption           = ''AP Stylebook'', 2024 edition
| author            = {{Plainlist|
* AP Editors (1909–1952)
* G. P. Winkler (1953–1970)
* Howard Angione (1977)
* Angione & E.A. Powell (1980)
* {{abbr|An.|Angione}}, {{abbr|Pow.|Powell}} & C.W. French (1984)
* French (1986)
* French & Norm Goldstein (1988)
* Goldstein (1992–2007)
* AP Editors (since 2008)
}}
| country           = United States
| language          = English (online, [[ebook]], and print editions)<br/>Spanish (online edition only)
| series            = Updated biennially
| subject           = [[Style guide]]
| genre             = [[Journalism]] [[Reference work|reference]]
| publisher         = [[Lorenz Press]]
| pub_date          = 1909 (1st internal ed.)<br/>1953 (1st public ed.)<br/>1977 (1st public modern ed.)<br/>2020 (latest public modern ed.)
| pages             = 640  ({{abbr|PB|2020 ed., paperback}})<br />619 ({{abbr|SB|2020 ed., spiral-bound}})
| isbn              = 978-1-541647-57-2
| isbn_note         = ({{abbr|PB|2020 ed., paperback}})<br />978-0-917360-69-5 ({{abbr|SB|2020 ed., spiral-bound}})
| oclc              = 
| website           = {{URL|https://www.apstylebook.com|apstylebook.com}}
}}

{{styles}}'''''The Associated Press Stylebook''''' (generally called the '''''AP Stylebook'''''), alternatively titled '''''The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law''''', is a [[Style guide|style and usage guide]] for American [[English language|English]] grammar created by American [[journalist]]s working for or connected with the [[Associated Press]] journalism cooperative based in [[New Yorkers in journalism|New York City]]. The ''Stylebook'' offers a basic reference to American English grammar, punctuation, and principles of reporting, including many definitions and rules for usage as well as styles for [[capitalization]], [[abbreviation]], [[spelling]], and numerals.

The first publicly available edition of the book was published in 1953. The first modern edition was published in August 1977 by [[Lorenz Press]]. Afterwards, various paperback editions were published by different publishers, including, among others, Turtleback Books, [[Penguin Random House|Penguin]]'s Laurel Press, [[Pearson plc|Pearson]]'s [[Addison-Wesley]], and [[Hachette Books|Hachette]]'s [[Perseus Books Group|Perseus Books]] and [[Basic Books]]. Recent editions are released in several formats, including [[paperback]] and flat-lying [[Coil binding|spiral-bound]] editions, as well as a digital [[e-book]] edition and an online subscription version. Additionally, the ''AP Stylebook'' also provides English grammar recommendations through social media, including [[Twitter]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ApStyleBook |title=AP Stylebook (APStylebook) |publisher=Twitter |access-date=March 21, 2011}}</ref> [[Facebook]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/apstylebook |title=AP Stylebook |publisher=Facebook |access-date=June 25, 2013}}</ref> [[Pinterest]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/APStylebook/ |title=AP Stylebook |publisher=Pinterest |access-date=June 25, 2013}}</ref> and [[Instagram]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://instagram.com/apstylebook/ |title= AP Stylebook | publisher= Instagram |access-date= June 9, 2021}}</ref>

From 1977 to 2005, more than two million copies of the ''AP Stylebook'' were sold worldwide, with that number climbing to 2.5 million by 2011.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Colleen |last=Cotter |editor-last=Androutsopoulos |editor-first=Jannis |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_oDnBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA378|title=Mediatization and Sociolinguistic Change|date=2014-09-04|publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG|isbn=978-3-11-034683-1|language=en |pages=371–394 |chapter=Revisiting the "journalist's bible": How news practitioners respond to language and social change}}</ref><ref name="AP_2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_041305a.html |title=2005 Edition of AP Stylebook now available |work=AP.org |date=April 2005|publisher=Associated Press |access-date=March 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119025351/http://ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_041305a.html |archive-date=January 19, 2011 }}</ref> Writers in [[broadcasting]], news, magazine publishing, marketing departments, and [[public relations]] firms traditionally adopt and apply AP grammar and punctuation styles.

==Organization==
The ''AP Stylebook'' is organized into sections:

;Business Guidelines
:A reference section for reporters covering business and financial news including general knowledge of accounting, bankruptcy, mergers, and international bureaus. For instance, it includes explanations of five different chapters of bankruptcy.

;Sports Guidelines and Style
:Includes terminology, statistics, organization rules and guidelines commonly referenced by sports reporters, such as the correct way to spell and use basketball terminology like half-court pass, field goal and goal-tending.

;Guide to Punctuation 
:A specific guide on how to use punctuation in journalistic materials. This section includes rules regarding hyphens, commas, parentheses, and quotations.

;Briefing on Media Law
:An overview of legal issues and ethical expectations for those working in journalism, including the difference between slander and libel. Slander is spoken; libel is written.

;Photo Captions
:The simple formula of what to include when writing a photo caption, usually called a cutline in newspapers.

;Editing Marks
:A key with editing symbols to assist the journalist with the proofreading process.

;Digital Security
:A guide to protect journalists, their work, sources, online accounts, and avoid online harassment.

;Bibliography
:This provides second reference materials for information not included in the book. For example, it says to use ''Webster's New World College Dictionary'' as a reference after the ''AP Stylebook'' for spelling, style, usage and foreign geographic names.

==Title==
From 1909, when the first company-wide stylebook-like guide was released internally under the title: ''"The Associate Press Rules Regulations and General Orders"'', and until 1953, the stylebook was published under different titles including, among others, ''Instructions for Correspondents of the Associated Press'', ''The Associated Press. Regulations Traffic Department'', ''A Guide for Filing Editors. The Associated Press'', ''A Guide for Foreign Correspondents. The Associated Press'', ''A Guide for Writers. The Associated Press'', ''The AP Copy Book'', and ''AP Writing Handbook''.

By the end of WWII, pressures from a growing number of non-journalistic business sectors, already referencing copied or confiscated copies of the guide for years, greatly increased the stylebook's demand. The first publicly available edition of ''AP Stylebook'' was published in 1953 under the title ''"The Associated Press Style Book"''. Since 1953, the stylebook has been published under different titles, including  ''Writing for The AP''; ''AP Stylebook''; and ''The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual''.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120718022456/http://lccn.loc.gov/96644756 Library of Congress Catalog Record] for ''The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual''</ref>

Some journalists have referred to ''The AP Stylebook'' as the 'journalist bible'.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goulet|first=Neal|date=2014-02-09|title=AP Stylebook remains a compelling and necessary read|url=http://gouletcommunications.com/ap-stylebook-remains-compelling-read/|access-date=2023-02-03|website=Goulet Communications: Public Relations Specialist|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2000, the guide was renamed ''The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law'' and the paperback edition has been published under this title since then.<ref name="Luckie">{{cite web| url= http://www.10000words.net/2008/02/mans-journalists-best-friend.html| title= The history of the AP Stylebook| author= Mark S. Luckie| publisher= 10,000 Words| date= February 4, 2008| access-date= May 29, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090501185022/http://www.10000words.net/2008/02/mans-journalists-best-friend.html| archive-date= May 1, 2009| url-status= usurped| df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120715012012/http://lccn.loc.gov/2002249088 Library of Congress Catalog Record] for ''The Associated Press stylebook and briefing on media law''</ref> Some editions, such as the spiral-bound and [[e-book]] editions, use the shorter title ''The Associated Press Stylebook'' on their covers.

==History==
The Associated Press organization was first created in 1846. The first company-wide AP "guide" did not cover English grammar. It was more of a brochure with 24 pages of various titles and corporate structures of the Associated Press organization and was first published in 1900 under the title "The Associated Press".

Although a formal English grammar style guide did not exist across the organization through the 1800s, individual bureaus were known to have maintained similar internal style guides as early as the late 1870s. The first corporate-wide style guide, with a complete reference to American English words and grammar, was released in 1909, under the title: ''"The Associate Press Rules Regulations and General Orders"''.{{efn|The [[title page]] has a full title ''Hand Book and Manual of Resolutions of the Board of Directors/General Orders and Instructions to Employees of The Associated Press''.}}<ref name="cjr_1">{{Cite web|date=2018-06-05 |first=Merrill |last=Perlman |title=AP Stylebooks through the ages |website=[[Columbia Journalism Review]] |url=https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/ap-stylebooks-history.php|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615053220/https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/ap-stylebooks-history.php |archive-date=June 15, 2018 }}</ref><ref name="AP_Stylebook_origins">{{Cite web|date=May 4, 2018 |first1=Graham |last1=Colton |first2=Amanda |last2=Drapiewski|title=Style guide superjam |website=ACES: The Society for Editing|url=https://aceseditors.org/news/2018/style-guide-superjam|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929060108/https://aceseditors.org/news/2018/style-guide-superjam |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|date=2019 |orig-date=1909 |location=New York |title=The Associated Press Rules Regulations and General Orders |url=http://droppdf.com/files/mbb5e/1909-rules-regulations-and-general-orders.pdf|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929074402/http://droppdf.com/files/mbb5e/1909-rules-regulations-and-general-orders.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref>

By the early 1950s the publication was formalized into the ''AP Stylebook'' and became the leading professional English grammar reference by most member and non-member news bureaus throughout the world. Due to growing demand by non-member journalists and writers working in public-facing corporate communications, the AP published their first official "stylebook" for the general public in 1953 under the title ''Associated Press Style Book''; the first publication focused on "where the wire set a specific style".<ref name="poynter_1"/><ref name="AP_2013">{{Cite web|date=May 29, 2013 |title=AP Stylebook marks 60th anniversary with new print edition|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://www.ap.org/Content/Press-Release/2013/AP-Stylebook-marks-60th-anniversary-with-new-print-edition|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602045515/http://www.ap.org/Content/Press-Release/2013/AP-Stylebook-marks-60th-anniversary-with-new-print-edition |archive-date=June 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 12, 2018 |first=Merrill |last=Perlman |title=The history of AP's guidance on language |website=[[Columbia Journalism Review]] |url=https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/ap-stylebooks-language.php|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929051658/https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/ap-stylebooks-language.php |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref><ref name="usc1">''abridged version:'' {{cite web|url=http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/csj/CSJJuly07.html |title=Norm Goldstein, keeper of AP style  |publisher= Common Sense Journalism magazine  |date= July 2007|access-date=March 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921155446/http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/csj/CSJJuly07.html |archive-date=September 21, 2017 }};<br/> ''full version:'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20190929085144/http://commonsensej.blogspot.com/2007/07/norm-goldstein.html Norm Goldstein]. Common Sense Journalism blog, 2007</ref> For nearly a quarter century it assumed its reader had a "solid grounding in language and a good reference library" and thus omitted any guidelines in those broader areas.<ref name="usc1"/> In 1977, prompted by AP Executive News Editor [[Louis Boccardi|Lou Boccardi]]'s request for "more of a reference work", the organization started expanding the book and in 1977 produced a book that was different in a few fundamental regards.<ref name="usc1"/> Firstly, The structure was changed and entries were organized in alphabetical order so that users could find what they need in a timely manner.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Heath|first=Robert L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AgpzAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA35|title=Encyclopedia of Public Relations|date=2013-08-20|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-7622-9|language=en |pages=35–36}}</ref> Secondly, in 1977 the book was published for the first time by a 3rd party publisher – [[Lorenz Press]].<ref>{{Cite book|date=1977 |title=The Associated Press stylebook and libel manual |edition=revised |publisher=Lorenz Press |isbn=9780893280161 |ol=26337279M |oclc=3499556 }}</ref> Thirdly, in 1977, [[United Press International]] and AP cooperated to produce stylebooks for each organization based on revisions and guidelines jointly agreed to by editors of both ''UPI Stylebook'' (Bobby Ray Miller) and ''AP Stylebook'' (Howard Angione).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upiu.com/stylebook |title=Introduction to the UPI Stylebook|author= United Press International|date=2009|website= UPIU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725083426/http://www.upiu.com/stylebook|archive-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Dorfman_Fuller_1982">{{Cite book|first=Eileen |last=Alt Powell |editor-last1=Dorfman|editor-first1=Ron|url=http://archive.org/details/reportingwriting0000dorf|title=Reporting/writing/editing : the Quill guides to journalism|editor-last2=Fuller|editor-first2=Harry Jr. |date=1982|location=Dubuque, Iowa |publisher=Kendall/Hunt|via=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-8403-2832-8 |chapter=Media (is) (are) getting new 'bible': Stylebook publication under way (2 words) |pages=131–138}}</ref> In 1982, Eileen Alt Powell, a co-editor of ''AP Stylebook'' 1980 edition, stated that: {{Blockquote|1=Howard Angione... at times thought the task he and UPI counterpart Bobby Ray Miller had undertaken resembled the quest of Don Quixote. It was "an impossible dream", Angione said, to find style rules that pleased everyone, especially since even grammarians couldn't agree among themselves.<ref name="Dorfman_Fuller_1982"/>}}

In 1989, Norm Goldstein became the ''AP Stylebook'' lead editor, a job he held until the 2007 edition.<ref name="usc1"/> After publishing the final edition under his editorship, Goldstein commented on the future of the ''AP Stylebook''{{'}}s section on name references: {{Blockquote|1=I think the difference... now is that there is more information available on the Internet, and I'm not sure, and at least our executive editor is not sure, how much of a reference book we ought to be anymore. I think some of our historical background material like on previous hurricanes and earthquakes, that kind of encyclopedic material that's so easily available on the Internet now, might be cut back.<ref name="usc1"/>}}

After Norm Goldstein stepped down as lead editor in 2007, in bibliographical records for all subsequent editions starting from 2008 lead editors' names are usually not explicitly called out and the author is simply referred to as ''Associated Press'' or ''AP Editors''. In 2009 and 2011 the ''Stylebook'' was released as an app called ''AP Stylebook Mobile'' edition for iOS and BlackBerry, respectively,<ref>{{Cite web|first=Ryan |last=Blundell |date=March 25, 2011 |title=Has your inkwell run dry? The AP Stylebook for BlackBerry gives you a refill |website= CrackBerry.com|url=https://crackberry.com/has-your-inkwell-run-dry-ap-stylebook-blackberry-gives-you-refill|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929061559/https://crackberry.com/has-your-inkwell-run-dry-ap-stylebook-blackberry-gives-you-refill |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 25, 2009| first=Mallary Jean |last=Tenore |title=AP Stylebook iPhone App Launches Today, a Hybrid of Print & Online Versions |website=Poynter|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2009/ap-stylebook-iphone-app-launches-today-a-hybrid-of-print-online-versions/|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929061148/https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2009/ap-stylebook-iphone-app-launches-today-a-hybrid-of-print-online-versions/ |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190928043433/https://legacy.apstylebook.com/?do=product&pid=mobile AP Stylebook Mobile]. legacy.apstylebook.com, 2014</ref> however it was later discontinued in 2015 in favor of users simply accessing the ''AP Stylebook'' online edition through their desktop or mobile browsers.<ref name="AP_2015_">{{Cite web|date=May 27, 2015|title=2015 AP Stylebook adds more than 300 new or revised entries|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2015/2015-ap-stylebook-adds-more-than-300-new-or-revised-entries|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929062455/https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2015/2015-ap-stylebook-adds-more-than-300-new-or-revised-entries |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-28|title=APStylebook — Can I continue to use my old Stylebook Mobile app?|url=https://apstylebook.helpjuice.com/18959-ap-stylebook-online/can-i-continue-to-use-my-old-stylebook-mobile-app|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928043645/https://apstylebook.helpjuice.com/18959-ap-stylebook-online/can-i-continue-to-use-my-old-stylebook-mobile-app |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |website=[[Associated Press]] }}</ref> In March 2019 AP created an ''Archived AP Stylebooks'' section on its apstylebook.com website where anyone can access previous versions of the ''AP Stylebook'' starting from 1900 "brochure on AP corporate structure" and all the way to 1977 edition.<ref name="poynter_1">{{Cite web|first=Kristen |last=Hare |date=March 28, 2019|title=You can now search really old AP Stylebooks and guides online |website=Poynter |url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2019/you-can-now-search-really-old-ap-stylebooks-and-guides-online/|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928224335/https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2019/you-can-now-search-really-old-ap-stylebooks-and-guides-online/ |archive-date=September 28, 2019 }}</ref>

The first Spanish AP stylebook was created in 2012, after requests from the AP Mexico City bureau and others to develop such a stylebook. The bureau at the time was looking for ways to expand into Latin America while bridging the language barrier. In 2013 the AP Spanish Stylebook came into fruition and is now available to everyone.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jean Tenore |first1=Mallary |title=AP Stylebook creates a Spanish version of the Stylebook to address changes in language |url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/ap-stylebook-creates-a-spanish-language-stylebook-to-address-changes-in-language/ |website=Poynter.org |date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=10 June 2021}}</ref> The Spanish AP stylebook is also referred to as the ''Manual de Estilo''.

The most recent print edition is the 2020–2022 ''AP Stylebook'', available spiral-bound directly from AP, and as a [[Bookbinding#Thermally activated binding|perfect-bound]] paperback sold by [[Basic Books]]. Creation of ''AP Stylebook'' has been helmed by lead editor Paula Froke since 2016.<ref>{{cite web  |url=https://www.copyediting.com/guard-changes-on-ap-stylebook-team-of-editors/  |title=Guard Changes on 'AP Stylebook' Team of Editors  |access-date=July 19, 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924222700/https://www.copyediting.com/guard-changes-on-ap-stylebook-team-of-editors/  |archive-date=September 24, 2016  |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 19, 2017|title=Froke named APME executive director and AP Stylebook editor|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.ap.org/ap-in-the-news/2017/froke-named-apme-executive-director-and-ap-stylebook-editor|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929060021/https://www.ap.org/ap-in-the-news/2017/froke-named-apme-executive-director-and-ap-stylebook-editor |archive-date=September 29, 2019 }}</ref> In early 2023, the stylebook attracted attention for suggesting that "[[French people|the French]]" could be an offensive term in a tweet promoting [[people-first language]]; there was considerable mockery of the suggestion, and the AP subsequently retracted it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Roger |date=2023-01-27 |title=The French Want to Remain the French |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/world/europe/ap-stylebook-the-french.html |access-date=2023-01-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-28 |title=AP deletes 'the French' tweet and apologises after it is widely mocked |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64436973 |access-date=2023-01-30}}</ref>

After American president [[Donald Trump]] issued [[Executive Order 14172]] to rename the [[Gulf of Mexico]] as the 'Gulf of America', the Associated Press style recommended both names were to be used, as "Mexico, as well as other countries and international bodies, do not have to recognize the name change", and "the Gulf of Mexico has carried that name for more than 400 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=AP reporter barred from White House over refusal to use 'Gulf of America' |url=https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250212-ap-reporter-barred-from-white-house-over-refusal-to-use-gulf-of-america |access-date=February 14, 2025 |work=France24 |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=February 12, 2025}}</ref> Following this, Associated Press journalists were prevented from covering several events in the White House, due to the news agency's use of the 'Gulf of Mexico' name.<ref name=Bauder>{{cite news |last1=Bauder |first1=David |title=White House bars AP reporter from Oval Office because of AP style policy on 'Gulf of America' |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-ap-journalism-first-amendment-8a83d8b506053249598e807f8e91e1ae |access-date=February 14, 2025 |work=Associated Press |date=February 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=2025-02-13 |title=Associated Press and the White House remain in standoff over access |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2025/02/13/associated-press-gulf-of-america-media-access/ |access-date=February 13, 2025 |website=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250214011912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/media/2025/02/13/associated-press-gulf-of-america-media-access/ |archive-date=February 14, 2025}}</ref> The White House then banned the Associated Press indefinitely from the [[Oval Office]] and [[Air Force One]] due to their reporting over the gulf's name.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |title=White House bars Associated Press from spaces like Oval Office and Air Force One |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-bars-associated-press-oval-office-air-force-one/ |access-date=February 15, 2025 |work=CBS News |date=February 14, 2025}}</ref>

==Influence on American English==
The influence of the AP and similar news service styles has reached beyond the news writing community.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Estes |first1=Dorothy Southerland |title=The effect of journalism on modern American writing |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc699668/m2/1/high_res_d/1002774466-Estes.pdf |website=unt.edu |access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Julia |first1=Guarneri |title=How Syndicated Columns, Comics and Stories Forever Changed the News Media |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-syndicated-columns-comics-stories-forever-changed-news-media-180973431/ |website=[[Smithsonian Magazine]] |publisher=Smithsonian |access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref> Many other North American sectors disseminating information to the public began to adopt news styles as early as the late 1800s. Many other sectors now also have developed their own similar style guides and also continue to reference the ''AP Stylebook'' for general American grammar, more than any other style guide available.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Perlman |first1=Merrill |title=AP Stylebooks through the ages |url=https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/ap-stylebooks-history.php |website=cjr.org |access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Spiers |first1=Cynthia |title=Four US Style Guides That Every Writer Needs to Know About |url=https://www.acrolinx.com/blog/four-us-style-guides-that-every-writer-needs-to-know-about/ |website=www.acrolinx.com |date=June 18, 2020 |publisher=Content Quality |access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref>

== Edition ==
=== Edition number: English edition ===
The first publicly available English edition of the book was released in 1953.<ref name="poynter_1"/> However, all editions prior to 1977 are not included in the editions count and the first modern edition is considered to be the August 1977 edition released for the first time by [[Lorenz Press]]. The latest, 2020 version, is the 55th edition and can be used until<ref>{{cite web |title=AP Style |url=https://store.stylebooks.com/2020-ap-stylebook-print-edition.html?SID=o1j8tj8ahhbkfnpg665seloon2 |website=Store.Stylebooks.com |access-date=9 June 2021 |archive-date=June 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609180217/https://store.stylebooks.com/2020-ap-stylebook-print-edition.html?SID=o1j8tj8ahhbkfnpg665seloon2 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 2022. The Associated Press has reduced the frequency in print publication due to the popularity of the online version of the ''AP Stylebook''. The print version is expected to be available, unless otherwise stated, biennially.<ref>{{cite web |title=AP Style |url=https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2020/new-ap-stylebook-includes-100-technology-terms-digital-security-chapter#:~:text=Future%20print%20editions%20of%20the,with%20new%20and%20revised%20entries. |website=ap.org |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Edition number: Spanish edition ===
Due to the rising influence of the Spanish language worldwide, in November 2012 Associated Press added, in addition to American English, its first ever Spanish edition of its stylebook.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 9, 2012|title=AP-launches-its-first-Spanish-language-stylebook|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=http://www.ap.org/content/press-release/2012/ap-launches-its-first-spanish-language-stylebook|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201053342/http://www.ap.org/content/press-release/2012/ap-launches-its-first-spanish-language-stylebook |archive-date=December 1, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 9, 2012|title=La AP lanza su primer Manual de Estilo en español|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2012/la-ap-lanza-su-primer-manual-de-estilo-en-espanol|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928040552/https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2012/la-ap-lanza-su-primer-manual-de-estilo-en-espanol |archive-date=September 28, 2019 |language=es}}</ref> The Spanish edition is separate from the English edition and has a different website, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 11, 2012 |title=AP Stylebook creates a Spanish version of the Stylebook to address changes in language |website=Poynter|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/ap-stylebook-creates-a-spanish-language-stylebook-to-address-changes-in-language/|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928040152/https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/ap-stylebook-creates-a-spanish-language-stylebook-to-address-changes-in-language/ |archive-date=September 28, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 3, 2012 |title=AP launches Spanish stylebook in Latin America|website=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.ap.org/ap-in-the-news/2012/ap-launches-spanish-stylebook-in-latin-america|access-date=2023-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928040221/https://www.ap.org/ap-in-the-news/2012/ap-launches-spanish-stylebook-in-latin-america |archive-date=September 28, 2019 }}</ref> Unlike the English edition which currently has both online and print versions, the Spanish edition only has an online edition. The Spanish edition does not have an 'edition number' since it only exists as an online service.

== Revision process ==
From 1980 to 1984, the English edition was updated biennially; then from 1985 to 2020, the English edition was updated annually, usually in May, at which time edits and new entries were added to keep the stylebook up to date with technological and cultural changes. As of the middle of 2024, the most recent edition is the 2024–2026 edition (57th{{nbsp}}edition).{{r|57th}}

In 2005, dozens of new or revised entries were added, including "[[September 11 attacks|Sept.{{nbsp}}11]]", "[[list of Latin phrases#E|e.g.]]", "[[list of Latin phrases#I|i.e.]]", "[[FedEx]]", and "[[Midwestern United States|Midwest region]]".{{r|AP_2005}}

In 2008, about 200 new or revised entries were added, including "[[iPhone]]", "[[antivirus software|anti-virus]]", "[[outsourcing]]", "[[podcast]]", "[[text messaging]]", "[[social network]]ing", "[[High-definition television|high-definition]]", and "[[Wikipedia]]".<ref name="AP_2008">{{Cite web|title=Print edition of 2008 AP Stylebook now on sale|date=June 2008|website=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_062608a.html|access-date=February 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612184911/http://ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_062608a.html|archive-date=June 12, 2010}}</ref>

In 2009, about 60 new or revised entries were added, including "[[Twitter]]", "[[baba ghanoush]]", and "[[text messaging|texting]]".<ref name="AP_2009">{{Cite web|date=June 11, 2009|title=New edition of AP Stylebook adds entries and helpful features|website=[[Associated Press]]|url=http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_061109a.html|access-date=February 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614170449/http://www.ap.org/pages/about/pressreleases/pr_061109a.html|archive-date=June 14, 2009}}</ref>

In 2013, about 90 new or revised entries were added, including "[[benedictines|Benedictine]]", "[[Grand Marnier]]", "[[Madeleine (cake)|madeleine]]" and "[[upside-down cake]]", "[[wikt:chichi|chichi]]" and "[[wikt:frou-frou|froufrou]]".{{r|AP_2013}} Journalistic usage of "illegal immigrant" was no longer sanctioned. The use of 'illegal' to describe a person became regulated.<ref>[https://blog.ap.org/announcements/illegal-immigrant-no-more ‘Illegal immigrant’ no more, AP Blog Announcements, Paul Colford, 2013]</ref>  The decision was part of a wider AP move away from labeling people.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Dyer|first=Zach|date=April 2, 2013|title=AP drops "illegal immigrant" from Stylebook|url=https://latamjournalismreview.org/articles/ap-drops-illegal-immigrant-from-stylebook/|journal=LatAm Journalism Review|publisher=University of Texas at Austin|access-date=February 22, 2025}}</ref>

In 2018, ''AP Stylebook'' included a chapter on polling and surveys.<ref>[https://blog.ap.org/industry-insights/updating-our-polling-guidance Updating our polling guidance, AP Blog Industry Insights, Luaren Easton, 2018]</ref> Recommends the use of "[[Transgender pregnancy#Trans_men|birthing people]]" and "pregnant people", which was clarified in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kornick|first=Lindsay|date=August 17, 2022|title=AP Stylebook updates guidelines to include 'pregnant women,' upsetting both conservatives and liberals|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/ap-stylebook-updates-guidelines-include-pregnant-women-upsetting-both-conservatives-liberals|publisher=Fox News|access-date=February 21, 2025}}</ref>

In 2019, about 200 new or revised entries were added, including "[[budtender]]", "[[deepfake]]", and "[[cryptocurrency]]".<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2019|title=Health and science chapter debuts in 2019 AP Stylebook|website=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2019/health-and-science-chapter-debuts-in-2019-ap-stylebook|access-date=February 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928032145/https://www.ap.org/press-releases/2019/health-and-science-chapter-debuts-in-2019-ap-stylebook|archive-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref> ''AP Style'' recommended removal of the hyphen in Asian{{nbh}}American, African-American, or Irish-American as common [[microaggression]] for more than a century.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Truong|first=Doris|date=March 29, 2019|title=AP Stylebook update: It's OK to call something racist when it's racist|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2019/ap-stylebook-update-its-ok-to-call-something-racist-when-its-racist/|journal=Pointer 50|access-date=Feb 22, 2025}} </ref>

The 2020–2022 edition was released on May 21, 2020. About 90 new or revised technology-related entries were added, including "internet privacy", "digital wallet"{{nbsp}}/{{nbsp}}"mobile wallet", "smart devices", and "lidar". A new chapter was added about digital security for journalists.<ref>{{cite web|title=AP Style|url=https://store.stylebooks.com/2020-ap-stylebook-print-edition.html?SID=o1j8tj8ahhbkfnpg665seloon2|website=Store.Stylebooks.com|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=9 June 2021|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609180217/https://store.stylebooks.com/2020-ap-stylebook-print-edition.html?SID=o1j8tj8ahhbkfnpg665seloon2|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019|title=APStylebook&#160;— When is the AP Stylebook published?|url=https://apstylebook.helpjuice.com/18958-ap-stylebook-print-edition/when-is-the-ap-stylebook-published|access-date=February 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928032755/https://apstylebook.helpjuice.com/18958-ap-stylebook-print-edition/when-is-the-ap-stylebook-published|archive-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=August 2021}} ''AP{{nbsp}}stylebook'' moved to capitalized Black and lowercase white.<ref>[https://blog.ap.org/announcements/why-we-will-lowercase-white, AP Blog Announcements, 2020, John Daniszewski]</ref>

The 2022–2024 edition includes more than 300 new and revised entries, including a new chapter on "inclusive storytelling", "where possible" usage of "[[Singular they|they/them/their]]" singular pronouns, revised guidance on the use of the term "female", immigration and new entries for "[[critical race theory]]", "[[Anti-vaccine activism|anti{{nbh}}vaxxer]]".<ref>[https://help.apstylebook.com/support/solutions/articles/66000156253-what-s-new-in-the-ap-stylebook-56th-edition- What's new in the AP Stylebook, 56th Edition?, AP Stylebook Help Center, 2022]</ref> A controversial change was referring to [[Twitter|X]] as "X, formerly known as Twitter".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bucholtz|first=Andrew|date=July 26, 2023|title=AP Stylebook issues controversial ruling on Twitter and X|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/twitter/ap-stylebook-x-ruling.html|access-date=December 21, 2024|website=Awful Announcing|language=en-US}}</ref> Cautions use of the word "female" in the context of describing women, as some people object to emphasizing biology and reproductive capacity.

The 2024–2026 edition includes a new criminal justice chapter.<ref name="57th">[https://www.ap.org/media-center/press-releases/2024/new-ap-stylebook-includes-new-criminal-justice-chapter/ New AP Stylebook includes new criminal justice chapter, Associated Press, MAY 29, 2024]</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.apstylebook.com/}}
*[https://www.scribd.com/doc/2664713/Associated-Press-AP-Style-Guide-the-basics Quick Associated Press Style] from [[Boston University|The COM Writing Center]], at scribd.com {{subscription required}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AP Stylebook}}
[[Category:Associated Press|Stylebook]]
[[Category:Style guides for American English]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1909]]
[[Category:Journalism standards]]