It’s like Christmas for nerds, only in May.
The 2015 AP Stylebook was released today.
Ok, I didn’t mean the whole rhyming thing, but it really is a great day!
The Stylebook contains 300 new or revised entries, which is The AP’s way of making sure we’re always learning. Just when we think we know what’s in the Stylebook, they change it.
Notable changes to this edition include:
- the addition of “favorite,” which is defined as “a button that a Twitter user can click to express approval for a tweet, and/or to bookmark that tweet, and any associated links, for later consumption. Also, the act of clicking on this button.”
- the addition of “meme,” defined as “a piece of information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that’s shared verbally or transmitted widely, often in social media.”
- an entry on suicide, which discourages the phrase “committed suicide” and encourages the use of “killed himself,” “took her own life” or “died by suicide” as alternatives,
- updated sports and social media sections,
- updated food and fashion chapters, and
- an 85-page index in the back to help users navigate the manual.
My students who are just learning to use the Stylebook will love the index. It’s surprising that it’s taken the AP so long to add this feature to the ever-growing manual.
The Stylebook, which is more than 600 pages, is available for purchase. It costs about $17-$26, depending on whether you want a paper or digital copy. It’s noteworthy that the new digital copy is connected free to the app, a nice change from having to purchase both.
Not sure why you need the newest version of the AP Stylebook?
The 300 changes are the answer. Sure, it’s frustrating to me too that we have to buy a new version every year, but language is adapting and changing. It’s important to learn and work from the most up-to-date edition.
Not sure why you need to learn and use AP Style?
The short answer is because it’s the standard style used in all media writing. For more on that topic, read Why Learn AP Style?
Now go forth and use words correctly!
apstyle says
AveryBGreen profkrg You mean APStylebook — not me! 🙂
AveryBGreen says
apstyle profkrg APStylebook Oops- too funny. What a great handle though!