It sometimes seems like the Associated Press is just trying to jack with writers.
I can’t think of any other reason the AP would change the style rule on starting sentences with the word hopefully.
In case you missed it, the AP announced the stylebook change earlier this month during the annual copy editors’ conference.
Hopefully, you will appreciate this style update, announced at #aces2012. We now support the modern usage of hopefully: it’s hoped, we hope.
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) April 17, 2012
Of course, if you know me, you recognize that I don’t always take too kindly to the AP changing its rules. Although, I think we all can agree that it was time to stop capitalizing website.
Here’s my problem with the word hopefully anywhere in a sentence. Why would a journalist write about being in a hopeful manner? The use of the word hopefully is editorial on its face.
There are other stupid AP rules that should changed. Take, for example, the use of adviser instead of the preferred advisor or syllabuses instead of syllabi as the plural of syllabus.
Hopefully they’ll address real rules soon instead of creating new ways for journalists to editorialize.
Let’s Talk Nerdy!
What do you think about the AP’s change in the use of hopefully? What rule do you wish they had changed instead?
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