3-18 Writing problems
1. The coach has a reputation for welcoming back talented players whom
he “didn’t want to give up on.”
2. A year after she was bought by the zoo for $500,000, Ruby the
elephant still cannot have physical contact with the zoo’s two other
African elephants.
5. The mayor said the city did not have the money for a new building for
the business licence renewal and rezoning petitions offices.
6. Musick was the second person to plead guilty since an indictment was
handed down in March. He is charged with drug trafficking over a two-
year period.
7. A traffic department official said the parkway’s closure caused much
inconvenience, especially during the tourist season. He’s glad it’s all
over.
8. After reviewing the long-term needs study, county officials tried to
reach consensus on what they should do.
Question bank
1. Which of the following titles should never be abbreviated according to AP style?
2. Which of the following symbols can be used, according to AP style?
3. Which of the following is the correct way to write a date, according to AP style?
4. According to AP Style, which of the following should not be abbreviated in an address:
5. According to AP Style, which sentence is correctly punctuated?
6. In Writing for the Mass Media, we speak of “impersonality of presentation,” which means
7. Which is correct according to AP style?
8. What word do you use to refer to the building in which a legislature sits?
9. Adherence to the rules of style
10. Which is correct according to AP style?
11. Which is correct according to AP style?
12. Why is it important to use a consistent style?
13. What is the AP style rule concerning numbers?
14. What is the AP Stylebook attitude in general toward abbreviation?
15. What is one technique that professional writers use to maintain impersonality in their
writing?
16. Stylebooks promote consistency in writing by establishing two things:
17. The most influential style in the field of book publishing is
18. Sometimes a word will have more than one commonly used spelling; in those cases, either
19. The most influential stylebook in the field of the mass media is
Additional AP style quizzes
AP style quiz-01
Select the correct word, sentence or phrase according to AP style rules. (20 questions; answers at the end
of the exam.)
1
a. He is schedule to arrive at 3 p.m. this afternoon.
b. He is scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m.
c. He is scheduled to arrive at 3 P.M. this afternoon.
2
a. “I do not choose to run.” Calvin Coolidge said.
b. “I do not choose to run”, Calvin Coolidge said.
c. “I do not choose to run,” Calvin Coolidge said.
3
a. The coach knew his team would be good when the 7-foot, 3-inch player showed up.
b. The coach knew his team would be good when the 7 foot 3 inch player showed up.
c. The coach knew his team would be good when the 7’, 3” player showed up.
4
a. The college scheduled a speech by author Stephen King.
b. The college scheduled a speech by Author Stephen King.
c. The college scheduled a speech by author, Stephen King.
5
a. Teams of news reporters flew to Tenn. for the big story.
b. Teams of news reporters flew to Tn. for the big story.
c. Teams of news reporters flew to Tennessee for the big story.
6
a. A new county executive has taken office in the bankrupt Orange County.
b. A new county executive has taken office in the bankrupt Orange Co.
c. A new county executive has taken office in the bankrupt Orange C.
7
a. The car, which he sold only last Tuesday, was a vintage 1967 Mustang.
b. The car which he sold only last Tuesday, was a vintage 1967 Mustang.
c. The car which he sold only last Tuesday was a vintage 1967 Mustang.
8
a. The Lt. Gov. was sworn into office right after the governor took the oath.
b. The Lieutenant Governor was sworn into office right after the governor took the oath.
c. The lieutenant governor was sworn into office right after the governor took the oath.
9
a. She is a student in the college of Communication at the University of Alabama.
b. She is a student in the College of Communication at the University of Alabama.
c. She is a student in the College of communication at the University of Alabama.
10
a. He pointed out that he had the same birthday, Nov. 12, 1952.
b. He pointed out that he had the same birthday, November 12, 1952.
c. He pointed out that he had the same birthday, Nov. 12th, 1952.
11
a. Earl “Salty Dog” Draper was elected sheriff of Neshoba County in the last election.
b. Earl, “Salty Dog,” Draper was elected sheriff of Neshoba County in the last election.
c. Earl Salty Dog Draper was elected sheriff of Neshoba County in the last election.
12
a. AP style says you should use yesterday, today and tomorrow rather than the day of the week.
b. AP style says you should use the day of the week rather than yesterday, today and tomorrow.
c. AP style discourages using any reference to time in any stories.
13
a. The speaker will be ex-President Jimmy Carter.
b. The speaker will be Ex-President Jimmy Carter.
c. The speaker will be ex-president Jimmy Carter.
14
a. Alabama is a state with nearly 4.5 million people.
b. Alabama is a state with nearly 4,5 million people.
c. Alabama is a state with nearly 4,500,000 people.
15
a. I decided not to watch the “Andy Griffith Show” last night after all.
b. I decided not to watch the Andy Griffith Show last night after all.
c. I decided not to watch the Andy Griffith Show last night after all.
16
a. She announced that the team would move to St. Louis, Missouri next season.
b. She announced that the team would move to St. Louis, Mo. next season.
c. She announced that the team would move to St. Louis, Mo., next season.
17
a. He decided to appeal the E.P.A.’s ruling.
b. He decided to appeal the EPA’s ruling.
c. He decided to appeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s ruling.
(Assume that this is the first reference to the organization.)
18
a. A cold southwest wind blew across the playing field just before the game.
b. A cold Southwest wind blew across the playing field just before the game.
c. A cold South West wind blew across the playing field just before the game.
19
a. During the first day of the trial, the defendant sat stoically in the courtroom.
b. During the First Day of the trial, the defendant sat stoically in the courtroom.
c. During the 1st day of the trial, the defendant sat stoically in the courtroom.
20
a. He grew up in the turbulent 1960’s.
b. He grew up in the turbulent nineteen-sixties.
c. He grew up in the turbulent 1960s.
Answers
AP style test 2
Select the correct word or phrase according to AP style rules. (50 questions; answers at the end of the
exam.)
1. On Tuesdays I have my first class at 9:45 ____________ .
a. AM
b. A.M.
c. a.m.
2. The nurse said that ________ Jones would not see any more patients today.
a. doctor
b. Dr.
c. Doctor
3. The address on the arrest record was 5369 Airline __________ .
a. Boulevard
b. Blvd.
c. Bld.
4. Scholars think that St. Paul died about 55 ______ .
a. Anno Domini
b. A.D.
c. AD
5. On Friday _________ William Spong and Howard Baker voted against the bill.
a. Senators
b. senators
c. Sens.
6. Late that ________ the train finally pulled into the station.
a. p.m.
b. P.M.
c. evening
7. Her birthday is _______ 16, 1960.
a. October
b. Oct.
c. should read “10-16-60”
8. The woman made her appeal to the ______ Supreme Court.
a. United States
b. U.S.
c. US
9. ____________ hosted a meeting of European leaders last week.
a. PM Major
b. Prime minister Major
c. Prime Minister Major
10. Just since last year _________ Street has become a haven for drug dealers.
a. 5th
b. Fifth
c. fifth
11. The old man felt fortunate in the _______ he had acquired.
a. daughters-in-law
b. daughters-in-laws
c. daughter-in-laws
12. The ___________ he used to write letters reflected his personality.
a. stationery
b. stationary
c. stationiry
13. Ken Griffey__ Jr is now on the same team with his father.
a. comma
b. period
c. no punctuation
14. The saying is that a cat has ____ lives, and I believe it.
a. nine
b. 9
c. IX
15. He had a June ____ appointment with his doctor.
a. first
b. one
c. 1
16. The _______ old building was a campus landmark.
a. vunerable
b. venerable
c. venarible
17. The Torchmark ________ has decided to locate its new plant here.
a. Corp.
b. Cooperation
c. Corporation
18. Tuscaloosa was once the _______ city of Alabama.
a. capital
b. capitol
c. Capitol
19. The team members decided to vote for the quarterback as _______ captain.
a. its
b. their
c. they’re
20. _____________ Harry Smith convened the city council.
a. Vice mayor
b. Vice Mayor
c. Vi. May.
21. The ______________ began in 1929 with the stock market crash.
a. Great Depression
b. great depression
c. great Depression
22. The ______ of the new building is an abandoned cemetery.
a. cite
b. site
c. sight
23. The _________________ celebration will begin with a parade that morning.
a. Independence day
b. Independence Day
c. independence day
24. The president summoned the ___________ to the Oval Office.
a. secretary of State
b. Secretary of State
c. secretary of state
25. He had only finished about _________ of the exam when the bell rang.
a. one-fourth
b. one fourth
c. 1/4
26. Temperatures will be in the low _____ .
a. 20’s
b. 20s’
c. 20s
27. The mass media _______ the subject of much criticism in this country.
a. is
b. are
c. has been
28. The soldier was shot at _______ range and died immediately.
a. point-blank
b. point blank
c. point Blank
29. Harold Brown, the former ___________ , was critical of the president
a. Secretary of Defense
b. secretary of defense
c. secretary of Defense
30. I doubt that I will be able to go__ I have a lot of homework to do.
a. comma
b. preposition
c. semicolon
31. The opening day of the baseball season is on __________ 4.
a. Apr.
b. Ap.
c. April
32. __________ clothes is he wearing if not his own.
a. Who’s
b. Whos
c. Whose
33. The governor said he would not _____ his plans to engage in a debate.
a. alter
b. altar
c. altur
34. There were many in the ________ who were sympathetic to the Confederacy.
a. north
b. Northward
c. North
35. Alabama’s ______ loss has put more pressure on the team.
a. 17-16
b. 17 to 16
c. seventeen to sixteen
36. The train is due to arrive at ________ p.m.
a. 15 after eight
b. eight-fifteen
c. 8:15
37. ______________ is the second Sunday in May.
a. Mothers Day
b. Mother’s Day
c. Mother’s day
38. He thought Smith was the most ________ of the three judges.
a. equitable
b. equal
c. equitible
39. Many people from ___________ have a distinct accent.
a. new England
b. new england
c. New England
40. The student gave a(n) __________ report of her findings.
a. verbal
b. oral
c. orel
41. The ballplayer’s annual salary will be about ______________ .
a. four million dollars
b. $4 million
c. 4 million dollars
42. __________ was the hottest day of the year.
a. August twentieth
b. Aug. 20th
c. Aug. 20
43. The mayor said he would be a candidate for ____________.
a. reelection
b. re-election
c. re election
44. He promised to meet me here at ____________ .
a. 12 midnight
b. 12:00 a.m.
c. midnight
45. The lawyer looked for a machine to ______ his brief.
a. xerox
b. photocopy
c. Xerox
46. John wrestled with his ________ before making the decision.
a. conscious
b. conscience
c. conscientious
47. ___________ people attended the study session before the exam.
a. 21
b. Twenty one
c. Twenty-one
48. ___________ he won’t start his drinking again.
a. Hopefully
b. I hope
c. Hope fully
49. The astronauts offered their final words of ______ before takeoff.
a. goodbye
b. goodby
c. good-bye
50. The teacher said that what she had turned in was _______________.
a. alright
b. all right
c. allright