Still no final word on AP Stylebook change.
TweetThe AP is proposing that state names be spelled out, effective May 15. However, as posted on their site this week (and still there as of this posting), that decision is not final. I’ve pasted the relevant Q/A text below.
from AP Stylebook Online [2010].
Q. Someone told me that AP is changing the style guidelines for state abbreviations as of May 15, 2010, and that all state names will be spelled out (no abbreviations used) and no Canadian provinces will be used (only the country “Canada”). I have not seen that information on this site. Is this true? Thank you! – from Clemson, SC on Tue, Apr 13, 2010
A. Those style changes have been proposed in wire advisories to AP members. The feasibility is being studied.
Q. Apologies for submitting this here, but wasn’t sure where to send it: What, please, is the explanation for the upcoming May 15 decision to start spelling out state names in all references? This seems more than unwieldy, not to mention space- and time-consuming in an era when we have less and less of both. Can AP please explain, perhaps in the weekly newsletter? thanks in advance. – from Escondido,, CA on Mon, Apr 12, 2010
A. It concerns adopting a universal and consistent style on state names in news stories for both domestic and international use. Global audience are much less likely than U.S. readers to understand state abbreviations. The feasibility of such a change is being looked at.
