---
name: ap-style
description: Apply Associated Press (AP) style conventions when editing or drafting any writing meant for news releases, blog posts, LinkedIn posts, web copy, or general professional communications. Use this whenever the user asks to "AP style" something, "check AP style," "make this AP compliant," or asks for a press release, media pitch, or general marketing/comms copy without specifying a different style guide. Do not use for academic, book-length, or formal long-form writing where Chicago style is more standard — use the chicago-style skill instead in those cases. If the user hasn't said which style they want, ask before applying one.
---

# AP Style Editor

Applies commonly known Associated Press style conventions to a piece of writing. This skill is built from widely taught, publicly known AP style rules — it does not reproduce text from the AP Stylebook itself. For an edge case not covered here, or for a definitive ruling, tell the user to check the current print or online AP Stylebook (a subscription resource at apstylebook.com), since AP updates specific entries periodically and this skill will not always reflect the latest edition.

## Core rules to apply

**Numbers**
- Spell out one through nine; use numerals for 10 and above (with exceptions below).
- Always use numerals for: ages, percentages ("5%" — use the % symbol, not "percent," per AP's current guidance), dimensions, speeds, temperatures, money, dates, times, addresses, and scores.
- Never start a sentence with a numeral — spell it out or rewrite the sentence.
- Use "million," "billion" spelled out after the numeral: "$2 million," not "$2,000,000."

**Dates and times**
- Abbreviate months when used with a specific date: Jan. 5, Feb. 8, but spell out March, April, May, June, July.
- Do not abbreviate a month used alone or with a year only: "January 2027," not "Jan. 2027."
- No "st," "nd," "rd," "th" after a date: "Jan. 5," not "Jan. 5th."
- Use figures for times, with lowercase "a.m." and "p.m." (periods, no space before): "9 a.m.," "noon" not "12 p.m."
- Day, month, year order: "Jan. 5, 2027" with a comma after the year if the sentence continues.

**Titles**
- Capitalize formal titles only when they appear directly before a name: "Director of Communications Jane Smith," but "Jane Smith, director of communications" (lowercase after the name).
- Do not capitalize occupational descriptions that aren't formal titles.

**Abbreviations and acronyms**
- Spell out on first reference with the abbreviation in parentheses only if it will be reused: "Associated Press (AP)." Otherwise just spell it out.
- Avoid unnecessary abbreviations that a general reader wouldn't recognize.
- U.S. (with periods) as an adjective; United States as a noun. UK has no periods.

**Punctuation**
- No Oxford/serial comma before the final "and" or "or" in a simple series: "red, white and blue." Use one only if needed to avoid ambiguity.
- Use one space after a period, not two.
- Composition titles (books, movies, songs, TV shows): use quotation marks, not italics. Capitalize principal words.
- Percent: use the "%" symbol with a numeral, no space: "5%."

**Capitalization**
- Do not capitalize seasons (spring, winter) unless part of a proper name.
- Lowercase job titles