AP Style Months

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AP Style Months

AP style is an abbreviation for Associated Press style. It is a widely used style guide used by journalists, writers, and editors.

AP style has specific rules for capitalizing and abbreviating the names of months. These rules help to ensure consistency and clarity in writing.

In this article, we will discuss the AP style for months. We will also provide some helpful tips and examples.

ap style months

Here are 8 important points about AP style months:

  • Capitalize full month names
  • Abbreviate months with four or more letters
  • Use no periods with abbreviations
  • Use commas with month and year
  • Use en dashes for date ranges
  • Spell out months in dates
  • Avoid the word "of" in dates
  • Follow AP style for consistency

By following these rules, you can ensure that your writing is clear and consistent.

Capitalize full month names

In AP style, full month names are always capitalized. This rule applies to all months, regardless of their length.

  • Capitalize the first letter of each word in a full month name.

    For example, write "January", "February", and "December".

  • Capitalize the first letter of a month name when it is used in a date.

    For example, write "January 1, 2023" and "December 31, 2022".

  • Capitalize the first letter of a month name when it is used in a month range.

    For example, write "January–February 2023" and "June–July 2024".

  • Capitalize the first letter of a month name when it is used in a list of months.

    For example, write "January, February, March" and "April, May, June".

By capitalizing full month names, you can ensure that your writing is clear and easy to read. This is especially important in formal writing, such as news articles and academic papers.

Abbreviate months with four or more letters

In AP style, months with four or more letters can be abbreviated. This helps to save space and improve readability in certain contexts, such as headlines, captions, and tables.

  • Use standard abbreviations for months.

    The standard abbreviations for months are:

    • Jan.
    • Feb.
    • Mar.
    • Apr.
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • Aug.
    • Sept.
    • Oct.
    • Nov.
    • Dec.
  • Abbreviate month names only when space is limited.

    In general, it is best to spell out month names in full. However, you can abbreviate them when space is limited, such as in headlines, captions, and tables.

  • Do not use periods with month abbreviations.

    AP style does not use periods with month abbreviations. For example, write "Jan" and "Feb", not "Jan." and "Feb."

  • Be consistent with your abbreviations.

    Once you have decided to abbreviate a month name, use the same abbreviation throughout your writing. This will help to ensure consistency and clarity.

By following these rules, you can use month abbreviations correctly and effectively in your writing.

Use no periods with abbreviations

In AP style, periods are not used with month abbreviations. This rule applies to all month abbreviations, regardless of their length.

  • Do not use periods with two-letter month abbreviations.

    For example, write "Jan" and "Feb", not "Jan." and "Feb."

  • Do not use periods with three-letter month abbreviations.

    For example, write "Mar" and "Apr", not "Mar." and "Apr."

  • Do not use periods with four-letter month abbreviations.

    For example, write "June" and "July", not "June." and "July."

  • Be consistent with your abbreviations.

    Once you have decided to abbreviate a month name, use the same abbreviation throughout your writing. This will help to ensure consistency and clarity.

By following these rules, you can use month abbreviations correctly and effectively in your writing.

Use commas with month and year

In AP style, commas are used to separate the month, day, and year in a date. This rule applies to both full month names and month abbreviations.

Here are some examples of how to use commas with month and year:

  • "January 1, 2023"
  • "Feb. 1, 2023"
  • "March 8, 2023"
  • "Apr. 15, 2023"
  • "May 22, 2023"

Note the following:

  • There is a comma after the month.
  • There is a space between the day and the year.
  • There is no comma after the year.

When to use commas with month and year:

  • Use commas with month and year when the date is written in full.
  • Use commas with month and year when the date is abbreviated.
  • Use commas with month and year when the date is used in a sentence.

Here are some examples of how to use commas with month and year in a sentence:

  • "The meeting will be held on Friday, January 1, 2023."
  • "The deadline for the project is Feb. 15, 2023."
  • "We will be traveling to Europe in May 2023."

By following these rules, you can use commas correctly with month and year in your writing.

Use en dashes for date ranges

In AP style, en dashes are used to indicate a range of dates. This can be useful for indicating a period of time, such as a fiscal year or a historical era.

Here are some examples of how to use en dashes for date ranges:

  • "The fiscal year 2023–2024"
  • "The period 1980–1989"
  • "The American Civil War (1861–1865)"

Note the following:

  • There is no space before or after the en dash.
  • The en dash is used instead of the hyphen.
  • The en dash is used even if one or both of the dates is abbreviated.

When to use en dashes for date ranges:

  • Use en dashes for date ranges when the dates are consecutive.
  • Use en dashes for date ranges when the dates are not consecutive but are still related.
  • Use en dashes for date ranges when the dates are used in a sentence.

Here are some examples of how to use en dashes for date ranges in a sentence:

  • "The company's revenue increased by 10% in the fiscal year 2023–2024."
  • "The population of the United States grew rapidly in the period 1800–1860."
  • "The American Civil War was fought from 1861–1865."

By following these rules, you can use en dashes correctly for date ranges in your writing.

Spell out months in dates

In AP style, months are spelled out in full when they are used in dates. This rule applies to both formal and informal writing.

Here are some examples of how to spell out months in dates:

  • "January 1, 2023"
  • "February 14, 2023"
  • "March 8, 2023"
  • "April 15, 2023"
  • "May 22, 2023"

Note the following:

  • The month is spelled out in full.
  • There is a space between the month and the day.
  • The day is written in numerals.
  • The year is written in numerals.

When to spell out months in dates:

  • Spell out months in dates when the date is written in full.
  • Spell out months in dates when the date is used in a sentence.

Here are some examples of how to spell out months in dates in a sentence:

  • "The meeting will be held on Friday, January 1, 2023."
  • "The deadline for the project is February 15, 2023."
  • "We will be traveling to Europe in May 2023."

By following these rules, you can spell out months correctly in dates in your writing.

Avoid the word "of" in dates

In AP style, the word "of" is avoided in dates. This is because "of" is unnecessary and can make a date awkward or confusing.

Here are some examples of how to avoid the word "of" in dates:

  • "January 1, 2023" instead of "January of 2023"
  • "February 14, 2023" instead of "February of 2023"
  • "March 8, 2023" instead of "March of 2023"
  • "April 15, 2023" instead of "April of 2023"
  • "May 22, 2023" instead of "May of 2023"

Note the following:

  • The word "of" is omitted.
  • There is a space between the month and the year.

When to avoid the word "of" in dates:

  • Avoid the word "of" in dates when the date is written in full.
  • Avoid the word "of" in dates when the date is abbreviated.
  • Avoid the word "of" in dates when the date is used in a sentence.

Here are some examples of how to avoid the word "of" in dates in a sentence:

  • "The meeting will be held on Friday, January 1, 2023."
  • "The deadline for the project is Feb. 15, 2023."
  • "We will be traveling to Europe in May 2023."

By following these rules, you can avoid using the word "of" in dates correctly in your writing.

Follow AP style for consistency

One of the most important things to remember when writing about months is to be consistent. This means following the same rules for capitalization, abbreviation, and punctuation throughout your writing.

  • Choose one style and stick to it.

    There are two main styles for writing about months: the Associated Press (AP) style and the Chicago Manual of Style. Once you have chosen a style, be consistent with it throughout your writing.

  • Be consistent with capitalization.

    If you are capitalizing the first letter of a month name in one instance, you should capitalize it in all other instances as well.

  • Be consistent with abbreviation.

    If you are abbreviating a month name in one instance, you should abbreviate it in all other instances as well.

  • Be consistent with punctuation.

    If you are using commas or en dashes in dates, you should use them consistently throughout your writing.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your writing is consistent and easy to read.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about months:

Question 1: How do I capitalize months?

Answer: Capitalize the first letter of a month name when it is used in a date or in a month range. For example, write "January 1, 2023" and "January–February 2023".

Question 2: When should I abbreviate months?

Answer: Abbreviate months with four or more letters when space is limited, such as in headlines, captions, and tables. For example, write "Jan." for January and "Feb." for February.

Question 3: Do I use periods with month abbreviations?

Answer: No, do not use periods with month abbreviations. For example, write "Jan" and "Feb", not "Jan." and "Feb."

Question 4: When should I use commas with month and year?

Answer: Use commas to separate the month, day, and year in a date. For example, write "January 1, 2023" and "Feb. 15, 2023".

Question 5: How do I use en dashes for date ranges?

Answer: Use en dashes to indicate a range of dates. For example, write "the fiscal year 2023–2024" and "the period 1980–1989".

Question 6: Should I spell out months in dates?

Answer: Yes, spell out months in dates when the date is written in full. For example, write "January 1, 2023" and "February 14, 2023".

Question 7: Should I use the word "of" in dates?

Answer: No, avoid using the word "of" in dates. For example, write "January 1, 2023" instead of "January of 2023".

Closing Paragraph for FAQ:

By following these rules, you can use month names correctly and consistently in your writing.

In addition to the FAQ, here are some tips for writing about months:

Tips

Here are some tips for writing about months:

Tip 1: Use a consistent style.

Choose one style for writing about months and stick to it throughout your writing. This will help to ensure that your writing is consistent and easy to read.

Tip 2: Be clear and concise.

When writing about months, be clear and concise. Avoid using unnecessary words or phrases.

Tip 3: Use commas correctly.

Use commas to separate the month, day, and year in a date. For example, write "January 1, 2023" and "Feb. 15, 2023".

Tip 4: Proofread your work.

After you have written about months, proofread your work carefully. This will help you to catch any errors in capitalization, abbreviation, or punctuation.

Closing Paragraph for Tips:

By following these tips, you can write about months correctly and effectively.

By following the tips and advice in this article, you can improve your writing skills and ensure that you are using month names correctly and consistently.

Conclusion

Months are an important part of our lives. They help us to track time and to plan our activities. When we write about months, it is important to do so correctly and consistently.

In this article, we have discussed the AP style for months. We have also provided some tips for writing about months, including how to capitalize, abbreviate, and punctuate month names.

By following these rules and tips, you can ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and easy to read.

Closing Message:

So next time you write about a month, remember to follow the AP style and the tips you have learned in this article. Your writing will be all the better for it.

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