Associated Press adds 250 entries, new design in annual stylebook update
By Tracy Cook
PORTLAND, Oregon — Disc jockeys around the world, rejoice. The Associated Press announced Saturday that effective June 1, DJ will be acceptable on first reference.
Among the changes included in the 2016 version of the AP Stylebook were a new design and the addition of 250 entries, “some of which were fairly small changes,” said Tom Kent, the stylebook’s chief editor.
We will lowercase internet effective June 1, when the 2016 Stylebook launches. #ACES2016pic.twitter.com/nGz63zc5YP
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) April 2, 2016
Some of those new entries include:
- Media is recognized as singular or plural, depending on the context and meaning.
- The name of the Chicago train system system is L, not El. No quote marks are necessary.
- Internet and Web are lowercased in all instances.
- Voicemail is one word.
- A definition for mistress: “a woman who has a long-term sexual relationship with, and is financially supported by, a man who is married to someone else … phrasing that acknowledges both people in the relationship is preferred.”
- An explanation of exponential growth, in the mathematical sense, not the exaggerated colloquial sense.
- Dashcam is one word. Body camera is two words.
- Use cross-dresser instead of transvestite.
- Avoid referring to a fire in terms of the number of “alarms.”
- Spokesperson was added to the entry on spokesman, spokeswoman.
- The food and fashion sections were updated, with terms such as horchata, normcore and Uniqlo added, as well. Pronunciations for entries including zika, Junipero Serra, and Cecil were added, and they’re backed up by sound clips online.
After the new changes were announced, audience members were given the opportunity to ask questions, two of which are reproduced below:
Question: Have you considered editing all of the numeral exceptions?
Answer: Sort of … but no. We recognize that numerals are overcomplicated. We need to (confer) with our colleagues in sports. I would think in forthcoming stylebooks that’s one thing we’re going to look at. It’s pretty complicated. — Tom Kent
Question: Can you archive the online entries by most current answer?
Answer: We’re discussing a way to make it completely chronological, but a lot of the information in an archive is useful for retracing the development of words and the spelling changes, so I personally am against eliminating material. — David Minthorn, co-editor of the AP Stylebook
Kent said the stylebook is always a work in progress. The 2016 AP Stylebook will be released on June 1.
