It’s that time of the year again—last week, the Associated Press (AP) released the 2014 edition of its AP Stylebook, better known to many as the journalist’s bible. If you work at all with media, you’re undoubtedly well aware of the book’s unique style and grammar rules. As PR pros, we likewise abide by the book to maintain consistency and make things easier for the journalists with whom we work.
Now, I’ve personally always been a fan of following proper grammar, style and spelling (or at least trying). They’re a reflection of our use of language and the roadmap for how we express ourselves. Abiding by a style guide in particular makes sure we’re consistent and not misunderstood—critically important in a field like PR, where successful communications makes up the very core.
However, this year, the AP seems to be easing up on some of its most notorious rules. All hell broke loose in March, for example, when the AP announced it would now accept the use of “over” in place of “more than.” Many journalists took to Twitter to express their frustrations. Others applauded the AP’s loosening up on what some see as overly strict or archaic rules. In any case, the change sparked an interesting debate around the fluidity of language—how much should we sacrifice “proper” grammar and style for the sake of modernity and ease of use?
Whatever side of the fence you’re on, this year’s stylebook updates are a reflection of our evolving culture and the trends that are sweeping society. In addition to the aforementioned rule change, the latest guide features a slew of new and updated sections, entries and terms in areas like culture, religion, food and social media, revealing the themes that matter most and are on people’s minds today. PR pros, take note—some of the most significant updates to the 2014 stylebook include:
- A comprehensive religion section with 208 new or updated entries from a variety of religions, including terms like megachurch, Zionism and Advent, as well as a detailed description of Easter
- New and updated diet, drink and food entries such as mixologist (i.e., “cocktail crafter”), Buffalo wings, aioli, Chobani (for the American Greek yogurt) and vegan vs. vegetarian
- Social media terms like Emoji, Snapchat, selfie and bitcoin
- Pop culture and politics entries including the addition of actress Lupita Nyong’o, comedian Louis C.K., songstress Sara Bareilles, “Frozen” star Idina Menzel and various notable politicians
- New science and medical terms such as HPV, MERS, in vitro fertilization and polar vortex
- Sports updates and figures including NFL draft picks Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney, as well as the recognition of football as the preferred international term for soccer
Other notable updates include terms like LGBT and (sic) as well as the AP’s controversial revision to the use of state names in stories. For a complete list of updated entries, be sure to pick up a copy of the updated AP Stylebook.
For more on why AP Style matters, check out our blog post, “Understanding AP Style and Its Importance.”