Being in that it can be hard and also difficult as well to write good, the Associated Press stylebook is basically the bible of professional writers. It's the source to turn to to decide, for example, whether to use a numeral or to type out the number in full. (Type out whole numbers from one to nine, use digits for 10 and higher. Also, why AP but no UPI stylebook? Must have been discontinued a few years ago.)
The Fake AP Stylebook is a twitter-based collection of mock "rules" that guides writers through such stumpers as what the plural of Blackberry users is.
Some examples, from a Wired.com report from October:
* “The plural of Blackberry is ‘Blackberries.’ The plural of Blackberry users is “Dingleberries.’”
* “If you do not have an interviewees’ full title, use their most defining physical trait (e.g. ‘Alan Hayes, fat guy, said…’)”
* “Avoid using the letter ‘G’ as it is unlucky.”
Which is more helpful in everyday life, the real thing or the fake? Is every day one word or two?
No comments:
Post a Comment