Do you know what style guide your organization uses?
As a PR professional, consistency in your writing is crucial, be it in a press release, publication or even just an email. Whether your company follows the Chicago Manual or AP, knowing the basic rules of your house style—and the differences between them—can help you write with clarity, uniformity and proficiency.
Though most general grammar and mechanics are always treated the same way, here are five major differences between the Chicago and AP styles that you should be prepared to encounter regularly:
Serial Comma
Also called the “Oxford comma,” this term refers to a comma that separates the penultimate item in a list from the final item introduced by a conjunction (and or or). AP style does not use the serial comma, while Chicago style does.
Ex:
AP: She bought butter, sugar and jam.
Chicago: She bought butter, sugar, and jam.
Em Dashes and Ellipses
For an ellipsis, AP calls for three periods, with a space before and after. Chicago, on the other hand, calls for three spaced periods with a space before and after. The difference is in the spacing between the dots of the ellipsis.
Ex:
AP: Hey ... are you going to eat that?
Chicago: Hey … are you going to eat that?
With regard to em dashes, AP style includes a space on either side of it, while Chicago does not.
Ex:
AP: Social media sites — like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — are visited daily by most people.
Chicago: Social media sites—like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram—are visited daily by most people.
Titles—Quotations or Italics?
AP doesn’t use italics for titles at all, while Chicago uses italics for some titles and quotes for others. Both style guides have nuances for different types of titles, so we recommend checking the official books/sites for specific rules. Generally, for the titles of larger works like books and movies, Chicago calls for italics and AP calls for quotes.
Ex:
AP: “Gone With the Wind”
Chicago: Gone with the Wind
Possessive Apostrophes
When you are using a common noun ending in s that is possessive, do you use apostrophe-s or just an apostrophe? It depends on who you ask, and it depends on the kind of noun in question.
For singular common nouns that end in s, both AP and Chicago styles use apostrophe-s. Unless, that is, the following word begins with s. Then AP style calls for just an apostrophe. If the common noun is plural, both styles use just an apostrophe.
Ex:
Singular common noun
AP and Chicago: Texas’s rivers
AP only: Texas’ streams
Plural common noun
AP and Chicago: The babies’ hats
For proper nouns, use an apostrophe only if following AP style. In Chicago style, use an apostrophe-s if singular and just an apostrophe if plural.
Ex:
AP: Neil Patrick Harris’ voice
Chicago: Neil Patrick Harris’s voice or the Joneses’ house
Numbers
In AP style, spell out whole numbers up to (and including) nine; in Chicago style, spell out whole numbers up to (and including) one hundred. Note that both style guides have different rules for numbers in situations such as percentages, measurements and currency.
Ex:
AP: She picked 15 apples, but he only picked nine.
Chicago: I’m thirty-seven and I have two children.
Once you’ve determined your organization’s chosen style, make sure to keep a copy of the guide on hand if ever you’re unsure about usage (you can find the Chicago Manual of Style here and the AP Style Guide here). And if your company hasn’t elected a particular style, perhaps you should suggest it!
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