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3-pointer or three-pointer

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Seahawk, Nov 28, 2007.

  1. PHINJ

    PHINJ Active Member

    3-pointer

    three-point play

    3-2 lead

    I think if you write "3" as in "trey" on second reference, it's "3." Eg.: Bryant hit a 3-pointer to make it 75-74. On the next possession, he hit another 3 to make it 78-74. But others may disagree.
     
  2. Chi City 81

    Chi City 81 Guest

    It's three-pointer at my place. We deviate from AP style on several things.
     
  3. chazp

    chazp Active Member

    I don't think you've looked into the sports section of the AP Style Book, it shows that spelling out the numbers if not the style for some sports, example, 6-yard touchdown run. There are other examples. The sports section is very different from the news section.
     
  4. Seahawk

    Seahawk Member

    Thanks for the help. I thought it was 3-point basket, but I didn't have my book with me to verify.
     
  5. SoCalDude

    SoCalDude Active Member

    We believe it should be three-pointer. HOWEVER, with the most recent staff reduction and increase in workload, we decided that it was pointless to have to change wire copy every night. So we changed our style to 3-pointer. We do not let 3 stand alone -- Jones made a 3 (we make it 3-pointer) -- nor do we allow trey.
    So, we also had to change our style on two-point conversion to 2-point conversion. And this one slipped by the other night. Jones made a two-point basket. Should be 2-point.
     
  6. imjustagirl2

    imjustagirl2 New Member

    My paper:

    3-pointer
    He scored three points
    He averages 3 points and 7 rebounds
    5-yard line
    He ran for seven yards
    4 seconds
     
  7. mike311gd

    mike311gd Active Member

    It's 3-pointer over here.
     
  8. SCEditor

    SCEditor Active Member

    3-pointer or 3 here.

    The word "trey" gets you 20 lashings.
     
  9. mike311gd

    mike311gd Active Member

    We just castrate for "trey."
     
  10. jlee

    jlee Well-Known Member

    I feel that's still being too lenient. /threadjack

    As for 3-pointer, I'm with AP on using the Arabic numeral, but I prefer "three" to "3" because I hate adding apostrophes when pluralizing, in this case "3's." But at my paper, it's usually strict AP for the same reason as SoCalDude.
     
  11. Bubbler

    Bubbler Well-Known Member

    Do whatever you want. AP doesn't follow AP style half the time.

    I use 3-pointer, but who am I to say?
     
  12. Barsuk

    Barsuk Active Member

    Only 20? That's awfully lax. :D
     
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