AP switch -- state names will now be spelled out

Same here.

What's especially grating about this change is they abbreviate state names with cities mentioned in AP cutlines, but write them out in the story.

As a copy editor, differences between how things appear in stories and cutlines (especially names) might be my No. 1 pet peeve.

 

2005? I wish my mine was that up to date.

 

This will require copy editors to learn the names of all 50 states. Hint: Eight of them start with M, so no more excuses for mixing up MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MN, MS, MT

 

We don't use the two-letter abbreviations anyway. Question is how many will still mix up Cal. and Calif.

 

I love this.

And is either Carolina allowed to be identified as Cackalacky yet? Norf or Souf?

 

Paris, Kentucky, is mad at you.

 

In no way do I endorse this statement or the ludicrous style. Anyway, from an AP style chat on Twitter today:

AP Stylebook @APStylebook
The state names guidance provides clarity and consistency for readers by avoiding abbreviations that may not be known by all. #APStyleChat

 

Thankfully in our area, the main states we have to worry about outside our own (which we never include in copy) are Iowa and S.D. Easy enough to "avoid abbreviations that may not be known by all". If those abbreviations aren't known, we have bigger issues.

 

If you don't think this move was strictly about not having to pay someone to go through domestic copy and edit it for overseas markets (where the state names are spelled out in full) then I don't know what to tell ya.

 

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