The Associated Press Stylebook is a widely used reference guide in journalism and writing, providing guidelines for consistent writing style, usage, and terminology. One of the key aspects of the AP Stylebook is its guidance on seasons, which is crucial for maintaining clarity and consistency in writing, especially in news articles, press releases, and other forms of journalistic writing.
AP Style Guide to Seasons
In the AP Stylebook, the guidance on seasons is straightforward and aimed at avoiding confusion and ensuring that readers understand the time of year being referred to. The stylebook advises against using the seasons as adjectives to describe when an event occurs unless it is part of a formal title or name. For example, instead of saying “The winter concert,” one should say “The concert will be held in the winter.”
Seasons as Proper Nouns
When referring to the seasons as proper nouns, the AP Stylebook suggests capitalizing them. This applies to instances where the season is part of a formal name or title, such as “Summer Olympics” or “Winter Festival.” However, when the season is used generically, it should not be capitalized, as in “The festival will be held in the summer.”
| Season | Capitalization Rule |
|---|---|
| Summer | Capitalize when part of a formal name, otherwise lowercase. |
| Winter | Capitalize when part of a formal name, otherwise lowercase. |
| Spring | Capitalize when part of a formal name, otherwise lowercase. |
| Fall | Capitalize when part of a formal name, otherwise lowercase. Note: In AP style, "fall" is preferred over "autumn" for general usage. |
Seasonal References in Writing
When making seasonal references in writing, it’s essential to consider the audience and the context. For international audiences, specifying the hemisphere (e.g., “summer in the Northern Hemisphere”) can be helpful, as seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. This clarification is particularly important in global communications, travel writing, or any content that might be read by people in different parts of the world.
Seasonal Activities and Events
Seasonal activities and events can also be described in a way that is consistent with AP style. For example, instead of saying “The winter break,” one could say “The break between semesters, which falls in the winter.” This approach helps to avoid ambiguity and ensures that the reader understands the timing of the event or activity.
Key Points
- Use lowercase for seasons when they are not part of a formal name or title.
- Capitalize seasons when they are part of a formal name or title.
- Prefer "fall" over "autumn" for general references to the season, unless the context suggests otherwise.
- Specify the hemisphere when referring to seasons in international contexts.
- Avoid using seasons as adjectives unless they are part of a formal title or name.
The AP Stylebook's guidance on seasons is designed to promote clarity, consistency, and precision in writing. By following these guidelines, writers can ensure that their work is clear, readable, and free from confusion, which is especially important in news writing and other forms of journalistic communication.
Why does the AP Stylebook prefer “fall” over “autumn”?
+The AP Stylebook prefers “fall” because it is more commonly used in American English. However, “autumn” can be used in more formal or poetic contexts, or when it is the preferred term of the subject or organization being written about.
How should seasons be capitalized in writing?
+Seasons should be capitalized when they are part of a formal name or title. Otherwise, they should be in lowercase. For example, “Summer Olympics” but “the summer concert.”
Why is it important to specify the hemisphere when referring to seasons in international contexts?
+Specifying the hemisphere helps to avoid confusion because seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere. This clarification is crucial for global communications to ensure that the audience understands the timing of events or activities.