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StyleGuard features

With the Associated Press Stylebook collection

  1. Avoid using redundant or over-used words.
  2. Catch capitalization and punctuation issues.
  3. Fix style deviations that escape Microsoft Office spelling and grammar.
  4. Answer questions such as “Should this be one word, two words, or hyphenated?”
  5. Convert common units within your content.
  6. Abbreviate the correct way in the right places.
See Datasheet for more details

How StyleGuard works

When StyleGuard is enabled, a side panel appears on the right-hand side of your document or email. As you type, StyleGuard analyzes the new text and will immediately flag any text that is not in compliance with the style guide(s) you are working with – similar to how the built-in grammar and spell-checkers currently work.

Get detailed information

The side panel will display further details, optional suggestions, and links to additional information in online resources, such as Wikipedia or relevant searches. StyleGuard enables you to automatically fix potential issues, ignore the issues or add detailed information as comments into your document for future review.

All the tools you need

StyleGuard provides the power of certainty while you write. Whether it is how to cite content, refer to a title, or know how a term is being referred to by publishers, we believe all that information should be right there with you as you type.

StyleGuard ensures writing style compliance and consistency within and across organizations, and complements existing or traditional references such as printed style guides.

Watch the StyleGuard video

Watch this short introductory video to see how StyleGuard proofs your Microsoft Word Document for AP style violations. See how StyleGuard addresses preferred spelling, punctuation and first and second reference.

seat belt
Seat belt or seatbelt?

Seat belt. Two words. 

in, into
Did a thief break into or break in to a house?

In indicates location: He was in the room.
Into indicates motion: She walked into the room. 

body mass index
Is it a high body-mass index or body mass index that can be an indicator of high body fatness.

See “body mass index” entry: no hyphen.

Bubble Wrap
Should I use bubble wrap or Bubble Wrap to protect the shipping content?

See “Bubble Wrap” entry. A registered trademark. Unless the trademark name is important to the story, use cushioning or packaging material.

female
When should I use female instead of woman?

Use female as an adjective, not woman: She was Alaska’s first female governor. 

cocktails
Why are some drink names capitalized?

Like other recipes, if a cocktail is named for a person or place, it is capitalized. Otherwise, lowercase. Unless it’s a brand name, schnapps is lowercase. A Manhattan is capitalized, an old fashioned is lowercase. Lowercase vermouth, which goes into a Manhattan. 

African-American
Do you describe someone as African American or African-American?

AP uses the hyphen to designate dual heritage, such as African-American, Mexican-American, Hispanic-American, Italian-American and Asian-American. 

first-grade student
Is he a first grade, first-grade, 1st grade or 1st-grade student?

first-grade student. See “grade, grader” entry. 

blood alcohol
Is it his blood-alcohol level or blood alcohol level that is too high?

See “blood alcohol content” entry: As a noun phrase, no hyphen. Authorities may use level in that context, so it’s equally acceptable. 

AP
Can you just use AP in your article to refer to The Associated Press?

Use The Associated Press on first reference (the capitalized article is part of the formal name.) On second reference, AP or the AP (no capital on the) may be used. 

plead
When should you use pled as the past tense of plead?

It’s plead, pleaded, pleading. Do not use the colloquial past tense form, pled. 

warm up (n.), warm up (v.)
A sports question from fans: Which is correct? Warm-up or warmup?

Warmup (n.) and warm up (v.) were added to AP Stylebook Sports Guidelines in 2015. 

part time, part-time
Is it a part time job or a part-time job?

Hyphenate part-time when used as a compound modifier: She works part time. She has a part-time job. 

department Chairman
Should I talk to department Chairman or Department Chairman John Smith?

According to “academic titles” entry: Lowercase modifiers such as department in department Chairman Jerome Wiesner. 

Web page
Do you visit a webpage, web page or Web page?

Web page is capitalized and two words, as in the “website” entry. 

boo-boo
Did you make a big boo boo or boo-boo?

See “boo-boo” entry: always hyphen. 

pontiff
Is it pontiff or Pontiff?

Pontiff is not a formal title. Always lowercase. 

Uber
How to you refer to services such as Uber and Lyft?

Ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft let people use smartphone apps to book and pay for a private car service or, in some cases, a taxi. They may also be called ride-booking services. Do not use ride-sharing. 

BLT, zip-close bag
Guess what I brought for lunch today?

Thinking about lunch? Pack a BLT (OK on first reference) in a zip-close bag (Ziploc is a brand name.) 

headwind, head wind
Is it head wind or headwind?

AP stories favor headwind (one word,) although Webster’s makes it two words (head wind.) 

Asian-American
Do you describe someone as Asian American or Asian-American?

AP uses the hyphen to designate dual heritage, such as African-American, Mexican-American, Hispanic-American, Italian-American and Asian-American. 

global warming
How do you refer to those who don’t accept climate science?

To describe those who don’t accept climate science or dispute the world is warming from man-made forces, use climate change doubters or those who reject mainstream climate science. Avoid use of skeptics or deniers. 

today
Why is today seldom used in newspaper articles?

Use today only in direct quotations and in phrases that do not refer to a specific day: Customs today are different from those of a century ago. Use the day of the week in copy, not today. 

allude, refer
When should I use allude instead of refer?

To allude to something is to speak of it without specifically mentioning it. To refer to something is to mention it directly. 

Coast Guard
Should Coast Guard be capitalized?

Capitalize Coast Guard when referring to this branch of the U.S. armed forces: the Coast Guard, Coast Guard policy. 

onto, on to
Do you hold on to or hold onto your horses?

One-word onto means on top of, aware of. Otherwise use two words: hold on to, log on to. 

school terms
Style Quiz: Schoolbook or school book? Schoolyear or school year?

Schoolbook, schoolchildren, schoolroom, schoolteacher, schoolwork and schoolyard are one word, but school year, school age, school day and school bus are two. 

biannual
Does biannual mean twice a year or once every two years?

Semiannual means twice a year, a synonym for biannual. Do not confuse with biennial, every two years. 

minutes-long
Was it a horrifying minuteslong or minutes-long encounter?

Seconds and minutes generally can be timed or accurately estimated, so it’s better to use figures for those measurements, usually hyphenated as compound modifiers.