AP vs. Chicago: Which Style Guide Is Right for You?
Nearly everyone has access to the internet, which means the answers to all your questions are a quick Google search away. But when searching for guidance on whether the question mark goes inside the quotations or the appropriate way to capitalize the title of an article, how are you supposed to know which of the internet’s sage advice you should follow?
This is why choosing a style guide for your writing is important. If you know which guide you should be referencing, you can narrow down your search from How to capitalize an article title? to Title capitalization rule AP Style.
There are many style guides to choose from and each guide is specifically designed for a particular industry or type of content. Additionally, many brands have their own in-house style guide so if you’re a freelance writer, be sure to ask your client for a copy so you can save yourself, and your editor, some time.
What Is a Style Guide?
Put simply, a writing style guide outlines the rules writers and editors should follow to publish error-free content. That said, not every style guide is going to give you the same advice. There are many style guides available and each guide is tailored to a specific industry, genre, brand, product, or publishing platform.
But unless you’re writing for a highly specialized or technical field of academic publication, the two heavyweight contenders in the style guide arena are the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style. These two guides have been the authority on writing for decades and set the standards for good writing in the news and traditional publishing industries.
AP vs. Chicago
So, you’ve got options, and normally that’s a good thing! But how are you supposed to know if you should be using the AP Stylebook or the Chicago Manual of Style? Luckily, it’s pretty easy to determine which guide is right for you by asking yourself a few simple questions.
Am I writing a fiction or nonfiction novel or another type of long-form content?
Am I writing for newspapers, magazines, blogs, or creating short-form content?
If you answered yes to #1, you should use the Chicago Manual of Style. If you answered yes to #2, you should use the AP Stylebook.
Both guides are updated on a regular basis to incorporate changes in our language, culture, and the ways we communicate. If you want to make sure you’re publishing content that reflects the current best practices, go ahead and give your style guide a look.
5 Differences Between AP and Chicago Style
While AP and Chicago agree on a large portion of the grammar rules and the mechanics of writing, there are a few key differences you should know.
1.Oxford Comma
Also known as the serial comma, this tiny punctuation mark is often hotly debated. (For the record, I’m team Oxford comma.) The Oxford comma is used to separate the second to last item from the last item in a list. AP style does not use the Oxford comma but Chicago style does.
AP: I had dinner with my parents, Snoop Dog and Martha Stewart.
Chicago: I had dinner with my parents, Snoop Dog, and Martha Stewart.
Because of the clarity provided by the Oxford comma (no, Snoop Dog and Martha Stewart are not my parents), many brands will amend their in-house style to include the use of the Oxford comma—even if they primarily use AP style.
2.Em Dash
In this case, the difference between styles is a result of industry-specific preferences. Remember when I said AP style was for newspapers and Chicago style was for long-form publication? In newspaper publication, there is limited real estate in a single line of text which makes layout and readability extra important. Because of this, AP style adds spaces around the em dash while Chicago style does not.
AP: Martha made pot roast for dinner — my favorite.
Chicago: Martha made pot roast for dinner—my favorite.
3.Ellipses
AP style treats an ellipses as a three-letter word and recommends adding spaces before and after the ellipses. Chicago on the other hand, adds spaces in between each period in the ellipses but not before or after the collection of dots.
AP: Excuse me ... could you pass the salt?
Chicago: Excuse me. . .could you pass the salt?
4.Titles
If you’re using AP style, you’ll need to capitalize any word longer than four letters in a title. If you’re using Chicago style, you never capitalize prepositions in a title unless it’s the first word in the title.
AP: How To Get From Here to There
Chicago: How to Get from Here to There
5.Numbers
The rules for numbers can be tough to remember—especially if you’re switching back and forth between guides. In AP style, you only spell out numbers less than 10 before you can use numerals. In Chicago style, you need to spell out numbers 0–100 before you can use numerals.
AP: We invited 22 people to our dinner party.
Chicago: We invited twenty-two people to our dinner party.
Choosing the Right Style Guide
Now that you know the difference between the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, you can go forth and write with confidence. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and the company you’re writing for may have their own style preferences.
You know what? That’s totally fine. Just make sure you communicate with your editor, get a copy of the in-house or preferred style guide, and never be afraid to ask questions. Whether you’re crafting the next great novel, drafting articles to pitch to online publishers, or developing content for your blog, using a style guide is the best way to ensure your writing is clear and correct.
If you need help determining which style guide is right for you or you want to develop a style guide for your own brand, send me an email—I’m happy to guide you in the right direction.
