important style decision: ass play or assplay?

We use gender-neutral language to be accurate and inclusive of the population affected by access to abortion. We understand that abortion is historically and politically a women’s rights issue, but we’re going to write “pregnant people” when we’re talking about pregnant people.

“Emergency contraception” is a more accurate term for contraception used after unprotected sex than the “morning-after pill,” a misnomer because you don’t have to wait until the next morning and you can take it for up to five days after sex.

“Late-term abortion” is also not based in medicine, and it can imply that a person is having an abortion when they are close to or at full-term. Abortions after 21 weeks of gestation are rare and can be called “abortions later in pregnancy.”

The term “heartbeat bill” is misleading. What’s being measured around six weeks is more accurately described as electrical activity, as fetal heart valves are not yet formed. We don’t use this term outside of quotes.

We use the scientific terms to discuss pregnancy in general: "embryo" for the first seven weeks of human development and “fetus” starting in the eighth week of pregnancy.

We aim to write about what has long been a highly politicized issue with the most straightforward language. That’s why we say “abortion rights” advocate rather than “pro-choice,” and conversely, “anti-abortion” instead of “pro-life.”

"Don't Worry Darling"? But I am worried! About where the vocative comma went!

A new @APStylebook entry suggests limiting the use of “community” in reference to groups of people, since it “implies homogeneity and the idea that all members of a particular ‘community’ think and act alike.” (They don't.)

Tomorrow in our newsletter, we're covering how language is paramount when it comes to writing about climate change.

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Yeah I love the “Grammys” — all the grammy lessons in my damn style guide

Go ahead and call anti-vaxxers anti-vaxxers

The @APStylebook added an entry for “nones,” a term for people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular.” Though saying “I’m a ‘none’” aloud might send a mixed message...

We will lose an hour of sleep to daylight saving time on Sunday, but copy editors lose sleep whenever you write “daylight savings time.” (We’re saving daylight, not putting it into a savings account.) 😴😴

Similarly, “Chornobyl” is transliterated from Ukrainian, while “Chernobyl” is transliterated from Russian.

happy national you day, grammar. we won't forget the vocative comma on your cake!

There’s an important reason to use the spelling “Kyiv” to refer to Ukraine’s capital city: The “Kiev” spelling is transliterated from the Russian language, while "Kyiv" is from Ukrainian.

This is of the utmost importance.

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when the copy editor opens the doc: A Vibe Shift Is Coming

Sweethearts mark it by exchanging valentines. Copy editors mark it by looking it up in AP.

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