comm207fall06

This is the first written (and last read, I guess, once we get them all together) of a series of posts summarizing some of the key points in The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. I'm starting with "XYZ" for two reasons: (1) Since weblogs put the most recent posts on top, once I'm done they'll be in alphabetical order; and (2) under the letter "A" I'll have to tackle the entry on abbreviations, which will be humongeous.

Two entries under "XYZ" I think you ought to know:

Xerox The stylebook says: "A trademark for a brand of photocopy machine. Never a verb." The verb, by the way, is photocopy. I'd add: Steer clear of trademarks and brand names in general. You don't want to give them free advertising, and they don't want you to use their name so often it's no longer recognized as a trademark.

yesterday AP says: "Use only in direct quotes or in phrases that do not reference a specific day." Why not? It's a relative term, so it changes every day. What's yesterday today is day-before-yesterday tomorrow, and what's tomorrow today is today tomorrow. Clear enough?