…And in other news…
a, an
The update adds the word homage: Use the article an before vowel sounds: an energy crisis, an honorable man, an homage (the h is silent), an NBA record (sounds like it begins with the letter e), an 1890s celebration.
Achilles tendon
No apostrophe for the tendon connecting the back of the heel to the calf muscles. But it’s Achilles’ heel, with an apostrophe, for a vulnerable spot.
company names
The updated entry includes this wording: You must include the full company name somewhere in the story. This ensures that the story will be among the search results on Yahoo and other websites. Without the full company name, the story may get overlooked.
Dow Jones industrial average
The market indicator comprises 30 leading U.S. stocks. Executives of Dow Jones Indexes choose the companies in the average. Always use the full name on first reference in stories. On subsequent references, use the Dow.
Hodgkin lymphoma
After Dr. Thomas Hodgkin, the English physician who first described the disease of the lymph nodes. Formerly called Hodgkin’s disease. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, spelled without a possessive, is the more common type and spreads rapidly, especially among older people and those with HIV infections.
hideout
illegal immigrant
Used to describe someone who has entered a country illegally or who resides in a country in criminal or civil violation of immigration law. Acceptable variations include living in the country without legal permission. Use of these terms, as with any terms implying illegalities, must be based on reliable information about a person’s true status. Unless quoting someone, AP does not use the terms illegal alien, an illegal , illegals or the term undocumented.
individual retirement account
IRA is acceptable on second reference.
Korean names
The style and spelling of names in North Korea and South Korea follow each government’s standard policy for transliterations unless the subject has a personal preference.
North Korean names are written as three separate words, each starting with a capital letter: Kim Jong Il. Use Kim on second reference.
South Korean names are written as two names, with the given name hyphenated and a lowercase letter after the hyphen: Lee Myung-bak. Use Lee on second reference.
For South Korean place names, use the revised Romanized spellings introduced by the South Korean government in 2000: Incheon (formerly Inchon), Busan (formerly Pusan).
In both Koreas, the family name comes first.
OB-GYN
Acceptable in all references for obstetrics and gynecology, a medical specialty.
PAC
Abbreviation for political action committee. Raises money and makes contributions to campaigns of political candidates or parties. At the federal level, contribution amounts are limited by law and may not come from corporations or labor unions. Enforcement overseen by the Federal Election Commission. PAC acceptable on first reference, spell out in body of story. A super Pac is a political action committee that may raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, including from corporations and unions, to campaign independently for candidates for federal office. Its activities must be reported to Federal Election Commission, but are not otherwise regulated if not coordinated with the candidate or campaign.
Ramadan
The Muslim holy month, marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset, ending with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Avoid using holiday on second reference.
Sept. 11 memorial
Acceptable in all references to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at ground zero. Add location for other memorials with similar names.
shoutout
shoutout, as a noun, and shout out, as a verb.
Standard & Poor’s 500 index
The market indicator most professional investors use to determine how stocks are performing. It encompasses 500 top companies in leading U.S. industries. Many mutual funds use it as the benchmark they measure their own performance against. Always use the full name on first reference. On subsequent references, use S&P 500.
twin towers
The two tallest buildings in the World Trade Center complex destroyed in the 9/11 attack. Also lowercase north tower and south tower.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Headquarters is in Bentonville, Ark.
New to the Pronunciation Guide:
Anwar al-Awlaki
U.S.-born cleric who was key al-Qaida figure; killed in Yemen in 2011.
(ahn-WAHR’ al-aw-LAH’-kee)
Ercis
Turkish city damaged in October 2011 earthquake
(EHR’-jihsh)
