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AP Style Vocab

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Kansas City
Use KANSAS CITY - Kan. - or KANSAS CITY - Mo. - in datelines to avoid confusion between the two
A short - lightweight rifle - usually having a barrel length of less than 20 inches. The form: an M-3 carbine
No apostrophe
Something cannot be partially demolished or destroyed

2. Target Corp.
DON'T USE children 15 and younger
Capitalize teamster only if the intended meaning is that the individual is a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Chauffeurs - Warehousemen and Helpers of America
Not amuck
Headquarters is in Minneapolis

3. among
Introduces more than two; must be objective ex. among us
A trademark for a process of making color motion pictures
Malicious - premeditated homicide; Do not describe as murder until person has been convicted
LEARN SPELLING

4. SALT
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
Titles when used before a full name; Junior and senior after individual's name
Use figures EXCEPT for zero spell out minus and degrees; temperatures get higher & lower
Two Words.

5. constitute

6. Acronyms
An Israeli collective settlement. The plural is kibbutzim
Uses periods in most two letter words; CIA - FBI - GOP; Never use organizations full name then an acronym;
A trademark for a type of high-powered cartridge with a larger case and a larger powder charge than other cartridges of approximately the same caliber. The form: a .357 Magnum - a .44 Magnum
Do no abbreviate in datelines or stories. Postal code: ID

7. teaspoon
If comprise or compose doesn't fit - sense of form or make up
Uses periods in most two letter words; CIA - FBI - GOP; Never use organizations full name then an acronym;
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
Headquarters is in Minneapolis

8. ampersand (&)

9. cannon
The city in California stands alone in datelines
A weapon - usually supported on some type of carriage - that fires explosive projectiles. The form: a 105 mm cannon
The spelling for the city in New Brunswick. To distinguish it from St. John's - Newfoundland
?

10. Figures - Multiple letters and Words as plural
Ketchup
Action word lay - laid - laying
The new term is kilohertz
Add s NO APOSTROPHES:1930s - ifs - buts - ands - low 20s - ABCs - Four VIPs

11. either...or - neither...nor
Tattletale
Only used in a direct quote or part of a title
Lowercase - because it denotes not a single period but any series of cold periods marked by glaciation alternating with periods of relative warmth. Capitalize the proper nouns in the names of individual ice ages - such as the Wisconsin ice age. The m
Not compound subject; requires a verb that agrees with the nearer subject

12. one another
More than two look at one another
Freight railroad - with headquarters in Kansas City - Mo. It is the parent of Kansas City Southern Railway Co. and Kansas City Southern de Mexico SA and it holds a 50 percent stake in Panama Canal Railway Co.
Not amuck
Take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj.)

13. amnesty
See pardon - parole - probation
Abbreviate Ill. in datelines or stories. Postal code: IL
To stand still
Is pronoun that is always a subject

14. kiloton - kilotonnage
A unit used to measure the power of nuclear explosions. One kiloton has the explosive force of 1000 tons of TNT. The atomic bomb dropped Aug. 6 - 1945 - on Hiroshima - Japan - in the first use of the bomb as a weapon had an explosive force of 20 kilo
A semi-automatic firearm similar in appearance to a fully automatic firearm or military weapon. Not synonymous with assault rifle - which can be used in fully automatic mode. Wherever possible - be specific about the type of weapon: semi-automatic ri
Wastebasket
The '90s - 1920s

15. saint

16. San Diego
After a girl reach the age 18 use woman or young woman
Capitalize in religious references; lowercase to mean a period of rest
Preferred spelling for the capital of Nepal
The city in California stands alone in datelines

17. teen - teenager (n.) teenage (adj.)
Do NOT use teenaged
A firearm that reloads automatically after each shot. Note there are differences between fully automatic and semi-automatic firearms. Be specific in usage. The form: a .22-caliber automatic
Take out (v.) take out (n. and adj)
Use singular verb and pronoun 'it' when referring to the team as a collective unit. However - the team name takes a plural verb: The Orlando Magic are close to setting a franchise record

18. sacraments

19. anchorman - anchorwoman
Not anchor or co-anchor
The constitutional process accusing an elected official of a crime in an attempt to remove the official from office. Do not use as a synonym for convicted or removed from office
Tape recording (n.) tape-record (v.)
Salvo - salvos

20. a.m. - p.m.
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm
But lowercase devil and satanic
Lowercase with periods avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning
Acceptable in all references for severe acute respiratory syndrome - but it should be spelled out somewhere in the story

21. whom
A fundamental truth - law - doctrine or motivating force
When someone is the object of a verb or preposition
A prefix denoting 1000 units of a measure. Move a decimal point three places to the right - adding zeros if necessary to convert to the basic unit: 10.5 kilograms equals 10 -500 grams
Use figures spell out inches - feet - yards hyphen adjectival forms before nouns

22. mortar
Device used to launch a mortar shell; it is the shell - not the mortar - that is fired
A handgun that can be a single shot or a semi-automatic. It is measured in calibers. The form: a .45-caliber revolver
One who leaves a country emigrates from it
Follow the guidelines in composition titles. Put quotation marks around show only if it is part of the formal name. The word show may be dropped when it would be cumbersome - such as in a set of listings. In text or listing - treat programs named aft

23. homicide
Legal term for slaying or killing
A firearm typically used to fire small spherical pellets called shot. Shotguns usually have a smooth bore barrel - but some contain a rifled barrel - Which is used to fire a single projectile. Size is measured according to gauge - except for the .410
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm
Lowercase (without quotation marks) the bugle call for 'lights out -' also sounded at military funerals

24. Kennedy Space Center
More than two look at one another
See John F. Kennedy Space Center
A cannon or other weapon designed for defense against air attack. The form: a 105 mm anti-aircraft gun.
A unit of measurement for digital data storage. In the metric system - a kilobyte is 1000 bytes; in computer binary terms - it is 1 -024 bytes. Thus - 64KB means 64 times 1 -024 bytes - or 65 -536 bytes (not 64000). Abbrev.: KB. (similarly - MB for m

25. television program titles
Capitalize the proper names used for a sacramental rite that commemorates the life of Jesus Christ or signifies a belief in his presence: the Lord's Supper - Holy Communion - Holy Eucharist. Lowercase the names of other sacraments: baptism - confirma
Follow the guidelines in composition titles. Put quotation marks around show only if it is part of the formal name. The word show may be dropped when it would be cumbersome - such as in a set of listings. In text or listing - treat programs named aft
A firearm designed or made to be fired from the shoulder and having a rifled bored. It uses bullets and cartridges for ammunition. Its size is measured in calibers. The form: a .22-caliber rifle
Connotation of wrongdoing use acknowledge or said instead of admitted

26. century
Action word lay - laid - laying
To make sure or give confidence
Lowercase spell out numbers less than 10
Plural alumnae woman

27. Saturday night special
A province of Canada north of Montana and North Dakota. Do not abbreviate
A compact - relatively inexpensive handgun
A cannon shorter than a gun of the same caliber employed to fire projectiles at relatively high angles at a target - such as opposing forces being a ridge. The form: a 105 mm howitzer
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm

28. pistol
A handgun that can be a single shot or a semi-automatic. It is measured in calibers. The form: a .45-caliber revolver
A unit of power - mostly associated with electricity. Electrical energy is measured in watt-hours (or kilowatt-hours or mega-watt hours). Do not use 'megawatts Per hours.' Abbrev.: W - kW - MW.
IED is acceptable on second reference. Roadside bomb is preferable
No apostrophe

29. No.

30. Allege
USE WITH GREAT CARE specify source of allegation avoid redundant uses ex. accused her of allegedly
See John F. Kennedy Space Center
A firearm that reloads automatically after each shot. Note there are differences between fully automatic and semi-automatic firearms. Be specific in usage. The form: a .22-caliber automatic
In indicates location: He was in the room. Into indicates motion: She walked into the room

31. teammate
Describes money - do not capitalize - city where a seat of government is located
Most ending in z or es or s add es: Joneses - Gonzalezes - Charleses
Teammate
Acceptable in all references to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters

32. shotgun
Proper name of some trains and buses
One-fourth of an imperial gallon
Extension of time or degree
A firearm typically used to fire small spherical pellets called shot. Shotguns usually have a smooth bore barrel - but some contain a rifled barrel - Which is used to fire a single projectile. Size is measured according to gauge - except for the .410

33. impostor
Verb to gaze intently or steadily
No O
Capitalize the proper names used for a sacramental rite that commemorates the life of Jesus Christ or signifies a belief in his presence: the Lord's Supper - Holy Communion - Holy Eucharist. Lowercase the names of other sacraments: baptism - confirma
Impostor

34. assault weapon
Equal to three teaspoons or one-half a fluid ounce. The metric equivalent is approximately 15 milliliters
Use Saudi as the adjective in referring to the people or culture of Saudi Arabia. It's Saudi diplomacy - not Saudi Arabian diplomacy. For the Saudi monarchy - follow the syle on British and other monarchies. Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal wou
In second reference: the America Exchange - Amex - or the exchange
A semi-automatic firearm similar in appearance to a fully automatic firearm or military weapon. Not synonymous with assault rifle - which can be used in fully automatic mode. Wherever possible - be specific about the type of weapon: semi-automatic ri

35. lie
The city in California stands alone in datelines
A trademark for a type of high-powered cartridge with a larger case and a larger powder charge than other cartridges of approximately the same caliber. The form: a .357 Magnum - a .44 Magnum
Sanitarium - sanitariums
State of reclining lie - lay - lain - lying

36. American Petroleum Institute
APT is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in Reston - Va.
Tattletale
State of reclining lie - lay - lain - lying
Describes money - do not capitalize - city where a seat of government is located

37. refute

38. stationery
Acronym for instant message; sometimes used as a verb IM'ing - IM'ed. acceptable on second reference for instant messaging
A trademark for a brand of hot pepper sauce
A trademark for a type of high-powered cartridge with a larger case and a larger powder charge than other cartridges of approximately the same caliber. The form: a .357 Magnum - a .44 Magnum
Writing paper

39. Adviser
To exclude
No O
Sacrilegious
To flow in a continuous stream

40. yesterday - today - tomorrow

41. tanks
Two words unless used as adjective before a noun in a nautical sense
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s
NOT teaspoonsful
A measurement of the diameter of a gun barrel except for most shotguns. Measurement is in either millimeters or decimal fractions of an inch. The word caliber is not used when giving the metric measurement. The forms: a 9 mm pistol - a .22-caliber ri

42. tail wind
To flow in a continuous stream
Tail wind
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s
2 c's and m's

43. American Society of Composers - Authors and Publishers
No apostrophe
Noun and verb denoting completeness or supplementing something
Also: keynote speech
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York

44. telecast (n.) televise (v.)
Telecast (n.) televise (v.)
Sacagawea
Never alright; sometimes all-right as a compound modifier
Lowercase spell out cents 5 cents or $2.50

45. holidays
Wastebasket
Capitalize them
Lowercase - because it denotes not a single period but any series of cold periods marked by glaciation alternating with periods of relative warmth. Capitalize the proper nouns in the names of individual ice ages - such as the Wisconsin ice age. The m
Salable

46. in

47. teachers college
Preferred spelling for the capital of Nepal
No hyphen when it means not: inaccurate - insufferable Other uses without a hyphen: inbound - indoor - infield - infighting - inpatient A few combinations take a hyphen - however: in-depth - in-group - in-house - in-law Follow Webster's New World Col
No apostrophe
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm

48. as
Takes singluar verb two people look at each other
Introduces two items; between him and her - between you and me
A cannon shorter than a gun of the same caliber employed to fire projectiles at relatively high angles at a target - such as opposing forces being a ridge. The form: a 105 mm howitzer
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should

49. kilometer
Keystone Kops
The metric term for 1000 meters. (Abbrev.: km) A kilometer is equal to approximately 3 -281 feet - or five-eighths (0.62) of a mile. To convert to miles - multiply by 0.62 (5 kilometers x 0.62 equals 3.1 miles).
Take out (v.) take out (n. and adj)
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should

50. demolish - destroy
Indicate position or rank ex No.1 man; don't use in names of schools
Lowercase spell out cents 5 cents or $2.50
Introduces more than two; must be objective ex. among us
Something cannot be partially demolished or destroyed