Test your basic knowledge |

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. amidships
?
Yep.
A fundamental truth - law - doctrine or motivating force
Not amuck

2. Katmandu
The spelling for the city in New Brunswick. To distinguish it from St. John's - Newfoundland
In indicates location: He was in the room. Into indicates motion: She walked into the room
Preferred spelling for the capital of Nepal
Always spell out and use figures and decimals NOT fractions

3. Capitalize
See pardon - parole - probation
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
Lowercase the common noun elements in plural uses
Wastebasket

4. implausible
The city in California stands alone in datelines
Implausible
Use Taiwan - not Formosa - in reverences to the government in Taiwan and the island itself
The standard British gallon - equal to 277.42 cubic inches or about 1.2 US gallons. The metric equivalent is approximately 4.5 liters

5. SALT
Use K in references to modern transmission speeds - in keeping with standard usage: a 56K modem (no space after numeral). The abbreviation should not be used to mean 1000 or $1000
Acceptable on first reference - but the story should contain a phrase identifying it as the former Russian secret police and intelligence agency. The initials stand for the Russian words meaning Committee for State Security
Is pronoun that is always a subject
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

6. Safeway Inc.
Only when person prefers to be known that way; use quotation marks for Brandon 'Scoop' Carter; commonly used nicknames can be replaced for first names
Lowercase the common noun elements in plural uses
A compact - relatively inexpensive handgun
Formerly Safeway Stores. Headquarters is in Pleasanton - Calif.

7. Kennedy Space Center
Use figures. The form: 212-621-1500. For international numbers use 011 (From the United States) - the country code - the city code and the telephone number: 011-44-20-7535-1515. Use hyphens - not periods. The forms for toll free numbers: 800-111-1000
See John F. Kennedy Space Center
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
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters

8. shotgun
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
The '90s - 1920s
Do no abbreviate in datelines or stories. Postal code: ID
Acronym for instant message; sometimes used as a verb IM'ing - IM'ed. acceptable on second reference for instant messaging

9. weapons
Bulk or quantity; I had less than $50 in my pocket
Not amidst
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
Gun is an acceptable term for any firearm

10. saboteur
Saboteur
DON'T USE IN PRINT
See pardon - parole - probation
Headquarters is in Seoul - South Korea

11. impeachment
NOT teaspoonsful
See AT&T Inc.
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
Gun is an acceptable term for any firearm

12. keynote address
Teammate
Take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj.)
Also: keynote speech
Tablecloth

13. Kansas City Southern
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.
Connotes success in argument and almost always implies an editorial judgement DON'T USE instead deny - dispute - rebut - or respond to
Noun and verb denoting completeness or supplementing something
The maxim that between introduces two items and among introduces more than two covers most questions about how to use these words: The funds were divided among Ford - Carter and McCarthy. However - between is the correct word when expressing the rela

14. Santa Claus
When employed to indicate that something is in vogue - use quotation marks only if followed by a noun: It was the 'in' thing to do. Raccoon coats are in again.
Takes singluar verb two people look at each other
Noun or verb denotes praise or expression of courtsey
Santa Claus

15. sacrilegious
Sacrilegious
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
Spell out and capitalize first through ninth use figures for others Ave. Blvd. St. only ones allowed to be abbreviated when numbered address is present. Do Not abbreviate compass points if number is omitted
Inasmuch as

16. American Society of Composers - Authors and Publishers
Noun and verb denoting completeness or supplementing something
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York
The ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. It may be fixed to the firearm or detachable
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s

17. Sabbath
Verb to gaze intently or steadily
Capitalize in religious references; lowercase to mean a period of rest
Every two years
Take over (v.) takeover (n. and adj)

18. SARS
Acceptable in all references for severe acute respiratory syndrome - but it should be spelled out somewhere in the story
Twice a year
Capitalize only when referring to the total collections of events
Firefighter preferred over fireman or firewoman

19. Proper names plural
Most ending in z or es or s add es: Joneses - Gonzalezes - Charleses
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
Trademark for an electronic control device or stun gun. (Acronym for Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle)
After a girl reach the age 18 use woman or young woman

20. a.m. - p.m.
A province of Canada north of Montana and North Dakota. Do not abbreviate
Their = possessive pronoun - there= adverb indicating direction - they're= contraction for they are
To make sure or give confidence
Lowercase with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.

21. savings and loan association
Headquarters is in Minneapolis
Once limited to accepting deposits and making home mortgage loans - they are not banks. Since enactment of the Financial Institutions Reform Recovery Act in 1989
It means without preparation of advance thought
Lowercase with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.

22. Kansas City
@ sign not used when needed spell them out and provide an explanatory editor's note
A cannon or other weapon designed for defense against air attack. The form: a 105 mm anti-aircraft gun.
Writing paper
Use KANSAS CITY - Kan. - or KANSAS CITY - Mo. - in datelines to avoid confusion between the two

23. who
Use only the initials in referring to the previously designed Scholastic Aptitude Test or the Scholastic Assessment Test. Example: The students scored above average on the SAT
Is pronoun that is always a subject
DO NOT PLACE IN QUOTES
Ketchup

24. ketchup
Bulk or quantity; I had less than $50 in my pocket
The new term is kilohertz
Spell out and capitalize first through ninth use figures for others Ave. Blvd. St. only ones allowed to be abbreviated when numbered address is present. Do Not abbreviate compass points if number is omitted
Ketchup

25. emigrate
Headquarters is in Mississauga - Ontario
One who leaves a country emigrates from it
No apostrophe
Impassable means that passage is impossible: The bridge was impassable. Impassible and impassive describe lack of sensitivity to pain or suffering. Webster's New World College Dictionary notes - however - that impassible suggest an inability to be af

26. caliber
Noun or verb denotes praise or expression of courtsey
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
Take out (v.) take out (n. and adj)
But lowercase devil and satanic

27. impassable - impassible - impassive

28. comprise
Contain - include all - or embrace
DON'T USE children 15 and younger
Spell out when standing alone; when with a city - town - village or military base abbreviate unless Alaska - Hawaii - Idaho -Iowa - Maine - Ohio - Texas and Utah.
Preferred to persons as the plural

29. king

30. tablespoon - tablespoonfuls
Equal to three teaspoons or one-half a fluid ounce. The metric equivalent is approximately 15 milliliters
In second reference: the America Exchange - Amex - or the exchange
Extremist Islamic movement that ruled Afghanistan until driven out by U.S.-led coalition after the Sept. 11 - 2001 - attacks. It continues to operate as insugent force with adherents in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The name derives from the Arabic word
More than two look at one another

31. each
Takes singluar verb two people look at each other
The word applies to military or naval ammunition and to shotgun ammunition
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
Impostor

32. teen - teenager (n.) teenage (adj.)
Do NOT use teenaged
Individual items;fewer than 10 applicants called. I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket
It has become a generic term - no longer a trademark - for a type of television cuing device
Tablecloth

33. take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj)
Take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj.)
USE WITH GREAT CARE specify source of allegation avoid redundant uses ex. accused her of allegedly
A carriage-mounted cannon
Use instead of Italy in datelines on stories from communities on this island

34. illegal immigrant
Used to describe those who have entered the country illegally - it is the preferred term - rather than illegal alien or undocumented worker. Do not use the shortened term illegals
Only when person prefers to be known that way; use quotation marks for Brandon 'Scoop' Carter; commonly used nicknames can be replaced for first names
Tattletale
Tail wind

35. a.m. - p.m.
Lowercase with periods avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning
The verbs: sandbagged - sandbagging. And: sandbagger
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).
Device used to launch a mortar shell; it is the shell - not the mortar - that is fired

36. further
Tape recording (n.) tape-record (v.)
Exceptions may be made to the normal rules for abbreviations - as necessary to make material fit. But make any abbreviations as clear as possible
The city in California stands alone in datelines
Extension of time or degree

37. Imax Corp.
Use figures except for noon and midnight
Santa Claus
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
Headquarters is in Mississauga - Ontario

38. over
Spatial relationships
Means in a hopeful manner; never use
Noun and verb denoting completeness or supplementing something
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

39. San Marino
Use alone in datelines on stories from the Republic of San Marino
Plural alumnae woman
It's = it is; its possessive form of neuter pronoun
State of reclining lie - lay - lain - lying

40. more than
A trademark for a brand of hot pepper sauce
Preferred with numerals
A lightweight fully automatic gun firing handgun ammunition
Handgun

41. Target Corp.
Headquarters is in Minneapolis
Formerly a trademark - now a generic term
Acceptable in all references for severe acute respiratory syndrome - but it should be spelled out somewhere in the story
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

42. tattletale
Tattletale
Acceptable on first reference - but the story should contain a phrase identifying it as the former Russian secret police and intelligence agency. The initials stand for the Russian words meaning Committee for State Security
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
Equals 1000 hertz (1000 cycles Per second) - replacing kilocycles as the correct term in applications such as broadcast frequencies. Abbrev.: kHz.

43. Tass

44. dollars
Lowercase use figures and $ sign
It's = it is; its possessive form of neuter pronoun
Use days of the week not today or tonight in print avoid saying next Monday or last Monday
To make sure or give confidence

45. tailspin
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
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York
No s
Tailspin

46. salvo - salvos
Not amuck
These and similar combinations of a letter and figure(s) designate rifles used by the military. The forms: an M-1 rifle - an M-16 rifle
Salvo - salvos
Spatial relationships

47. artillery
Spell out and capitalize first through ninth use figures for others Ave. Blvd. St. only ones allowed to be abbreviated when numbered address is present. Do Not abbreviate compass points if number is omitted
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York
A carriage-mounted cannon
No e

48. kilowatt-hour
Individual items;fewer than 10 applicants called. I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket
Always use figures. Use hyphens for ages expressed as adjectives before a noun or substitute as a noun
The amount of electrical energy consumed when 1000 watts are used for one hour. The abbreviation kwh is acceptable on second reference.
DON'T USE children 15 and younger

49. as
Try to avoid abbreviations; use apostrophe in master's degree but not in Master of Science; only use B.A. - M.A. - LL.D. and Ph.D. when needed to identify individual on first reference if after a name set off with commas
Lowercase the common noun elements in plural uses
Use the ampersand when it is part of a company's formal name or company position title: House & Garden - Procter & Gamble - Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway. The ampersand should not otherwise be used in place of and.
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should

50. Addresses
A trademark for a brand of hot pepper sauce
Abbreviate Ky. in datelines or stories. Postal code: KY
Spell out and capitalize first through ninth use figures for others Ave. Blvd. St. only ones allowed to be abbreviated when numbered address is present. Do Not abbreviate compass points if number is omitted
A cannon or other weapon designed for defense against air attack. The form: a 105 mm anti-aircraft gun.