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. occur - occurred - occurring - occurrence
Firefighter preferred over fireman or firewoman
A trademark for a process of making color motion pictures
LEARN SPELLING
Salable

2. Iberia
It's NOT an apostrophe in the Yemen capital's name. It is a reverse apostrophe - or a single opening quotation mark
In indicates location: He was in the room. Into indicates motion: She walked into the room
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
Headquarters of this airline is in Madrid - Spain

3. ketchup
Abbreviate Ky. in datelines or stories. Postal code: KY
The city in California stands alone in datelines
Capitalize them
Ketchup

4. saint

5. Sabbath
Capitalize in religious references; lowercase to mean a period of rest
See pardon - parole - probation
A handgun that can be a single shot or a semi-automatic. It is measured in calibers. The form: a .45-caliber revolver
A short - lightweight rifle - usually having a barrel length of less than 20 inches. The form: an M-3 carbine

6. assault weapon
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
Create or put together
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
Use Saddam in second reference to Iraq's Saddam Hussein

7. Saddam

8. Figures - Multiple letters and Words as plural
Add s NO APOSTROPHES:1930s - ifs - buts - ands - low 20s - ABCs - Four VIPs
Formerly a trademark - now a generic term
DON'T USE children 15 and younger
Every two years

9. imam
Lowercase when describing the leader of a prayer in a Muslim mosque. Capitalize before a name when used as the formal title for a Muslim leader or ruler
See John F. Kennedy Space Center
Indicate position or rank ex No.1 man; don't use in names of schools
Describes money - do not capitalize - city where a seat of government is located

10. teen - teenager (n.) teenage (adj.)
Lowercase the common noun elements in plural uses
Do NOT use teenaged
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
Take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj.)

11. improvised explosive device
Create or put together
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).
IED is acceptable on second reference. Roadside bomb is preferable
Capitalize them

12. yesterday - today - tomorrow

13. times
Use figures except for noon and midnight
Individual items;fewer than 10 applicants called. I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket
In second reference: the America Exchange - Amex - or the exchange
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

14. SAM - SAMs
The abbreviation Ste. instead St. because the full name is Sault Sainte Marie
Use KANSAS CITY - Kan. - or KANSAS CITY - Mo. - in datelines to avoid confusion between the two
Acceptable on second reference for surface-to-air missile(s)
This organization is limited to the five boroughs of New York City and neighboring Suffolk County in providing animal adoption services - although it has offices elsewhere that offer legal advice and other services to other animal welfare organizatio

15. howitzer
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
Spatial relationships
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
Proper name of some trains and buses

16. handgun
Describes money - do not capitalize - city where a seat of government is located
To exclude
Saboteur
Handgun

17. Saturday night special
Noun and verb denoting completeness or supplementing something
A compact - relatively inexpensive handgun
DON'T USE children 15 and younger
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm

18. Abbreviations

19. amid
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).
A firearm that fires only once for each pull of the trigger. It reloads after each shot. The form: a semi-automatic rifle - a semi-automatic weapon - a semi-automatic pistol
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
Not amidst

20. ensure
Means to guarantee
Preferred to persons as the plural
DO NOT PLACE IN QUOTES
Formerly a trademark - now a generic term

21. Americorps
Americorps
Capitalize only when referring to the total collections of events
AMA is acceptable on second reference. Also: the medical association - the association. Headquarters is in Chicago
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

22. between
No s
Abbreviate Kan. in datelines or stories. Postal code: KS
Introduces two items; between him and her - between you and me
DON'T USE IN PRINT

23. tablespoon - tablespoonfuls
Equal to three teaspoons or one-half a fluid ounce. The metric equivalent is approximately 15 milliliters
If comprise or compose doesn't fit - sense of form or make up
The city in Texas stands alone in datelines
One who comes into a country immigrates

24. -in
Precede with a hyphen: break-in - cave-in - walk-in - write-in
Teammate
Plural alumnae woman
Extension of time or degree

25. sanitarium - sanitariums
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
A weapon - usually supported on some type of carriage - that fires explosive projectiles. The form: a 105 mm cannon
Sanitarium - sanitariums
Use instead of Italy in datelines on stories from communities on this island

26. kilowatt-hour
Takes singluar verb two people look at each other
IED is acceptable on second reference. Roadside bomb is preferable
The amount of electrical energy consumed when 1000 watts are used for one hour. The abbreviation kwh is acceptable on second reference.
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

27. M-1 - M-16
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
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
Acceptable in all references to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Take off - takeoff

28. telephone numbers
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
Indicate position or rank ex No.1 man; don't use in names of schools
Americorps
Use alone in datelines on stories from the Republic of San Marino

29. Accept
Device used to launch a mortar shell; it is the shell - not the mortar - that is fired
Something cannot be partially demolished or destroyed
To receive
See AT&T Inc.

30. Tabasco
Is pronoun that is always a subject
A trademark for a brand of hot pepper sauce
Never alright; sometimes all-right as a compound modifier
To exclude

31. amidships
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should
Formerly Safeway Stores. Headquarters is in Pleasanton - Calif.
?
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

32. Idaho
Do no abbreviate in datelines or stories. Postal code: ID
Take over (v.) takeover (n. and adj)
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
Named for Samuel Colt - it designates a make of weapon or ammunition developed for Colt handguns. The forms: a Colt .45-caliber revolver - .45 Colt ammunition

33. Allege
A trademark for a process of making color motion pictures
Bad should not be used as an adverb only exceptation is I feel bad.
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
USE WITH GREAT CARE specify source of allegation avoid redundant uses ex. accused her of allegedly

34. Teflon
A firearm that fires continuously as long as the trigger is depressed. Examples include machine guns and submachine guns
Equals 1000 hertz (1000 cycles Per second) - replacing kilocycles as the correct term in applications such as broadcast frequencies. Abbrev.: kHz.
Named for Samuel Colt - it designates a make of weapon or ammunition developed for Colt handguns. The forms: a Colt .45-caliber revolver - .45 Colt ammunition
A trademark for a type of nonstick coating

35. illegal immigrant
Proper tenses for impel
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
Titles when used before a full name; Junior and senior after individual's name
Lowercase spell out numbers less than 10

36. 'in'

37. Illinois
Equals 1000 hertz (1000 cycles Per second) - replacing kilocycles as the correct term in applications such as broadcast frequencies. Abbrev.: kHz.
Abbreviate Ill. in datelines or stories. Postal code: IL
A scale of temperature based on - but different from - the Celsius scale. It is used primarily in science to record very high and very low temperatures. The Kelvin scale starts at zero and indicates the total absence of heat (absolute zero). Zero on
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

38. Saudi Arabian Oil Co.
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s
Bulk or quantity; I had less than $50 in my pocket
No e
Saudi Aramco is acceptable on second reference. (Formerly the Arabian American Oil Co.)

39. principle
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
It's NOT an apostrophe in the Yemen capital's name. It is a reverse apostrophe - or a single opening quotation mark
A fundamental truth - law - doctrine or motivating force
Do no abbreviate in datelines or stories. Postal code: ID

40. Taiwan
Use Taiwan - not Formosa - in reverences to the government in Taiwan and the island itself
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.
The following are some generally used technical terms dealing with satellite communications. -uplink: The transmission from the ground to the satellite -downlink: The transmission from the satellite to the ground. -footprint: The area on the ground i
Take out (v.) take out (n. and adj)

41. kilo
NOT teaspoonsful
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
Uses periods in most two letter words; CIA - FBI - GOP; Never use organizations full name then an acronym;
Introduces more than two; must be objective ex. among us

42. San Francisco
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York
A fully automatic gun that fires as long as the trigger is depressed. The form: a .50 caliber Browning machine gun.
The city in California stands alone in datelines
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should

43. taps

44. semiannual/biannual
Twice a year
It means without preparation of advance thought
Lowercase with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.
Formerly a trademark - now a generic term

45. 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 handgun that can be a single shot or a semi-automatic. It is measured in calibers. The form: a .45-caliber revolver
The spelling for the city in New Brunswick. To distinguish it from St. John's - Newfoundland

46. alumnus
Sacrilegious
Plural alumni man who attended a school
In second reference: the America Exchange - Amex - or the exchange
The amount of electrical energy consumed when 1000 watts are used for one hour. The abbreviation kwh is acceptable on second reference.

47. over
Singular criteria is the plural
Capitalize building in Washington
Spatial relationships
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

48. decades

49. team

50. Compound Plurals
Acronym for instant message; sometimes used as a verb IM'ing - IM'ed. acceptable on second reference for instant messaging
Most significant word is made plural: daughters-in-law - assistant attorneys general - major generals
Also: keynote speech
Use KANSAS CITY - Kan. - or KANSAS CITY - Mo. - in datelines to avoid confusion between the two