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. a.m. - p.m.
Lowercase with periods avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning
Contraction for Who is NOT POSSESSIVE
Writers or speakers imply in the words they use. A listener or reader infers something from the words
Use figures spell out inches - feet - yards hyphen adjectival forms before nouns


2. Teflon
A trademark for a type of nonstick coating
Physical distance
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.
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


3. shell
Every two years
The word applies to military or naval ammunition and to shotgun ammunition
Plural alumnae woman
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


4. Talmud
The collection of writings that constitute the Jewish civil and religious law
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
See AT&T Inc.
The '90s - 1920s


5. kilobyte
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
Formerly Safeway Stores. Headquarters is in Pleasanton - Calif.
Headquarters is in Seoul - South Korea
Physical distance


6. impel - impelled - impelling
Proper tenses for impel
A fully automatic gun that fires as long as the trigger is depressed. The form: a .50 caliber Browning machine gun.
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.
Most significant word is made plural: daughters-in-law - assistant attorneys general - major generals


7. Imax Corp.
Headquarters is in Seoul - South Korea
Headquarters is in Mississauga - Ontario
The standard British gallon - equal to 277.42 cubic inches or about 1.2 US gallons. The metric equivalent is approximately 4.5 liters
Preferred to persons as the plural


8. time element
Saboteur
Use days of the week not today or tonight in print avoid saying next Monday or last Monday
Homicide without malice or premeditation
Twice a year


9. San Francisco
The city in California stands alone in datelines
Preferred to persons as the plural
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.
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should


10. take-home pay
Lowercase with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.
Impostor
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
Take-home pay


11. impostor
Impostor
Teammate
A trademark for a type of nonstick coating
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


12. bad/ badly
Uses periods in most two letter words; CIA - FBI - GOP; Never use organizations full name then an acronym;
Bad should not be used as an adverb only exceptation is I feel bad.
Most significant word is made plural: daughters-in-law - assistant attorneys general - major generals
Two words unless used as adjective before a noun in a nautical sense


13. under way
The '90s - 1920s
Plural alumni man who attended a school
To receive
Two words unless used as adjective before a noun in a nautical sense


14. Kentucky
The word applies to military or naval ammunition and to shotgun ammunition
If comprise or compose doesn't fit - sense of form or make up
Use it to mean one or the other - not both
Abbreviate Ky. in datelines or stories. Postal code: KY


15. its; it's

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16. teaspoon
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
The '90s - 1920s
Always spell out and use figures and decimals NOT fractions
Telecast (n.) televise (v.)


17. farther
Take over (v.) takeover (n. and adj)
Acceptable in all references to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Not compound subject; requires a verb that agrees with the nearer subject
Physical distance


18. Capitalize
See John F. Kennedy Space Center
Individual items;fewer than 10 applicants called. I had fewer than 50 $1 bills in my pocket
When someone is the object of a verb or preposition
Lowercase the common noun elements in plural uses


19. tablespoon - tablespoonfuls
Equal to three teaspoons or one-half a fluid ounce. The metric equivalent is approximately 15 milliliters
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
Abbreviate St. in the names of saints - cities - and other places: St. Jude - St. Paul - Minn.; St. John's - Newfoundland; St. Lawrence Seaway
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


20. kilohertz
Keystone Kops
Use Taiwan - not Formosa - in reverences to the government in Taiwan and the island itself
Salable
Equals 1000 hertz (1000 cycles Per second) - replacing kilocycles as the correct term in applications such as broadcast frequencies. Abbrev.: kHz.


21. tailspin
Precede with a hyphen: break-in - cave-in - walk-in - write-in
Tape recording (n.) tape-record (v.)
Tailspin
Trademark for an electronic control device or stun gun. (Acronym for Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle)


22. imperial gallon
Formerly a trademark - now a generic term
Lowercase with periods. Avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning.
Don't use unless asked
The standard British gallon - equal to 277.42 cubic inches or about 1.2 US gallons. The metric equivalent is approximately 4.5 liters


23. whom
When someone is the object of a verb or preposition
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.
Only used in a direct quote or part of a title
Use figures EXCEPT for zero spell out minus and degrees; temperatures get higher & lower


24. lie
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
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.
Writing paper
State of reclining lie - lay - lain - lying


25. email

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26. teen - teenager (n.) teenage (adj.)
Only used in a direct quote or part of a title
Do NOT use teenaged
Means to guarantee
A firearm that fires continuously as long as the trigger is depressed. Examples include machine guns and submachine guns


27. kibbutz
Uses periods in most two letter words; CIA - FBI - GOP; Never use organizations full name then an acronym;
An Israeli collective settlement. The plural is kibbutzim
Spatial relationships
Preferred to persons as the plural


28. artillery
The '90s - 1920s
Acceptable in all forms
Headquarters is in Minneapolis
A carriage-mounted cannon


29. Tass

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30. Americorps
Americorps
Use KANSAS CITY - Kan. - or KANSAS CITY - Mo. - in datelines to avoid confusion between the two
Formerly Safeway Stores. Headquarters is in Pleasanton - Calif.
One who leaves a country emigrates from it


31. Defendant
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
A province of Canada north of Montana and North Dakota. Do not abbreviate
No e
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should


32. either
Use it to mean one or the other - not both
Take-home pay
Something cannot be partially demolished or destroyed
Take over (v.) takeover (n. and adj)


33. who's
Use figures except for noon and midnight
Contraction for Who is NOT POSSESSIVE
Spatial relationships
Someone or something first in rank - authority - importance or degree ex. school principal


34. Santa Claus
Takes singluar verb two people look at each other
Santa Claus
Acceptable on first reference for The Russian government's news agency that is officially ITAR-Tass. ITAR is an acronym for Information Telegraph Agency of Russia. Copy from other parts of the former Soviet Union should carry the logo of the local ag
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


35. capital
Describes money - do not capitalize - city where a seat of government is located
Take off - takeoff
Headquarters is in Minneapolis
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


36. Saudi Arabian Oil Co.
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).
Two words unless used as adjective before a noun in a nautical sense
Saudi Aramco is acceptable on second reference. (Formerly the Arabian American Oil Co.)
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


37. less
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
Bulk or quantity; I had less than $50 in my pocket
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
See Newspaper Association of America


38. Saint John

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39. magazine
Create or put together
The ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. It may be fixed to the firearm or detachable
Use illegal only to mean a violation of the law. Be especially careful in labor management disputes - where one side often calls an action by the other side illegal. Usually it is a charge that a contract or rule - not a law - has been violated
No O


40. in

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41. automatic
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
No e
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
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s


42. gauge
Weak-kneed
Use days of the week not today or tonight in print avoid saying next Monday or last Monday
The measure of the size of a shotgun. Gauge is expressed in terms of the number Per pound of round lead balls with a diameter equal to the size of the barrel. The bigger the number - the smaller the shotgun. The forms: a 12-gauge shotgun - a .410-gau
It's = it is; its possessive form of neuter pronoun


43. complement
Is pronoun that is always a subject
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
Noun and verb denoting completeness or supplementing something
IED is acceptable on second reference. Roadside bomb is preferable


44. lie
Acronym for instant message; sometimes used as a verb IM'ing - IM'ed. acceptable on second reference for instant messaging
Untrue statement - lie -lied -lying
Headquarters of this airline is in Tempe - Ariz.
See John F. Kennedy Space Center


45. immigrate
Acceptable on first reference for The Russian government's news agency that is officially ITAR-Tass. ITAR is an acronym for Information Telegraph Agency of Russia. Copy from other parts of the former Soviet Union should carry the logo of the local ag
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
A weapon - usually supported on some type of carriage - that fires explosive projectiles. The form: a 105 mm cannon
One who comes into a country immigrates


46. -in
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s
A fundamental truth - law - doctrine or motivating force
Precede with a hyphen: break-in - cave-in - walk-in - write-in
The new term is kilohertz


47. 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
Lowercase (without quotation marks) the bugle call for 'lights out -' also sounded at military funerals
The word applies to military or naval ammunition and to shotgun ammunition
Firefighter preferred over fireman or firewoman


48. cents
Not amidst
Lowercase spell out cents 5 cents or $2.50
Most significant word is made plural: daughters-in-law - assistant attorneys general - major generals
Use Saddam in second reference to Iraq's Saddam Hussein


49. Kelvin scale
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.
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
The ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. It may be fixed to the firearm or detachable
Inasmuch as


50. flyer
Proper name of some trains and buses
Twice a year
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should
Use alone in datelines on stories from the Republic of San Marino