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. ice age
Homicide without malice or premeditation
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
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should
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

2. buckshot
Implausible
Proper tenses for impel
Not compound subject; requires a verb that agrees with the nearer subject
See shot

3. take-home pay
Lowercase (without quotation marks) the bugle call for 'lights out -' also sounded at military funerals
Take-home pay
One who leaves a country emigrates from it
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

4. tail wind
Insurance
Two Words.
A trademark for a brand of hot pepper sauce
Tail wind

5. capital
Describes money - do not capitalize - city where a seat of government is located
Plural alumnae woman
Introduces two items; between him and her - between you and me
A carriage-mounted cannon

6. Saudi Arabian Oil Co.
Saudi Aramco is acceptable on second reference. (Formerly the Arabian American Oil Co.)
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
Every two years
Santa Claus

7. kilohertz
Equals 1000 hertz (1000 cycles Per second) - replacing kilocycles as the correct term in applications such as broadcast frequencies. Abbrev.: kHz.
Take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj.)
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
Tail wind

8. courtesy titles

9. impel - impelled - impelling
Introduces two items; between him and her - between you and me
Proper tenses for impel
It's = it is; its possessive form of neuter pronoun
Use figures EXCEPT for zero spell out minus and degrees; temperatures get higher & lower

10. watt

11. pour
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
Formerly Safeway Stores. Headquarters is in Pleasanton - Calif.
To flow in a continuous stream
Telecast (n.) televise (v.)

12. assault weapon
The city in Utah stands alone in datelines
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
More than two look at one another
Santa Claus

13. who's
Contraction for Who is NOT POSSESSIVE
Take up (v.) takeup (n. and adj.)
Take-home pay
No apostrophe

14. people
A cannon or other weapon designed for defense against air attack. The form: a 105 mm anti-aircraft gun.
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
An aviator or handbill; pass out those fliers
Preferred to persons as the plural

15. whose
Is possessive
The amount of electrical energy consumed when 1000 watts are used for one hour. The abbreviation kwh is acceptable on second reference.
Abbreviate Ill. in datelines or stories. Postal code: IL
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

16. teaspoon
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
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
Abbreviate Ky. in datelines or stories. Postal code: KY
Sacrilegious

17. television program titles
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
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
Not amidst
Twice a year

18. kilowatt-hour
To flow in a continuous stream
No apostrophe
The amount of electrical energy consumed when 1000 watts are used for one hour. The abbreviation kwh is acceptable on second reference.
To exclude

19. rebut
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
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
To argue to the contrary
Lowercase (without quotation marks) the bugle call for 'lights out -' also sounded at military funerals

20. Saudi Arabia

21. ampersand (&)

22. SAT
Acronym for instant message; sometimes used as a verb IM'ing - IM'ed. acceptable on second reference for instant messaging
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
Headquarters of this airline is in Tempe - Ariz.
A compact - relatively inexpensive handgun

23. kerosene
In indicates location: He was in the room. Into indicates motion: She walked into the room
Formerly a trademark - now a generic term
Take over (v.) takeover (n. and adj)
Saboteur

24. tailspin
Equal to one-sixth of a fluid ounce - or one-third of a tablespoon. The metric equivalent is approximately 5 milliliters
Use figures spell out inches - feet - yards hyphen adjectival forms before nouns
Tailspin
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

25. American Medical Association
Take-home pay
AMA is acceptable on second reference. Also: the medical association - the association. Headquarters is in Chicago
Capitalize only when referring to the total collections of events
Acceptable as first reference for International Business Machines Corp. Headquarters is in Armonk - NY

26. magazine
Use figures EXCEPT for zero spell out minus and degrees; temperatures get higher & lower
The ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a firearm. It may be fixed to the firearm or detachable
To stand still
Always spell out and use figures and decimals NOT fractions

27. American Society of Composers - Authors and Publishers
Abbreviate Ky. in datelines or stories. Postal code: KY
Don't use unless asked
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York
It's NOT an apostrophe in the Yemen capital's name. It is a reverse apostrophe - or a single opening quotation mark

28. between
To stand still
Preferred to persons as the plural
Introduces two items; between him and her - between you and me
Tail wind

29. All right
Capitalize them
Never alright; sometimes all-right as a compound modifier
Is possessive
Salable

30. semi-automatic
It means without preparation of advance thought
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
Lowercase with periods avoid the redundant 10 a.m. this morning
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

31. teammate
Teammate
An Israeli collective settlement. The plural is kibbutzim
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
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

32. take out (v.) take out (n. and adj.)
Verb to gaze intently or steadily
Is pronoun that is always a subject
Take out (v.) take out (n. and adj)
Spatial relationships

33. cannon
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 weapon - usually supported on some type of carriage - that fires explosive projectiles. The form: a 105 mm cannon
This acronym - drawn from the words American travel by track - may be used in all references to the National Railroad Passenger Corp. Do not use AMTRAK. The corporation was established by Congress in 1970 to take over intercity passenger operations f

34. imply - infer
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
Introduces two items; between him and her - between you and me
Twice a year
Writers or speakers imply in the words they use. A listener or reader infers something from the words

35. who
Use Arabic figures - separated from letters by a hyphen: M-60 - plural: M-60s
Is pronoun that is always a subject
Don't use unless asked
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.

36. Idaho
The city in California stands alone in datelines
Do no abbreviate in datelines or stories. Postal code: ID
Sandwich
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

37. improvised explosive device
Writing paper
IED is acceptable on second reference. Roadside bomb is preferable
One who comes into a country immigrates
Teammate

38. Amtrak
Keystone Kops
An aviator or handbill; pass out those fliers
This acronym - drawn from the words American travel by track - may be used in all references to the National Railroad Passenger Corp. Do not use AMTRAK. The corporation was established by Congress in 1970 to take over intercity passenger operations f
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

39. like
Preposition to compare nouns and pronouns Jim blocks like a pro
See pardon - parole - probation
Takes singluar verb two people look at each other
A fully automatic gun that fires as long as the trigger is depressed. The form: a .50 caliber Browning machine gun.

40. Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Singular criteria is the plural
Use instead of Italy in datelines on stories from communities on this island
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

41. Saddam

42. demolish - destroy
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
Something cannot be partially demolished or destroyed
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
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

43. savings and loan association
Capitalize building in Washington
Is pronoun that is always a subject
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
The word applies to military or naval ammunition and to shotgun ammunition

44. comprise
Contain - include all - or embrace
ASCAP is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in New York
Capitalize them
A fully automatic gun that fires as long as the trigger is depressed. The form: a .50 caliber Browning machine gun.

45. Proper names plural
To introduce clauses Jim blocks the linebacker as he should
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
Most ending in z or es or s add es: Joneses - Gonzalezes - Charleses
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

46. clip
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm
To receive
Device used to launch a mortar shell; it is the shell - not the mortar - that is fired
A weapon - usually supported on some type of carriage - that fires explosive projectiles. The form: a 105 mm cannon

47. Allege
USE WITH GREAT CARE specify source of allegation avoid redundant uses ex. accused her of allegedly
Acceptable on first reference for intercontinental ballistic missile(s) - but the term should be defines in the body of a story. Avoid the redundant ICBM missiles
A trademark for a brand of hot pepper sauce
A device used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit - ready for insertion into the magazine of a repeating firearm

48. kilometer
Insurance
Untrue statement - lie -lied -lying
Use instead of Italy in datelines on stories from communities on this island
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).

49. howitzer
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
Acceptable as first reference for International Business Machines Corp. Headquarters is in Armonk - NY
The new term is kilohertz
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.

50. dimensions
Exceptions may be made to the normal rules for abbreviations - as necessary to make material fit. But make any abbreviations as clear as possible
Use figures spell out inches - feet - yards hyphen adjectival forms before nouns
APT is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in Reston - Va.
The standard British gallon - equal to 277.42 cubic inches or about 1.2 US gallons. The metric equivalent is approximately 4.5 liters