AP Style Book turns 60

The AP Stylebook is marking its 60th anniversary with the 2013 print edition, which includes more than 90 new or updated entries  and broadens the guidelines on social media.

At about 500 pages, the AP Stylebook is widely used in newsrooms, classrooms and corporate offices worldwide. More than a dozen of the new entries are in the sections on food (such as Benedictine and Grand Marnier, madeleine and upside-down cake)  and fashion (chichi and froufrou).

The new entry on mental illness gives guidelines on when references are relevant, particularly in stories involving violent crime, and how they should be reported.  The entry on illegal immigration, widely reported when it was announced in April, prohibits use of the term illegal immigrant, except in direct quotations essential to a story. Use of the word illegal is limited to an  action, not a person.

The section on social media has been expanded with additional terms and definitions, including  circles, flash mob and Google Hangout. Also broadened is information on how to secure, authenticate, attribute and reference user-generated content for text, photo captions and video scripts.

The weapons section spells out differences between assault rifle and assault weapon, magazine and clip, and pistol and revolver, and adds entries on bolt-action and lever-action rifles.

The 2013 edition consolidates a number of changes  made since the 2012 volume was published. Stylebook Online is updated throughout the year, as AP editors make additions or changes.

The AP Stylebook editors will answer your questions about the new book today at 2:30 p.m. EDT in a Twitter chat.

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