On Tuesday, the Associated Press’ monthly style chat focused on parenting with Leanne Italie. As you’ll see from the collection of tweets below, we quickly move through the stages of life, from baby sitter to teens to elder care in three tweets. Enjoy.
Is it child care or childcare? Two words, no hyphen. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
For your sitter: It's baby-sit, baby-sitting, baby-sat and baby sitter. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
For the nail-biting years, it's teen, teenage and teenager. Don't use teen-aged. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
And it would also be elder care, two words. #APStyleChat @brownlifesci
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Hi, Mom! Capitalize family names only when the noun is standing in for a name as a term of address. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
When should you mention adoptive status in a story? Having been adopted isn't enough. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Mention adoptive status only when relevance is clear. Avoid 'given up' and use 'placed for adoption' instead. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Should you refer to a child as illegitimate? Never refer to the child of unmarried parents this way. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
If pertinent to the story at all, try a clause: 'whose mother was not married.' #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
In general, call children 15 or younger by their first name on second reference. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Use the last name for children 15 or younger if the seriousness of the story calls for it, as in a murder case. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Generally, a newborn is up to 6 months; an infant is up to 12 months; a wobbly toddler is 1 to 2 years old. #APStyleChat @ADouglasHerald
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Other hyphenated words: breast-feeding, breast-feed, breast-fed. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Adolescence is a broad period from puberty to adulthood. #APStyleChat @SouthmaydHerald
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Some consider it from ages 13 to 19. Best to be more specific when you can. #APStyleChat
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Spell out quintuplets on first reference; acceptable to use quints on second reference. #APStyleChat @IndyJazzBelle
— AP Stylebook (@APStylebook) January 6, 2015
Sad stock photo baby.
Previously: AP Stylebook: Holiday eating edition
It’s ‘Bah! Humbug!’ and other holiday style advice from the AP
