Journalism in the Americas
"Ms." arrived in 1980. "Illegal immigrant" entered in 2004 (and left this year). The hyphen in "e-mail" left the building in March 2011.

Zach Dyer catalogs these and other changes to the AP Stylebook since 1980 in a nifty interactive timeline. The news collective's process for changing style is "fairly democratic," he reports after a conversation with AP Deputy Standards Editor David Minthorn:

For a more controversial term, like “illegal immigrant,” Minthorn said the organization considered feedback from its editors, some of who cover immigration, and took a vote. “It wasn’t unanimous but there was a strong majority,” he observed.

(more...)

Two days after changing its style on the term "illegal immigrant," the Associated Press issued a Stylebook update that's significant but in a much quieter way:

underway One word in all uses.

OK, it's a big deal mostly to copy editors, many of whom have spent a good part of their professional lives jamming a space into "underway."

Here's the old listing:

under way Two words in virtually all uses: The project is under way. The naval maneuvers are under way. One word only when used as an adjective before a noun in a nautical sense: an underway flotilla.

I surveyed a few copy-editing icons on whether the AP switch would occasion one at their organizations: (more...)

Associated Press
The Associated Press has issued a helpful style guide for what promises to be an eventful March in the Roman Catholic Church. For example: Mass is "celebrated, not said." The word "pontiff" is "not a formal title and always spelled lowercase."

The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Benedict will not revert to his birth name in retirement. Instead call him "Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI," "Benedict XVI, the pope emeritus" or "former Pope Benedict XVI" or "Benedict XVI, the former pope."

Some entries come from the AP Stylebook; others "were suggested by AP’s religion writers in Rome and New York and based on decades of AP coverage of the Roman Catholic Church and papal successions," the guide says.

Previously: Pope’s Twitter account on hold, not shutting down | How Vatican blogger Rocco Palmo is getting ready to cover the conclave for the next Pope | Pope Benedict XVI resigns: What you need to know

Almost two months ago, the Associated Press launched StyleGuard, a style check plugin for Microsoft Word. The PC-only initial product has been tested by users, with a Mac-compatible version planned for the summer. The pricing for individuals ranges from $34.99 to $49.99 through March 31. "A few people have commented that if it saved them from making one embarrassing error, it would be worth the money," said AP Stylebook Product Manager Colleen Newvine by email. Our edited Q&A follows. (more...)