Man, some of these new Associated Press style rules are crazy

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On Monday my News Writing and Reporting students will hear the semesterly discussion of the value of Associated Press style, with which I have a love/hate relationship. There’s no doubt the pointless switch to the percent symbol instead of spelling out “percent” was solely to make me change my PowerPoint slides. Explaining why “noon” is OK and “midnight” isn’t will only take forever. And I haven’t completely recovered from the decision that “over” can mean “more than.”

Regardless, I emphasize the AP Stylebook in class as a great guide not only for consistent journalistic style and proper grammar, but also for respectful word choices and ethical policies involving sensitive subjects. I’m on board with the capitalized “Black” and the lower case “white.” There was no simple solution to that one.

But each year’s revisions inevitably make me scratch my head about at least a few of them.

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The latest book has a new entry on gender-neutral language that is good and necessary. Words such as “policeman” and “mailman” are sexist, inaccurate and easily replaced with neutral words. The entry says “actresses” should be “actors.” “Waiter” should be “server.” I’m good with all that. But I find it borderline absurd that:

  • “Manhunt” should be avoided in favor of “search”

  • “Manpower” should be avoided in favor of “crew” or “staff”

  • “Manhole” should be replaced by “maintenance hole”

  • “Man-made” should give way to “human-made”

These are the silliest rules in the history of humankind.