AP Style Checker: Grammar & Punctuation Rules for Professional Writing

Instantly verify your content against Associated Press style guidelines. Our free AP Style Rule Checker helps journalists, editors and content creators ensure consistent, accurate writing that meets industry standards.
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Quick AP Style Guide

Paste your text on the left to check for common style issues. Here are some of the rules we check:

1

Numbers

Spell out one through nine. Use figures for 10 and above, ages, percentages, and dimensions.

2

Dates & Time

Abbreviate Jan., Feb., etc. with specific dates. Use lowercase a.m. and p.m. with periods.

3

Punctuation

Generally no Oxford comma before "and" in a series. Single space after periods.

4

Tech Terms

Lowercase "internet" and "email" (no hyphen). One word for "website".

5

State Abbreviations

Use AP style abbreviations (e.g., "Calif.", "Fla.") in body text, not postal codes ("CA", "FL").

AP rule checker is designed to catch common AP style errors, but like any automated tool, it may not catch every issue or might occasionally flag content that's actually correct in specific contexts. We recommend using it alongside your own knowledge of AP style or having an editor review important content.

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Free AP Style Checker

Ensure your writing meets professional journalistic standards with our AP Style Checker. This tool scans your text and highlights common violations of the Associated Press Stylebook.

What is AP Style?

The AP Stylebook is the definitive resource for journalists and content creators. It provides guidelines on spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage to ensure consistency and clarity in news writing.

How It Works

  1. Paste Text: Copy and paste your article or blog post into the editor.
  2. Analyze: Click the check button to scan for issues.
  3. Fix: Review the highlighted suggestions and correct your text (e.g., changing "12" to "12" for ages, or "percent" to "%" depending on the rule context).

Common Rules We Check

  • Numbers: When to spell out numbers vs. using numerals.
  • Dates & Times: Correct formatting for months, days, and times (e.g., "a.m." vs "am").
  • State Abbreviations: Proper abbreviations for US states.
  • Titles: Capitalization rules for job titles.
  • Oxford Comma: AP style generally avoids the serial comma.

Note: This tool catches common errors but cannot replace a human editor for complex nuances.